Career Development Certificates

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 1305.00 - Child Development/Early Care and Education*

This noncredit certificate of completion in Family Childcare License Preparation will prepare the student for the in-home family childcare licensing process by providing the required hours of instruction on regulatory aspects, development stages, nutrition, and safety. Upon completion, the student will need to complete the application process through Community Care Licensing with the Department of Social Services. Program completion does not ensure license approval.

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Early Childhood Studies: Family Childcare License Preparation will:

• Successfully apply for an in-home daycare license.
• Understand and implement regulatory conditions for an in-home daycare service.
• Understand the developmental needs of the infants, toddlers, and children being served.
• Provide a safe and enriching environment for the children being served.

Program Requirements:

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Green Landscaping and Gardening will:

• Demonstrate how routine maintenance practices can prevent or cause resource waste and pollution.
• Demonstrate the basic landscape skills focused on resource conservation and pollution prevention.
• Demonstrate how to communicate the importance and benefits of resource conservation and pollution prevention practices in the landscape to clients and the public.
• Demonstrate how the diverse elements of landscape design and maintenance learned from previous courses and work experience connect together to conserve resources and prevent pollution.
• Demonstrate the advanced landscape skills focused on resource conservation and pollution prevention.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 0502.00 - Accounting*

The Income Tax Preparation Noncredit Certificate of Competency prepares students for entry-level positions in the tax preparation field or to transition into the credit business accounting classes to pursue two-and-four-year degrees. Students learn basic tax concepts, terminology, and software needed to prepare simple federal/state income tax returns under the supervision of a qualified instructor and in coordination with the Tax Assistance Program of the Northern Santa Barbara County United Way. The IRS Basic Certificate and the Allan Hancock College Community Education Income Tax Preparation Noncredit Certificate of Competency are granted to those who complete all three courses and pass the IRS certificate exam. Math and computer competency are recommended. Students must enroll in all three courses and attend an orientation session.

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Income Tax Preparation will:

• Prepare basic federal and state income tax returns using applicable tax principles and tax law.
• Utilize TaxSlayer software to accurately prepare federal and state income tax returns.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 1305.00 - Child Development/Early Care and Education*

The Early Childhood Studies (ECS) noncredit certificate of competency will prepare the student to transition into the ECS credit program.

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Early Childhood Studies: Introduction to Early Childhood Studies will:

• Summarize important historical influences on the development of children.
• Implement guidance and interaction strategies when working with children.
• Implement curriculum and activities that support the value of play when working with children.
• Apply observation strategies when working with children.
• Identify and implement various assessment processes when working with children.
• Enroll in Early Childhood Studies coursework upon completion of the certificate.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 0514.00 - Office Technology/Office Computer Applications*

The Microsoft Office Basics Certificate will build proficiency with Microsoft Office suite, the most widely used productivity software on the market. This program prepares the student for office-related career positions and transition to a credit CBIS certificate or degree program as well as provide support to the student as a small business owner. The student will learn how to create letters, certificates, and flyers using Word, report and analyze data using Excel spreadsheets and charts, develop presentations for business, home, or volunteer use using PowerPoint, and create flyers, business cards, and calendars using Publisher. Skills in using productivity software (such as Microsoft Office) are often required to enter the job market. These software skills can also lead to higher paying middle-skills jobs.

The graduate of the Certificate of Completion in Microsoft Office Basics will:

• Use Word to create professional quality letters, certificates, flyers, labels and more.
• Learn the basics of Excel: creating spreadsheets, formulas, charts, and more.
• Learn the basics of creating PowerPoint slide shows for business, home and volunteer use.
• Create slides, and add pictures, animation, and music to presentations.
• Learn the basics of Publisher to create flyers, tri-folds, business cards, calendars, cards, envelopes and labels for business, volunteer, or home use.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 4930.90 - Citizenship* 

The Certificate in Pathways to U.S. Citizenship is designed to prepare students for the USCIS citizenship written and oral exams by providing instructions on U.S. government, history, and geography; how the application process works; and what to expect during an official oral interview. These skills will help students gain confidence to successfully apply for U.S. citizenship. Foreign-born workers make 83% of the earnings made by their native-born counterparts, and foreign-born workers who have yet to become citizens make even less. Naturalized citizens gain access to many of the benefits afforded to native-born and naturalized counterparts, including Social Security and Medicare. Workers will also be able to apply for many good-paying, government jobs that typically require applicants to be citizens.

