Workforce Continuing Education

Our Workforce Continuing Education courses offer short-term training for individuals by offering non-credit courses that vary from a few hours to several hundred hours in length, depending on their purpose and content.

Our current course offerings are available at https://www.forsythtech.edu/students/courses-programs/fast-track-courses/.

The general objectives are to provide:

Expanded educational opportunities for adults who would not otherwise continue their education
Relatively inexpensive, convenient educational opportunities for adults regardless of educational background
Programs of vocational/technical education for employed and unemployed adults who need training or retraining
Short courses that meet general adult and community needs
Vocational and technical training programs for new and expanding industries in the Forsyth Tech service area
Small business development, educational programs, and services for establishing prospective businesses
A pathway to curriculum programs leading to associate degrees, diplomas, and certificates and transfer to four-year institutions

Courses and seminars vary from a few hours to several hundred hours in length, depending on their purpose and content.

Courses for the public are developed to address a wide variety of interests and individual career needs and are routinely advertised on the Forsyth Tech website. Other courses are developed and customized specifically for the employee groups of client companies and, as a result, are not advertised to the public.

Instruction generally includes a combination of lectures, demonstrations, and applications and may be delivered in either a classroom or online.

To register and pay for these courses, contact our CE Enrollment Team Monday through Friday at 336-734-7718, come by the West Campus at 1300 Bolton Street in Winston-Salem, or visit https://www.forsythtech.edu/students/courses-programs/fast-track-courses/.

Workforce Continuing Education programs offer classes at the Main Campus, Northwest Forsyth Center, Grady P. Swisher Center, Stokes County Center, West Campus, Transportation Center, Mazie S. Woodruff Center, and Innovation Quarter. Classes are also conducted at other non-Forsyth Tech facilities throughout Forsyth and Stokes Counties.

Admissions Requirements

Workforce Continuing Education courses are generally for people over the age of 18 or who have already graduated from high school. High school students aged 16-17 years of age may enroll in courses during the evenings, weekends, and summer. Elementary and middle school students may enroll in summer enrichment programs.

Students wanting to earn their high school equivalency diploma and are under the age of 18 are required to provide a signed minor release form before admittance into the College and Career Readiness program.

Prospective students should inquire about admission requirements for specific programs of interest. Inquiries can be made to the CE Enrollment Team at 336-734-7718.

Course Fees

Registration fees for Workforce Continuing Education courses vary by course.

Students registering for Workforce Continuing Education courses will pay a $5 College Access, Parking, and Security (CAPS) fee for each course they register for.

Students registering for Occupational Extension courses (any Workforce Continuing Education course that does not have CSP or SEF in its course code) will also pay a $5 Technology fee for each course they register for.

Some Workforce Continuing Education courses have additional associated fees, such as lab fees, testing fees, and insurance fees. The total fee for sections can be found on the Course Schedule page.

Some courses may require textbooks or supplies; these are not included in the total fee.

Some students are exempt from paying registration fees. For example, courses requested by the following entities that support the organizations' training needs and are on a specialized course list approved by the State Board of Community Colleges may have their registration fees waived: volunteer fire departments; municipal, county, or state fire departments; volunteer EMS or rescue and lifesaving departments; municipal, county, or state EMS or rescue and lifesaving departments; and municipal, county, or state law enforcement agencies.

Refund Policy

To request a registration fee refund, students must officially withdraw from a class by calling our CE Enrollment Team at 336-734-7718. Refunds are generally issued every two weeks.

If Forsyth Tech cancels a course, any fee that the student paid for the canceled course will be refunded in full.

A 100% registration fee refund may be given if the student officially withdraws prior to the first day of a Workforce Continuing Education course.

A 75% registration fee refund may be given if the student officially withdraws from an Occupational Extension course (any Workforce Continuing Education course that does not have CSP or SEF in its course code) prior to or on its census date. Census dates are listed on the Course Schedule page.

Dropping on or after the first day of class will result in a 25% fee refund penalty.

No refunds will be given to students who drop a section after the census date of the section.

Community service (CSP) and self-support (SEF) courses are not eligible for a 75% refund. Students may receive a full tuition refund for these courses by officially withdrawing from the course at least one working day prior to the first scheduled meeting.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs)

Occupational Extension courses provide instruction on specific occupational skills and are approved for continuing education units (CEUs).

