Wallace State Community College

The work of automotive service technicians and mechanics has evolved from mechanical repair to a high technology job. As a result, these workers are now usually called “technicians” in automotive services. Today, integrated electronic systems and complex computers run vehicles and measure their performance while on the road. Technicians must have an increasingly broad base of knowledge about how vehicles’ complex components work and interact, as well as the ability to work with electronic diagnostic equipment and computer-based technical reference materials while maintaining their skills with traditional hand tools.

The ability to diagnose the source of a problem quickly and accurately requires good reasoning ability and a thorough knowledge of automobiles. Many technicians consider diagnosing hard-to-find troubles one of their most challenging and satisfying duties.

Automotive technology is rapidly increasing in sophistication, and most training authorities strongly recommend that persons seeking automotive service technician and mechanic jobs complete an accredited formal training program like the one offered at Wallace State, which provides intensive career preparation through a combination of classroom instruction and hands-on practice. Courses in electronics, physics, chemistry, English, computers, and mathematics may provide a good educational foundation for entering such a program.

Wallace State's Collision Repair program prepares students for a careerin the fast growing automotive industry. Students in the program are prepared for certification through I-Car, the National Automotive Technical Education Foundation (NATEF) and as technicians proficient in Automotive Service Excellence (A.S.E.) standards.

Auto body technicians, also often called collision repair technicians, straighten bent bodies, remove dents, and replace crumpled parts that cannot be fixed. They repair all types of vehicles, and although some work on large trucks, buses, or tractor-trailers, most work on cars and small trucks.

Auto body repair work has variety and challenges: each damaged vehicle presents a different problem. For example, “unibody” vehicles—designs built without frames—must be restored to precise factory specifications for the vehicle to operate correctly. Using their broad knowledge of automotive construction and repair techniques, repairers must develop appropriate methods for each job.

To become a fully skilled auto body technician, formal training followed by on-the-job instruction is recommended because repair of newer automobiles requires more advanced skills to fix the new technologies and new body materials.

The Auto Body Repair program at Wallace State is designed to train students to repair and replace damaged auto bodies and parts, from frame repair and glass replacement to working with fiberglass and plastics, and applying paints and finishes. Students learn the metallurgical structure of sheet steel and the use of hand tools and pneumatic equipment used in bumping, dinging, filing, grinding, sanding, and spraying a damaged panel.

The purpose of the Diesel Technology program is to provide students with training in maintaining

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Child Development certificates or degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

Discover your story in Child Development at Wallace State!

The Child Development program at Wallace State Community College works to instill in its students the skills and education they will need to play a vital role in a young person’s life. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves, the way they perceive the world and their later successes in school, work, and personal lives.

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Child Development certificates or degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

Discover your story in Child Development at Wallace State!

The Child Development program at Wallace State Community College works to instill in its students the skills and education they will need to play a vital role in a young person’s life. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves, the way they perceive the world and their later successes in school, work, and personal lives.

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Child Development certificates or degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

Discover your story in Child Development at Wallace State!

The Child Development program at Wallace State Community College works to instill in its students the skills and education they will need to play a vital role in a young person’s life. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves, the way they perceive the world and their later successes in school, work, and personal lives.

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Child Development certificates or degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

Discover your story in Child Development at Wallace State!

The Child Development program at Wallace State Community College works to instill in its students the skills and education they will need to play a vital role in a young person’s life. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves, the way they perceive the world and their later successes in school, work, and personal lives.

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Child Development certificates or degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

Discover your story in Child Development at Wallace State!

The Child Development program at Wallace State Community College works to instill in its students the skills and education they will need to play a vital role in a young person’s life. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves, the way they perceive the world and their later successes in school, work, and personal lives.

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Child Development certificates or degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education and transfer to a four-year university, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

Discover your story in Child Development at Wallace State!

The Child Development program at Wallace State Community College works to instill in its students the skills and education they will need to play a vital role in a young person’s life. What children learn and experience during their early years can shape their views of themselves, the way they perceive the world and their later successes in school, work, and personal lives.

Police officers and detectives maintain law and order, collect evidence and information, and conduct investigations and surveillance. Wallace State provides law enforcement officers the necessary skills to conduct routine investigations. There is emphasis in forensic science and criminalistics, with special emphasis placed upon laboratory practices used to develop investigative evidence. Graduates go on to careers in such jobs as police officer, game warden, corrections officer or probation officer. Some jobs require a four-year degree, but a two-year associate’s degree is all that is required at many police departments.

Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians may give testimony on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime.

Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a career in law enforcement include accounting, finance, electrical engineering, computer science, and foreign languages.

Police officers and detectives maintain law and order, collect evidence and information, and conduct investigations and surveillance. Wallace State provides law enforcement officers the necessary skills to conduct routine investigations. There is emphasis in forensic science and criminalistics, with special emphasis placed upon laboratory practices used to develop investigative evidence. Graduates go on to careers in such jobs as police officer, game warden, corrections officer or probation officer. Some jobs require a four-year degree, but a two-year associate’s degree is all that is required at many police departments.

Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians may give testimony on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime.

Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a career in law enforcement include accounting, finance, electrical engineering, computer science, and foreign languages.

Police officers and detectives maintain law and order, collect evidence and information, and conduct investigations and surveillance. Wallace State provides law enforcement officers the necessary skills to conduct routine investigations. There is emphasis in forensic science and criminalistics, with special emphasis placed upon laboratory practices used to develop investigative evidence. Graduates go on to careers in such jobs as police officer, game warden, corrections officer or probation officer. Some jobs require a four-year degree, but a two-year associate’s degree is all that is required at many police departments.

Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians may give testimony on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime.

Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a career in law enforcement include accounting, finance, electrical engineering, computer science, and foreign languages.

People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics—EMTs with additional advanced training to perform more difficult pre-hospital medical procedures. EMTs and paramedics provide vital medical attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.

In an emergency, EMTs and paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, and often work with law enforcement and fire department personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient’s condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has pre-existing medical problems. Some paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home without transporting them to a medical facility. Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out by the paramedic under the direction of medical doctors by protocol or verbal orders.

The purpose of the Emergency Medical Services Program is to prepare students as competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). As of 2012, EMTs are licensed at three levels in Alabama: EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic. Students completing all three EMT certificate levels and all academic core curriculum courses may receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services. Graduates qualify for employment with air and ground ambulance services, fire and rescue departments, industrial safety departments, and emergency departments within medical facilities.

People’s lives often depend on the quick reaction and competent care of emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and paramedics—EMTs with additional advanced training to perform more difficult pre-hospital medical procedures. EMTs and paramedics provide vital medical attention as they care for and transport the sick or injured to a medical facility.

In an emergency, EMTs and paramedics typically are dispatched to the scene by a 911 operator, and often work with law enforcement and fire department personnel. Once they arrive, they determine the nature and extent of the patient’s condition while trying to ascertain whether the patient has pre-existing medical problems. Some paramedics are trained to treat patients with minor injuries on the scene of an accident or at their home without transporting them to a medical facility. Emergency treatment for more complicated problems is carried out by the paramedic under the direction of medical doctors by protocol or verbal orders.

The purpose of the Emergency Medical Services Program is to prepare students as competent entry-level Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). As of 2012, EMTs are licensed at three levels in Alabama: EMT, Advanced EMT, and Paramedic. Students completing all three EMT certificate levels and all academic core curriculum courses may receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Emergency Medical Services. Graduates qualify for employment with air and ground ambulance services, fire and rescue departments, industrial safety departments, and emergency departments within medical facilities.

Paralegals—also called legal assistants—are assuming a growing range of tasks in the nation’s legal offices.

One of a paralegal’s most important tasks is helping lawyers prepare for closings, hearings, trials, and corporate meetings. Paralegals may investigate the facts of cases and ensure that all relevant information is considered. They may also identify appropriate laws, judicial decisions, legal articles, and other materials that are relevant to assigned cases. Paralegals may prepare written reports, draft pleadings and motions to be filed with the court, obtain affidavits, and assist attorneys during trials. Paralegals also organize and track files of all important case documents and make them available and easily accessible to attorneys.

Additionally, paralegals perform a number of other vital functions including drafting contracts, mortgages, separation agreements, and instruments of trust. Some paralegals coordinate the activities of other law office employees and maintain financial office records.

Paralegals are found in all types of organizations, but most are employed by law firms, corporate legal departments, and various government offices. In these organizations, they can work in many different areas of the law, including litigation, personal injury, corporate law, criminal law, employee benefits, intellectual property, labor law, bankruptcy, immigration, family law, and real estate.

