Austin Community College District (ACC) extends and expands deep discounts in fast-track training programs to help get more Central Texans into promising career fields — quickly. The 50-percent tuition discount is now available through August 2021 for a total of 26 programs in the highest-demand sectors in the region, including healthcare, IT, manufacturing, and education. ACC offers four ways to learn including: flexible online, scheduled online, hybrid, and in-person class options.

“COVID-19 has put the need for short-term training at the forefront of education. The pandemic forced thousands of Central Texans out of work; our goal is to help rapidly re-employ the under- and unemployed,” says Dr. Richard Rhodes, ACC chancellor. “This is a pathway for students to start and then decide from there how far they will go. The best way we can support the community is to make sure we provide the right training for the jobs that are available now.”

In September 2020, ACC launched deep discounts in 12 high-demand programs, offered through the college’s Continuing Education Division (CE). This expansion qualifies an additional 14 programs for the tuition discount. Each program provides students skills training and credentials to prepare them for entry-level opportunities. The rapid credentialing can be completed in as little as one month. Qualifying programs include:

Business

• Accounting & Bookkeeping
• Business Office Technology
• Project Manager
• Translation & Interpreting

Design, Manufacturing, Construction & Applied Technologies

• Certified CAD Drafter
• Certified Production Technician
• HVAC
• Heavy Equipment Operator
• Welding
• Plumbing

Education

• Paraeducator
• Teacher Certification

Information Technology

• Cisco Certified Network Associate
• CompTIA Security+
• Information Security; Preparation for CISSP, CASP, and SSCP
• PC Technician
• Web Developer

Healthcare

• Certified Nurse Aide
• Patient Care Technician
• Medical Assisting
• Medical Billing & Coding
• Medical Office Support
• Ophthalmic Assistant
• Dental Assistant
• Phlebotomy Technician
• Veterinary Assistant

“We need to make sure that we’re preparing people for the jobs that will persist. We strategically identified these programs because they’re in industries that are hiring right now,” says Dr. Hector Aguilar, CE dean. “By connecting students with the right credentials, ACC provides the best opportunities for success. You start where you’re at, earn a credential, and get started in a promising job. From there, you can keep growing and building your skills. All of the time you invest in your education counts.”

Most fast-track training programs offer stackable credentials, to allow students to continue their education and earn an associate degree for more advanced career opportunities.

Students who enroll in an eligible program by August 2021 will receive this discount through the duration of the program. Graduates will be connected with ACC partners, like Workforce Solutions Capital and Rural Capital, to connect with employers hiring now.

To hear directly from a recent fast-track graduate at ACC, click here. For more information about all fast-track options at the college, visit austincc.edu/fasttrack.