Workforce Equity Initiative

The Commercial Vehicle Technology (CVT) Brake and Suspension Certificate is designed to provide the student with the skills necessary for an entry-level position at a medium-to-heavy-duty truck shop.  Program does not include all of the high-tech courses necessary for today’s master technician.  Instruction includes theory and operation of medium-to-heavy-duty brake, steering, and suspension systems used in industry today.  Industry safety standards are discussed and adhered to, including current asbestos safety practices.  Use of heavy-duty jacks are employed to insure no excessive heavy lifting.

Median Salary - $40,747

The Bookkeeping Certificate includes the minimum business and accounting requirements for students seeking bookkeeper positions. Students will gain the necessary background in business and introductory accounting courses, and the ability to use business software applications most common in businesses. Graduates of this certificate may receive positions as a bookkeeper or other entry-level business, accounting or financial roles.

Median Salary - $44,491

Contact tracers are instrumental in helping to stop the spread of COVID-19 and other viruses. Their primary responsibility is to work with patients who've had a virus and find out who they came into contact with while they were contagious. Illinois is planning to invest almost $80 million in building a statewide contact tracing program. The goal is to have at least 30 tracers per 100,000 residents.  Upon completion of the program, you will be able to conduct contact tracing according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines and recommendations.

Median Salary - $40,435

Dental assistants provide quality preventative and corrective dental care under direct supervision of the dentist or dental hygienist. The dental assistant is responsible for assisting dentists and dental hygienists with patient care as well as providing certain administrative support to the office. Dental assistants work in a variety of health care settings including dentist offices, hospitals and other similar facilities. With the national increase in health care related services and the national shortage of health care professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. The 60-hour Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing health care positions – dental assisting. The purpose of this course is to familiarize the student with all areas of pre-clinical dental assisting and provide training in the professional skills required to function as an assistant in the dental practice.

Median Salary - $37,627

EKG technicians are responsible for performing electrocardiogram tests in order to monitor and record electrical impulses transmitted by the heart. These tests include basic EKGs, Holter Monitoring (portable EKG which records activity for 24-48 hrs.), 12 lead placement and stress tests (treadmill). They assist a physician in diagnosing and treating cardiac and blood vessel irregularities. This comprehensive 60-hour EKG Technician Certification Program prepares students to function as EKG technicians and to take the NHA, National Healthcareer Association examination.

Median Salary - $41,163

The primary focus of the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is to provide basic emergency medical care and transportation for critical and emergent patients who access the Emergency Medical System (EMS). This individual possesses the basic knowledge and skills necessary to provide patient care and transportation and will function as part of a comprehensive EMS response plan, under medical oversight. EMTs perform interventions with the basic equipment typically found on an ambulance and is a link from the scene to the emergency health care system.

Median Salary - $45,552

This 200-hour course offered over two semesters is designed for health care professionals, billing professionals, people interested in the business aspect of health care and office managers. This class prepares students for entry-level medical office positions. Students will learn to collect, analyze and manage the information that steers the health care industry. Training will be provided in insurance and medical claims processing in accordance with professional, legal and insurance industry standards.

Median Salary - $37,564

Designed to prepare nursing assistants to provide care in various health care settings under the direction of a registered nurse. The program includes development of fundamental nursing skills through lectures, laboratory activities and clinical experience. Students may also complete elective courses to gain knowledge and practical skills in ethical and legal responsibilities, medical terminology, venipuncture, and electrocardiography.

Median Salary - $36,753

Designed for learners seeking qualification for employment as a pesticide applicator in the Horticulture and Landscape industries and prepares them for the Illinois Department of Agriculture Commercial Pesticide Applicator Exam. The Pest Applicator Certificate is stackable into other Horticulture degrees and certificates allowing the opportunity to continue education in the discipline.

Median Salary - $35,963

Pharmacy technicians work under the supervision of licensed pharmacists to perform technical duties in the systematic operation of the pharmacy – providing health care services and medications to patients. This 75-hour course will introduce students to various settings in pharmacy practice, including the community, hospital, managed care, mail order and long-term care. Information on qualifying for the pharmacy certification examination will be provided. Technicians may perform many of the same duties as pharmacists; however, all of a technician's work must be checked by a pharmacist before medicine can be dispensed to a patient. This program is designed to familiarize students with the role of the pharmacy technician and develop the skills required for assisting pharmacists. Instruction includes a review of mathematical principles as they apply to pharmacology, various disease states, basic physiology, pharmacy law, ethics, and the fundamentals of technician training. Emphasis will be given to pharmacology measurement, pharmacy abbreviations and generic medications, prescription processing and hands-on compounding techniques.

Median Salary - $33,945

Phlebotomists are skilled health care professionals who have been trained to collect, transport, handle and process blood and other specimens for laboratory analysis using venipuncture and micro collection techniques. This course is designed for those interested in becoming phlebotomists, nurses, doctors, medical staff and anyone interested in the health care profession. The health care system of the laboratory, anatomy and physiology of the body systems, institutional procedures such as infection control, patient care issues such as specimen collection and handling, detailed content outline for certificate examination for phlebotomists and professionals including quality assurance and professional standards are covered. Phlebotomists must be able to identify and select equipment, supplies and additives used in blood collection and understand factors that affect specimen collection procedures and test results.

Median Salary - $38,168

The sterile processing technician certificate program prepares the student to work in the sterile processing department of a medical facility. Sterile processing technicians clean, decontaminate, inspect, assemble, package, sterilize, store, and distribute medical devices needed to provide patient care, especially for patients undergoing surgical procedures.

Median Salary = $44,886

The Computer Information Systems Windows Programming Advanced Certificate is designed for current data processing professionals who want exposure to the fundamentals of windows programming.

Median Salary - $56,201