(Describer) Getting to Work.

(narrator) In the 21st century, gaining skills after high school is essential. Especially if you're trying to move up from a low wage to a living wage. College degrees are good but they can be a big investment of time and money. In reality, they may be more than you need to get started. For many job seekers, earning an industry-recognized credential or certificate has become the best path to career success. There are a number of ways you can start getting to work with credentials. One route is through community college. First, let's get rid of a few misconceptions. Unfortunately, there are some perceptions around community colleges that limit people's interest. One is traditionally, individuals thought that community colleges were the last choice or the back-up place for options. But in reality, we have many options and we have great quality.

(narrator) This is Dr. Monica Posey, president at Cincinnati State Community and Technical College. Another misunderstanding about community colleges surrounds what they offer.

(Posey) Individuals think we offer associate degrees and that's it or transfer degrees and that's it. But we actually have short-term certificates and long-term certificates, a range of different options for individuals, all with quality instruction.

(narrator) And that's true for community colleges throughout Ohio. Including at Sinclair Community College in Dayton. These short-term certificates are ideally situated to help employers find employees with the right skills and also to help people who either are looking for a job or are looking for a different job get a livable wage.

(narrator) This is Dr. Kathleen Cleary, interim provost and senior VP at Sinclair Community College. The many short-term credentials they and other community colleges offer are aligned with local workforce needs and the training is provided in a way that fits most schedules.

(Cleary) Community colleges are great at serving adults who are balancing busy lives. They may have work during the day, or weekends or evenings. They may have childcare, they may be taking care of aging parents, and community colleges are set up to be flexible. Both with short-term training that they can get and immediately use in their current job, or will get them another job or promotion, or even a different field altogether. And to do it quickly and affordably.

(narrator) So let's talk certificates and credentials. You'll find hundreds of options in many fields at these colleges. But there are several key sectors that carry over from region to region; the most in-demand careers throughout Ohio.

(Describer) Monica Posey.

They commonly will offer training in business, and engineering, technologies, also IT and health professions because the demand for those types of credentials exists throughout the state.

(Cleary) There's a wide range of certificates. You name it, we probably have a certificate somewhere in the sector.

(narrator) The options certainly add up, but what about your prospects and wages after you complete? Turns out the potential return for many certificate earners is worth the effort.

(Cleary) A short-term certificate in the health sciences will land anywhere from $25,000 to $55,000 a year. Often, they'll get into the hospital, might get benefits, and continue to grow from there. In computer information sciences, that could be anywhere from $35,000 to $50,000 per year. We provide machine operator training, which typically pays about $18 per hour. Something like additive manufacturing would be $18 per hour, but then there are many certificates that actually will lead to jobs that pay in the range of $20 to $30 per hour.

(narrator) With good starting salaries established, let's weigh the other side of the equation: the costs in time and money. Certificate programs can last anywhere from a day, a few weeks to a full year. And what you pay depends on the time it takes to train and the equipment involved. Every institution is going to be different, but tuition can range from a few hundred dollars up to several thousand.

(Describer) A computer-controlled rotary grinder.

Since we all have busy schedules, the way you can take courses at community colleges is also something to consider.

(Describer) Monica Posey.

We actually have short-term certificates that we offer in-person in traditional classroom settings, or lab settings. But we also provide online training and blended courses.

(Describer) Kathleen Cleary.

(Cleary) We also have programs that are fully competency-based. And what that means is that students can build on the knowledge they already have. So if they've mastered a competency, they can prove it in the assessment and skip that section of the program so they don't have to waste time and money.

(narrator) In addition, the support services and career guidance you can receive at a community college will help you prepare for the working world after you earn that certificate. More and more individuals are discovering the advantage of the community college. Especially those that are interested in short-term training options. We see a increase in individuals coming into our institutions and then moving out and finding good employment, great wages, and building a future to help them succeed. There's no reason to be stuck. We're here for you and we'll help you get where you need to be.

(narrator) So if you're trying to change gears or just make a living wage in the 21st century, remember that it's not all about degrees. Earning an industry-recognized certificate, whether that's through a community college or another local resource, might be all you need as you're getting to work.

(Describer) Logos appear, including: American Graduate and Ohio Department of Education. Copyright 2020 Public Media Connect. Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.

Accessibility provided by the U.S. Department of Education.