New Summer Short-Term Training Offered in Psychiatric Tech, Drones, and AI

Beaufort County Community College is registering now for summer courses through the Division of Continuing Education. New programs help to prepare people for new and growing fields such as psychiatric technician, uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) or drones, and artificial intelligence. The college is also offering a bilingual GED preparation class for the first time.

As part of its new UAS Operations Training program, the college is offering nine uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS)/drone operation classes. UAS can be used in mapping and surveying, with applications to a variety of fields, and these classes can help students start out in the field or advance their skills. Two classes, UAS Operations-Mapping with Pix4D and UAV Building and Maintenance, are scholarship-eligible.

The college is also offering five new classes about artificial intelligence (AI) to help to help students understand and master new technological opportunities.

The Small Business Center is offering a free two-part workshop series on Arts and Crafts Business, along with other fundamental business skills like starting a limited liability corporation (LLC), creating a logo, and building a website.

A new Psychiatric Technician course is designed for students who want to be certified as a Mental Health Tech. Mental Health Technicians are integral to the mental health care system, offering direct assistance, understanding mental health diagnoses, and developing intervention techniques. It equips individuals with the knowledge and skills necessary for providing safe and therapeutic care to those with mental health/behavioral needs, preparing students for Level I AAPT certification and entry-level positions in specialized care facilities or hospitals.

In a first, the college is offering GED preparation for Spanish students. The class will prepare them to earn their high school equivalency. To help place students in appropriate classes, new English Language Acquisition students (including students taking bilingual GED classes) must first attend an orientation session.

Perennial courses such as heating and air technician, forklift training, real estate pre-license, pharmacy technician, nurse aide, emergency medical technician (EMT), commercial truck driving are also offered during the summer.

For parents and guardians, the college is also offering 44 Summer Enrichment Youth Program classes in Beaufort, and Hyde Counties. These classes range from drone piloting to babysitting to cooking. Scholarships are available for qualified families.

Many courses offered are scholarship-eligible or free. The Beaufort Promise Scholarship pays for registration fees for 50+ hour initial certification courses through the Division of Continuing Education for residents of Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, and Washington Counties. While it is not available for summer semester, college staff can connect students to alternative scholarships for which they may qualify. Programs like the Small Business Center and our College & Career Readiness programs (GED and ESL) are entirely state-funded and are free for all students.

Students and participants can register by calling 252-940-6375 or emailing continuingeducation@beaufortccc.edu. View all courses in the Division of Continuing Education at www.beaufortccc.edu/current-con-ed