The graduate of the Certificate of Completion in Pathways to U.S. Citizenship will:

• Explain and discuss regulations associated with the application for U.S. citizenship.
• Confidently answer questions related to the oral interview.
• Explain and discuss the civic questions related to the civic questions needed to pass the citizenship evaluation.
• Apply English writing and reading skills as they relate to the U.S. citizenship application process.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 4930.62 - Secondary Education (Grades 9-12) and G.E.D.

Obtaining a High School Equivalency Certificate is key to higher educational goals, better jobs, and stronger life skills. This Secondary Education/High School Equivalency Exam Preparation Certificate will enable students to pass the four subject areas of the high school exam: Language Arts, Reading/Writing, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. The Computer Skills class will introduce students to functions needed to respond to all question types on the exam, word process, keyboard, and navigate online websites. Additionally, students will learn effective test-taking strategies, college readiness skills, life skills, and be better prepared for work.

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Secondary Education/High School Equivalency Exam Preparation will:

• Apply the skills and knowledge necessary to pass any or all of the four content areas of the high school equivalency exam tests: Language Arts, Math, Science, and Social Science.
• Apply Effective Test Taking Strategies and Methods.
• Think critically about issues and distinguish between supported and unsupported arguments in a variety of texts.
• Apply mathematics to solve real life problems using mathematical modeling and problem-solving techniques.
• Utilize the computer skills needed to respond to all question types on the exams, word process, keyboard, and learn to navigate online websites and resources.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 4931.00 - Vocational ESL*

This noncredit certificate of competency in Family Childcare License Preparation will prepare the English language learner for the in-home family childcare licensing process by providing the required hours of instruction on regulatory aspects, development stages, nutrition, and safety. Upon completion, the student will have the reading, writing and speaking competencies needed to complete the application process through Community Care Licensing with the Department of Social Services. Program completion does not ensure license approval.

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Early Childhood Studies: Vocational ESL Family Childcare License Preparation will:

• Successfully use their knowledge/acquisition of the English language to apply for an in-home daycare license.
• Read, understand, and explain the regulatory conditions for an in-home daycare service.
• Read, understand, and explain text that covers the developmental needs of the infants, toddlers, and children being served.
• Successfully communicate with parents and guardians in writing or orally in order to provide a safe and enriching environment for the children being served.

Program Requirements:

TOP Code: 4931.00 - Vocational ESL*

This VESL Introduction to Early Childhood Studies (ECS) certificate of competency is designed to prepare noncredit students more quickly for success in the credit level. Students will master the basic skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening while simultaneously completing the noncredit certificate series of five academic ECS courses. Upon completion, the students will have the reading, writing, and speaking competencies needed to be better prepared for work in the ECS professions and/or credit coursework. It is designed for students who have successfully completed or demonstrated competency at the high-intermediate/low-advanced ESL levels. Career opportunities include: child care workers, preschool teachers, teacher assistants/aides, special education teachers, preschool and childcare center directors, and more.

The graduate of the Certificate of Competency in Early Childhood Studies: Vocational ESL Introduction to Early Childhood Studies will:

• Successfully use their knowledge/acquisition of the English language to summarize important historical influences on the development of children.
• Successfully use their knowledge/acquisition of the English language to implement guidance and interaction strategies when working with children.
• Read, understand, and explain how to implement curriculum and activities that support the value of play when working with children.
• Read, understand, and explain how to apply observation strategies when working with children.
• Read, understand, and explain how to implement various assessment processes when working with children.
• Successfully use their knowledge/acquisition of the English language to enroll in Early Childhood Studies coursework upon completion of the certificate.

VESL 7311 Guidance and Interaction