West Georgia Technical College’s (WGTC) Adult Education division has launched the Career Plus High School Diploma Program, which gives Georgia residents age 18 and older a new path to earn their high school diploma and college credentials.
“The Career Plus High School Diploma Program is an exciting addition to the Adult Education division at West Georgia Technical College,” said Rebecca Wheeler, Dean of Adult Education at WGTC. “The program gives students the choice to pursue either a high school equivalency credential or a high school diploma. This allows them to choose the pathway that best supports their goals.”
Students can build valuable, in-demand workforce skills while advancing their education without the pressure of a high-stakes exam. The flexible program allows students to enroll in high school courses, college courses, or a combination of both, depending on their individual goals and educational needs.
“Some students really want to earn a high school diploma rather than a GED,” said Jessica Simmerson, Career Plus High School Diploma Program Coordinator for WGTC. “Through this program, they can also earn two certificates, giving them valuable credentials to help them start their career.”
High school courses are offered online and designed to be completed in eight weeks or less, allowing students to progress at their own pace. To be eligible, students ages 18–20 must have completed no more than 5.5 of the nine required high school credits.
Most of the college courses are not offered online due to the hands-on nature of the classes. Students can choose to study a range of career pathways, including business, computers & engineering, construction & manufacturing, healthcare, logistics & operations, professional services, public safety, and transportation.
There is no cost to enroll in the program’s high school classes, with tuition and fees waived and all course materials, including textbooks, available through Blackboard. Students pursuing their high school equivalency credential may also qualify for the HOPE HSE Examination Grant to cover exam costs. While college courses require tuition, fees, and textbooks, a variety of financial assistance options, including scholarships and grants, are available to help reduce or even eliminate these expenses.
For program information, visit https://www.westgatech.edu/
West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visitwww.westgatech.edu.
Author: Douglas Salter
