Students who apply for one of Ashland Community and Technical College’s newest programs may qualify for free tuition thanks to the recently announced Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship (WRKS), which will help thousands of Kentuckians become more marketable in the workplace.
The scholarship provides free tuition for programs in five fields that are considered high-wage, high-demand in Kentucky. Those fields are health care, advanced manufacturing, transportation/logistics, business services/information technology and construction/trades.
Anyone who has not yet earned a college degree of any type is eligible for the free tuition for a certificate or diploma in one of the five fields. There are no income or age limits to qualify. The only educational requirement to apply is a high school diploma or GED. KCTCS students in the Accelerating Opportunity Kentucky (AOKY) program also are eligible. AOKY allows students to earn a GED while also taking college courses.
“If people want to get a good job or improve their skills to get a better job, they should look into the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship,” said Dr. Kay Adkins, ACTC President. “Not everyone wants or needs a bachelor’s degree, so this is a great opportunity for people who want to get in, get out and get to work quickly.”
ACTC’s new Dental Assisting program has extended its application deadline to June 19 and falls under the eligible healthcare programs. Those interested in applying must attend a required conference from 3-5 p.m. on June 16 in the teleconference room at the College Drive Campus.
The dental assisting program prepares students to provide services such as assisting the dentist with operative and surgical procedures, manipulation of dental materials, taking radiographs, providing oral health instructions and performing office management tasks. Upon completion of the 12-month program, students will be awarded a Diploma in Dental Assisting. Graduates will also be certified in radiation health and safety, coronal polishing and expanded duties (lab competency).
Dental Assisting is a selective admission program students will need to submit both an ACTC application and a dental assisting program application. Admission requirements include COMPASS/ACT scores, GPA, prerequisite courses and CPR certification. Other requirements are listed online, along with applications, at ashland.kctcs.edu under Academics, Programs of Study.
For more information on the Dental Assisting program, contact program coordinator Barbara Hughes-Nelson at 606 326-2095 or bnelson0088@kctcs.edu.
Other WRKS Eligible Programs
ACTC is also expanding its applied process technology (lineman certificate), electricity and welding programs to meet the needs of former AK Steel employees. Additionally, the practical nursing program is increasing its size by admitting 45 students, rather than the previous 35, to assist King’s Daughters Medical Center.
The full list of WRKS eligible programs are broken down by field:
Advanced Manufacturing
Certificates: ARC Welder, AWS National Skills Standards Level I, Civil Drafter, Computer Assisted Drafter, Detailer, Drafter Assistant, Exploratory Machining I, Industrial Maintenance Electrical Mechanic, Industrial Maintenance Machinists Mechanic, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Level I, Industrial Maintenance Mechanic Level II, Lineman, Machine Tool Operator I, Machine Tool Operator II, Pipeline Welder, Production Line Welder and Tack Welder.
Diplomas: CNC Machinist, Combination Welder, Computer Aided Drafting and Design, Industrial Maintenance Technician and Machinist.
Business and IT
Certificates: Accounting, Accounting Recordkeeping Specialist, Advanced Business Administration, Business Communication, Business Transfer, CISCO Networking Associate, CISCO Networking Enhanced, CIT Fundamentals, Computer Support Technician, Computer Tech Basic, Computer Technician, Digital Forensics, Financial Perspectives, General Business, Industrial Supervisor, Information Security Specialist, Leadership, Management, Microsoft Enterprise Administrator, Microsoft Network Administrator, Network Technologies Specialist, Payroll Accounting Specialist, Productivity Software Specialist, Programming, Small Business Management, Social Media Specialist, Supervisory Management, Web Administration and Web Programming.
Construction
Certificates: Domestic Air Conditioner and Furnace Installer, Electrical Construction, Electrical Motor Control Level I, Electrical Motor Control Level II, Electrician Trainee Level I, Electrician Trainee Level II, Environmental Control System Servicer, Environmental System Repair Helper, Refrigeration Mechanic, Residential Electricity Level I, Residential Electricity Level II and Voice and Data Wiring Installer Level I.
Diplomas: Electrical Technology and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Mechanic.
Healthcare
Certificates: Electrocardiographic and Cardiac Monitoring Technician, Electronic Health Records Specialist, Emergency Medical Services Paramedic, Emergency Medical Technician, Healthcare Foundations – Basic, Healthcare Foundations – Intermediate, Hospital Admissions Specialist, Medicaid Nurse Aide, Medical Coding, Medical Unit Coordinator, Pharmacy Technician I, Phlebotomist – Medical Assisting and Retail Pharmacy Technician.
Diplomas: Dental Assisting, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Records Specialist, Pharmacy Technician II, Practical Nurse and Surgical Technologist.
Transportation and Logistics
Certificates: Agriculture Equipment Mechanic Helper, Automotive Electrician, Construction Equipment Mechanic Helper, Diesel Engine Mechanic, Diesel Steering and Suspension Mechanic, Electrical/Electronics Systems Mechanic, Fluid Power Mechanic, Heavy Duty Brake Mechanic, Heavy Duty Drive Train Mechanic, Medium and Heavy Truck Mechanic Helper, Mobile Air Conditioning Mechanic, Preventive Maintenance Mechanic, Tune-up Mechanic and Undercarriage Mechanic.
Diplomas: Agriculture Equipment Technician, Automotive Technician, Construction Equipment Technician and Medium and Heavy Truck Technician.
Information about all programs eligible for the Work Ready Kentucky Scholarship can be found at workreadykentucky.com. The scholarship will be administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) and students must file a Free Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) and submit an ACTC application before applying for the WRKS. The FAFSA form is available at www.fafsa.gov and the WRKS application can be found at www.kheaa.com.
For information on financial aid at ACTC, call 1-855-2GO-ACTC or visit ashland.kctcs.edu. For other scholarship information, contact Brooke Seasor, Director of Advancement, at 606-326-2092 or brooke.seasor@kctcs.edu.