The Computer Science Program is designed to prepare students for employment in industry or business, with emphasis on the small business computer environment. The program offers four options: Cyber Security/Computer Forensic Technology, Programming, Software Support (Help Desk), and Internet/Networking Technology.

Computer security specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement and organization’s information security. These workers may be called upon to educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor the network for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks.

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain detailed programs that computers must follow to perform their functions, as well as conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computers. Computer programs tell the computer what to do – which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Many programmers update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs.

Computer support specialists and help-desk technicians provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems.

Network administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administration support for software users in a variety of work environments. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users.

The Computer Science Program is designed to prepare students for employment in industry or business, with emphasis on the small business computer environment. The program offers four options: Cyber Security/Computer Forensic Technology, Programming, Software Support (Help Desk), and Internet/Networking Technology.

Computer security specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement and organization’s information security. These workers may be called upon to educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor the network for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks.

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain detailed programs that computers must follow to perform their functions, as well as conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computers. Computer programs tell the computer what to do – which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Many programmers update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs.

Computer support specialists and help-desk technicians provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems.

Network administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administration support for software users in a variety of work environments. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users.

The Computer Science Program is designed to prepare students for employment in industry or business, with emphasis on the small business computer environment. The program offers four options: Cyber Security/Computer Forensic Technology, Programming, Software Support (Help Desk), and Internet/Networking Technology.

Computer security specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement and organization’s information security. These workers may be called upon to educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor the network for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks.

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain detailed programs that computers must follow to perform their functions, as well as conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computers. Computer programs tell the computer what to do – which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Many programmers update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs.

Computer support specialists and help-desk technicians provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems.

Network administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administration support for software users in a variety of work environments. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users.

Police officers and detectives maintain law and order, collect evidence and information, and conduct investigations and surveillance. Wallace State provides law enforcement officers the necessary skills to conduct routine investigations. There is emphasis in forensic science and criminalistics, with special emphasis placed upon laboratory practices used to develop investigative evidence. Graduates go on to careers in such jobs as police officer, game warden, corrections officer or probation officer. Some jobs require a four-year degree, but a two-year associate’s degree is all that is required at many police departments.

Forensic science technicians investigate crimes by collecting and analyzing physical evidence. Often, they specialize in areas such as DNA analysis or firearm examination. When criminal cases come to trial, forensic science technicians may give testimony on specific laboratory findings by identifying and classifying substances, materials, and other evidence collected at the scene of a crime.

Law enforcement agencies are encouraging applicants to take postsecondary school training in law enforcement-related subjects. Many junior colleges, colleges, and universities offer programs in law enforcement or administration of justice. Other courses helpful in preparing for a career in law enforcement include accounting, finance, electrical engineering, computer science, and foreign languages.

The Computer Science Program is designed to prepare students for employment in industry or business, with emphasis on the small business computer environment. The program offers four options: Cyber Security/Computer Forensic Technology, Programming, Software Support (Help Desk), and Internet/Networking Technology.

Computer security specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement and organization’s information security. These workers may be called upon to educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor the network for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks.

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain detailed programs that computers must follow to perform their functions, as well as conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computers. Computer programs tell the computer what to do – which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Many programmers update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs.

Computer support specialists and help-desk technicians provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems.

Network administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administration support for software users in a variety of work environments. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users.

The Computer Science Program is designed to prepare students for employment in industry or business, with emphasis on the small business computer environment. The program offers four options: Cyber Security/Computer Forensic Technology, Programming, Software Support (Help Desk), and Internet/Networking Technology.

Computer security specialists may plan, coordinate, and implement and organization’s information security. These workers may be called upon to educate users about computer security, install security software, monitor the network for security breaches, respond to cyber attacks, and in some cases, gather data and evidence to be used in prosecuting cyber crime. The responsibilities of computer security specialists has increased in recent years as there has been a large increase in the number of cyber attacks on data and networks.

Computer programmers write, test, and maintain detailed programs that computers must follow to perform their functions, as well as conceive, design, and test logical structures for solving problems by computers. Computer programs tell the computer what to do – which information to identify and access, how to process it, and what equipment to use. Many programmers update, repair, modify, and expand existing programs.