CEU credit is based on the number of contact hours a course has. One CEU is awarded for every 10 hours a person attends class. (For example, a course with 22 contact hours awards 2.2 CEUs.)

Educational Career Center

The Educational Career Center helps continuing education students and the public to:

Develop a personalized educational career plan
Select workforce development courses and certification programs
Obtain information and apply for certificate, diploma, and degree programs
Review college admission requirements and financial aid applications
Apply for scholarships, grants, and other special services
Conduct job searches
Prepare a resume
Enroll in education and career preparation workshops
Utilize on-site services of partner agencies

The center is open Monday through Friday and is in Suite 102 on West Campus at 1300 Bolton Street, Winston-Salem. Call the center at 336.757.3701. Services are free of charge.

Business & Industry Services

Whether your organization is interested in improving the hiring process, building leadership or workforce skills, providing extraordinary customer service, or improving the management of employees’ day-to-day performance, Forsyth Tech’s Business & Industry Services can customize a training plan built to meet your specific educational needs.

Forsyth Tech’s Business & Industry Services proudly partners with Development Dimensions International, Achieve Global, and Logical Operations, three leading educational providers known worldwide for their high-quality educational and development programs. Choose from a range of courses that, when taken together, improve your workforce’s overall performance or, when taken selectively, let you pinpoint areas to improve. A needs analysis allows you to focus your program selection and tailor it to the needs of your audience.

Basic Skill Assessments: It is often useful to determine the basic skill levels of employees before developing a customized training program. Validated assessment instruments are used to identify the math, reading, language, and spelling competence of employees. The information gained can be used to determine if the basic skill levels of employees need to be upgraded for them to become fully job-ready. The basic skill assessments can be done in either English or Spanish, and classes to help employees improve their basic skills can be conducted on-site.
Customized Training Program: The purpose of the Customized Training Program is to provide customized training assistance in support of full-time production and direct customer service positions created in the State of North Carolina, enhancing the growth potential of companies located in the state while simultaneously preparing North Carolina’s workforce with the skills essential to successful employment in emerging industries. The program is designed to react quickly to the needs of businesses and to respect the confidential nature of proprietary processes and information within those businesses. If your business is expanding or making significant equipment purchases, please call Dan Bryant, 336.734.7416.
Employee Health and Safety: Forsyth Tech offers several courses in employee health and safety. Several courses are developed to specifically meet Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or occupational credentialing requirements.
Pre-Employment Training: Forsyth Tech conducts pre-employment training programs for client companies to train a pool of qualified applicants for specific job vacancies. Companies can take applications and conduct interviews near the completion of the pre-employment program.
Training Needs Assessments: Obtaining input from managers and different employee groups about what they perceive as their training needs is an important first step in developing customized training programs. The primary purpose of conducting a training needs assessment is to identify gaps between the current and desired levels of employee performance, knowledge, and skills. The secondary purpose is to gain an understanding of strategies that can be used to close the gap.

College and Career Readiness Programs

Our College and Career Readiness programs help students finish high school, get ready for college or jobs, learn computer skills, and improve reading, writing, and speaking English. Classes are free and offered in Forsyth and Stokes counties. We have day, night, and online classes. Students who are 16 or 17 must fill out special forms before they can start.

Adult Basic Education (ABE): This program helps students improve reading, writing, and math skills. It also helps them get ready to join the High School Equivalency (HSE) program, go to college, or find a job.
Adult High School (AHS): This program lets students take high school classes to earn a diploma. Students who already have 15 high school credits can join and finish the classes they need to graduate.
High School Equivalency (HSE): This program helps students prepare to take the GED or HiSET tests. In the HSE classes, students learn the skills needed for these tests. The tests are not taken in class, but students can schedule the tests when they feel ready. Passing the tests earns a diploma from the state.
Multiple Pathways to High School Equivalency (MPHSE): This program offers different ways to finish high school. Students can use old school credits, pass tests like the GED or HiSET, or earn a digital skills certificate to complete the requirements.
English as a Second Language (ESL): This program helps students learn to read, write, and speak English. It also teaches important life and job skills to help students succeed.

Community Service Programs

Community service courses and activities are designed to enhance the cultural, civic, and intellectual growth of the community. Popular offerings include foreign languages, picture framing, painting, crafts, digital photography, and retirement planning. Courses can be tailored to meet community interest and demand. For high school students, specialized classes such as ACT/SAT preparation, ACT/SAT math, and college essay writing are also available.

