INA, Ill. – With more and more industries headed online, it only seems fitting that one of Rend Lake College’s recently-revitalized programs also moves in that direction. Starting this fall, RLC’s Office Systems Technology (OFTC) certificate program courses will be offered completely online.
RLC offers three OFTC certificate programs to get graduates prepared for a growing industry. These certificates – Medical Office Assistant, Medical Office Associate, and Office Technologies Assistant – provide options for any student or professional, whether they’re looking to broaden their skillset or make a career change.
Sarah Bilderbeck, OFTC Professor, said the changes were presented to members of the OFTC Advisory Council earlier this year and were welcomed with enthusiasm.
“When we presented these changes to our Advisory Council, they were thrilled about the prospect. We couldn’t be more excited to be able to reach out to students who may have not been able to make this kind of a change in the past,” said Bilderbeck. “Our goal is to provide everything in the OFTC curriculum online to our students.”
The two medical office certificates specifically focus on graduates who want to work in offices in the medical industry, but might not be interested in actual patient care.
The assistant program includes two semesters, or 30 credit hours, of study that includes administrative duties combined with several factors in the medical environment. The associate program is only one semester of 10 credit hours for those looking to immediately join the workforce.
According to the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical specialists hold approximately 634,400 jobs across the country – most commonly found in physicians’ offices, hospitals, dentists’ offices, and outpatient care centers. Median pay for these individuals is approximately $31,540 or $15.17 per hour. It’s expected to be a rapidly growing industry with the addition of nearly 200,000 jobs by 2026.
Similarly, the two-semester, 30-credit hour Office Technologies Assistant program is designed for those looking for entry-level positions in an office or building setting, or for those interested in a new career path or improving skills. At the end of this program, graduates can also sit for the Microsoft User Certification at RLC.
According to the BLS, there are approximately 3.99 million jobs for office specialists and administrative assistants across the country, with median pay falling around $37,230 or $17.90 per hour. The BLS also states, with increasing use of complex software, job prospects will be available for those will a higher skill set.
Bilderbeck said RLC’s online programs are designed to reach new students who may have barriers keeping them from taking that first step and enrolling.
“Each of these certificates lead right into an associate degree, either the Medical Office Specialist or Office Systems Technology Specialist degrees. It makes these online programs perfect for students who are full-time elsewhere and need a way to get back into school outside of the 9-to-5 workday,” said Bilderbeck.
She continued, “Many of the courses in the associate degree programs are also online, with a few exceptions. Only four or five classes are the difference between the two associate degrees, and many students opt to take them all to graduate with all five of the credentials. It’s the perfect combination.”
The three certificates and two associate degree programs were revamped for the Fall 2016 semester to better align with industry standards and keep graduates competitive in the workplace.
To learn more about these certificate programs, contact Sarah Bilderbeck at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1754 or bilderbeck@rlc.edu.
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