Computer support specialists and help-desk technicians provide technical assistance, support, and advice to customers and other users. These troubleshooters interpret problems and provide technical support for hardware, software, and systems.

Network administrators design, install, and support an organization’s local-area network (LAN), wide-area network (WAN), network segment, Internet, or intranet system. They provide day-to-day onsite administration support for software users in a variety of work environments. They maintain network hardware and software, analyze problems, and monitor the network to ensure its availability to system users.

The Electronics Technology program at Wallace State is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in diverse areas in the field of electronics with a solid foundation for early advancement and promotion. Teaching is accomplished by traditional lecture and demonstration in the classroom as well as using a hybrid format of computer based and web based instruction. Hands-on laboratory exercises reinforce concepts covered in the courses and strengthen the concepts by adding real world troubleshooting, maintenance and repair experiences.

The Culinary Arts program at Wallace State provides the ingredients needed to build an exciting career in restaurants, food service, and the greater hospitality industry.

Chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers prepare, season, and cook a wide range of foods in a variety of restaurants and other food services establishments. Chefs and cooks create recipes and prepare meals, while food preparation workers peel and cut vegetables, trim meat, prepare poultry, and perform other duties such as keeping work areas clean and monitoring temperatures of ovens and stovetops.

Chefs may coordinate the work of the kitchen staff, direct the preparation of meals, determine serving sizes, plan menus, order food supplies, and oversee kitchen operations to ensure uniform quality and presentation of meals.

A dental assistant helps with the direct care of patients under the supervision of a dentist.

Dental assistants perform a variety of patient care, office, and laboratory duties. They work chairside as dentists examine and treat patients. They make patients as comfortable as possible in the dental chair, prepare them for treatment, and obtain their dental records. Assistants hand instruments and materials to dentists and keep patients’ mouths dry and clear by using suction or other devices. Assistants also sterilize and disinfect instruments and equipment, prepare trays of instruments for dental procedures, and instruct patients on post-operative and general oral health care.

Some dental assistants prepare materials for impressions and restorations, take dental x-rays, and process x-ray film as directed by a dentist. They also may remove sutures, apply topical anesthetics to gums or cavity-preventive agents to teeth, remove excess cement used in the filling process, and place rubber dams on the teeth to isolate them for individual treatment.

Those with laboratory duties make casts of the teeth and mouth from impressions, clean and polish removable appliances, and make temporary crowns. Dental assistants with office duties schedule and confirm appointments, receive patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, and order dental supplies and materials. Upon successful completion of the Wallace State program, graduates will be prepared to function as Dental Assistants in dental offices, hospitals and clinics.

As a practicing member of the dental health team, the dental hygienist acts as an educator and motivator in maintenance of oral health and prevention of dental disease.

Hygienists are in demand in general dental practices, as well as in specialty practices such as periodontics or pediatric dentistry. Hygienists may also be employed to provide dental hygiene services for patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and public health clinics. Dental hygienists remove soft and hard deposits from teeth, teach patients how to practice good oral hygiene, and provide other preventive dental care. Hygienists examine patients’ teeth and gums, recording the presence of diseases or abnormalities. They remove tartar, stains, and plaque from teeth; perform root planing as a periodontal therapy; take and develop dental x-rays; and apply cavity-preventive agents such as fluorides and pit and fissure sealants. In some states, hygienists administer anesthetics; place and carve filling materials, temporary fillings, and periodontal dressings; remove sutures; and smooth and polish metal restorations. Although hygienists may not diagnose diseases, they can prepare clinical and laboratory diagnostic tests for the dentist to interpret. Hygienists sometimes work chairside with the dentist during treatment.

The Diagnostic Imaging program is designed to provide qualified radiologic technologists for diagnostic imaging departments of hospitals and clinics. Radiologic technologists create images using x-rays that pass through the body. They are educated in anatomy, patient positioning, examination techniques, equipment protocols, radiation safety and protection, and basic patient care. They may also administer contrast media to visualize anatomy in the body such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Radiologic technologists may have the opportunity to specialize in specific imaging modalities such as bone densitometry, computed tomography (CT), mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, or sonography.

The Wallace State Community College Diagnostic Imaging program is currently accredited by the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology (www.jrcert.org). To review program effectiveness data for WSCC and other JRCERT accredited programs, please visit the JRCERT accreditation website.