Computer Application Programs

A wide variety of computer courses are offered online and in the classroom. Computer courses can also be customized to meet specific content and scheduling requirements of company employee groups.

Electrical Apprenticeship Program

Forsyth Tech offers an electrical apprenticeship program in cooperation with the Forsyth County Electrical Contractors Association.

Apprentices are required to complete a minimum of 144 hours of instruction each year, and classes are offered during the fall and spring semesters. In addition, indentured apprentices must complete 2,000 hours of on-the-job training each year. After the program, apprentices receive a journeyman’s card through the North Carolina Department of Labor.

Fast-Track Jobs Programs

Our fast-track jobs programs are uniquely set up to assist those who are unemployed, underemployed, seeking advancement in their current field, or starting a second career. Their purpose is to prepare individuals for the workforce or to take advantage of career advancement opportunities. For information, call 336.757.3701 or visit https://www.forsythtech.edu/students/courses-programs/fast-track-courses/.

Online Courses through Ed2Go

Explore affordable and convenient online learning with Ed2Go, accessible from the comfort of your home or office. Our Continuing Education courses, offered through Ed2Go, are designed to fit your schedule and typically run for six weeks or longer. Upon successful completion, you can earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs). For a comprehensive list of courses, including pricing and start dates, visit www.ed2go.com/forsyth. Choose from a wide variety of topics to enhance your skills and knowledge.

Public Safety Programs

Forsyth Tech offers certification courses in all levels of emergency medical services (EMS), ranging from the emergency medical technician (EMT) to the paramedic. For individuals with an EMS certification, the College offers continuing education and refresher courses and has the capability of conducting specialty courses for rescue squads.

In addition to offering fire and safety-related courses for business and industry, Forsyth Tech also offers a 28-week Fire Academy and conducts advanced firefighter and rescue training for fire departments in Forsyth and Stokes counties. A wide range of continuing education fire services and specialty courses is also available.

To prepare individuals for careers in law enforcement, Forsyth Tech offers certification courses ranging from detention officer training to basic law enforcement training. The College also conducts law enforcement specialty and continuing education courses for private security agencies and city, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

The college also offers an Electrical Lineworker program to prepare individuals for entry-level work with private and public utility companies and related employers. The program is approved for national certification by the National Center for Construction Education and Research and for pre-apprentice credit by the NC Community College System and the Department of Labor

Health Sciences Programs

Workforce Continuing Education courses in Health Sciences prepare individuals for entry-level careers in healthcare. All courses are conducted according to the guidelines of the appropriate state agency and meet the requirements for employment training and recertification or licensing. Popular courses include Activity Director, Central Sterile Processing, Certified Nursing Assistant I and II, Community Health Worker, Interpreting in Health and Human Services, Medical Coding program, Medication Aide, Medical Unit Secretary, Pharmacy Assisting, and Phlebotomy.

Human Resources Development (HRD) Programs

The mission of Forsyth Tech’s human resources development program is to strengthen the employment and educational opportunities of the county’s residents who are unemployed or underemployed. The primary goal is to help these individuals develop the essential soft skills needed for securing and maintaining employment.

Industrial Technology Programs

Industrial technology courses are continually updated to enable employees to learn the use of new equipment and processes. Courses are conducted according to certification and federal or state guidelines to train company employees in specialized techniques, OSHA, and/or systems operations.

Human Resource Management Programs

Workforce Continuing Education courses in Human Resource Management offer several options for training, including HR management certificate, SHRM Exam Prep, and Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) recertification courses.

Language and Culture Programs

A variety of language courses, including occupational Spanish, English as a Second Language (ESL), conversational Italian, and Spanish, are offered to meet both professional and personal needs. Language courses can be customized to suit the special needs of a company or organization. Course content, schedule, methodology, class location, and length of study are based on student needs and preferences.

Small Business Center Programs

The Small Business Center (SBC) provides counseling, information resources, and educational programs to help current and prospective business owners begin or maintain a business. The Small Business Center also offers small business events and meetings with business counselors and offers online training as well as written and video resources. Please visit our website for more information and to register at https://www.forsythtech.edu/business-community/sbc/.