For a vast majority of us, the idea of being done with school and getting the next chapter of our lives started was something we looked forward to. No more tests, no more essays, and finally a chance to apply what we’ve learned in a way that will earn us a regular paycheck. Well, depending on what you’re doing, continuing to attend classes may be necessary, but not in the way you may think. Going back to school doesn’t necessarily mean getting your Masters or your PhD. Another option is to take Continuing Education courses.
These courses aren’t just for older adults looking to pick up a hobby or learn how to use the computer better. There certainly are Continuing Ed classes for these subjects, but millennials can also benefit from taking a few courses to give them an advantage in their professional lives.
Close To Home
One great benefit of Continuing Ed courses are their close proximity to home. Usually they can be found at your local community college or your town/city may offer a few classes. There’s no need for a long commute to a major university and you still get the benefit of being in a classroom setting as opposed to taking courses online.
Low Costs
Compared to taking courses for college credit towards a degree, Continuing Ed classes are relatively cheaper. Depending on the course, it can cost anywhere from $10 to $300. This beats universities that require over $1,000 per credit.
Increase Experience
Whether you need to learn an entirely new skill or need to become more of an expert in a particular task, Continuing Ed courses can help develop your experience and make you more appealing for hiring or for a promotion. Courses can center around finance and accounting, administrative responsibilities, business management, event planning, and computer programs like Excel, Power Point, and Word. Need to learn a new language for your job? There are courses for that, too. There are also different levels of difficulty for some of these classes (beginner, intermediate, expert). You may know the basics, but are in need of taking your skills to the next level.
Try New Career Paths
Continuing Ed courses are also great opportunities to get your feet wet in a new career path. If you’re thinking about switching careers and being an event planner or a Real Estate agent, there are courses for beginners to get you started. With the low cost and no commitment made beyond the one course, it’s a great way to try something new out before deciding to make a big change. These courses are usually offered on weeknights or on the weekends so they don’t interfere with a 9-5 job.
No Tests
Continuing Ed courses also have the benefit of no tests. Unlike traditional classes, you don’t have essays to write, tons of homework, or a final exam. There are no grades. For a select few courses, like CPR training, you will have to demonstrate you can do the task to get a certificate, but for the most part, there are no tests. You can honestly go in with simply the desire to learn something new and the determination to better yourself. Extra stress not included.
To find the Continuing Ed opportunities near you, check with your local school district and your local community college. Those are your best chances at finding a course catalog and registration information. Some courses can last only a day while some may be one day over the course of several weeks. See what fits your schedule and what you need to improve your eligibility. Of course, if you want to take a dance class just for fun, be my guest.
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