Sonography, or ultrasonography, is the use of sound waves to generate an image for the assessment and diagnosis of various medical conditions. Sonography is usually associated with obstetrics and the use of ultrasound imaging during pregnancy, but this technology has many other applications in the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions.

Diagnostic medical sonographers use special equipment to direct non-ionizing, high frequency sound waves into areas of the patient’s body. Sonographers operate the equipment, which collects reflected echoes and forms an image that may be videotaped, transmitted, or photographed for interpretation and diagnosis by a physician.

To perform the exam, sonographers use a transducer, which transmits sound waves in a cone- or rectangle-shaped beam. Although techniques vary with the area being examined, sonographers usually spread a special gel on the skin to aid the transmission of sound waves.

Viewing the screen during the scan, sonographers look for subtle visual cues that contrast healthy areas with unhealthy ones. They decide whether the images are satisfactory for diagnostic purposes and select which ones to show to the physician. Sonographers take measurements, calculate values, and analyze the results in preliminary reports for the physicians.

Diagnostic medical sonographers may specialize in obstetric and gynecologic sonography (the female reproductive system), abdominal sonography (the liver, kidneys, gallbladder, spleen, and pancreas), neurosonography (the brain), or breast sonography. In addition, sonographers may specialize in vascular technology or echocardiography.

The Health Information Technology Program prepares students to become health information professionals who play a vital role in making our healthcare system work. They perform the data collection and analysis that doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals need to do their jobs well and are a key part of quality patient care.

Health information technicians may be employed by any facility that manages patient information, such as a hospital, clinic, physician office, insurance company, or medical research center.

The Health Information Technology Program at WSCC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). Only graduates of CAHIIM-accredited programs are eligible to take the national examination to become a Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT). Wallace State Community College is one of only two CAHIIM-accredited programs in the state of Alabama.

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding licensure and job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Medical Coding certificate for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university. And if you do choose to continue your education, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.

The Medical Assistant curriculum covers administrative duties including scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining medical records, performing secretarial skills, handling telephone calls and writing correspondence, serving as a liaison between the physician and other individuals, and managing practice finances. Clinical duties include preparing the patient for examination, taking patient histories and vital signs, performing first-aid and CPR, assisting the physician with examinations and treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures and diagnostic tests, preparing and administering medications as directed by the physician, and performing electrocardiograms and basic radiography.

Clinical laboratory testing plays a crucial role in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of disease.

Using sophisticated lab equipment, clinical laboratory personnel examine and analyze body fluids and cells. They look for bacteria, parasites, and other microorganisms; analyze the chemical content of fluids; match blood for transfusions; and test for drug levels in the blood to show how a patient is responding to treatment. They also prepare specimens for examination, count cells, and look for abnormal cells in blood and body fluids. They perform analyses in the areas of microbiology, hematology, immunology, biochemistry, and immunohematology, which is relayed from the lab to physicians.

The MLT Program has as its mission to provide continuously improving, diversified, quality learning experiences for students in order to graduate Medical Laboratory Technicians that perform competently and professionally in the field. The MLT Program is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences*. Upon completion of all Wallace State Community College degree requirements, the student will receive an Associate in Applied Science Degree and will be eligible to take a National Certification Examination.

Occupational therapy assistants work under the direction of occupational therapists to provide rehabilitative services to persons with mental, physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. The ultimate goal is to improve clients’ quality of life and ability to perform daily activities. For example, occupational therapy assistants help injured workers re-enter the labor force by teaching them how to compensate for lost motor skills or help individuals with learning disabilities increase their independence.

Activities range from teaching the proper method of moving from a bed into a wheelchair to the best exercise to stretch and limber the muscles of the hand. Assistants monitor an individual’s activities to make sure that they are performed correctly and provide encouragement. They also record their client’s progress for the occupational therapist. If the treatment is not having the intended effect, or the client is not improving as expected, the therapist may alter the treatment program in hopes of obtaining better results. In addition, occupational therapy assistants document the billing of the client’s health insurance provider.

An associate’s degree or a certificate from an accredited community college or technical school is generally required to qualify for occupational therapy assistant jobs. Wallace State’s Occupational Therapy Assistant program is offered on the WSCC campus.

The Pharmacy Technology curriculum prepares students to function as healthcare professionals in both retail and institutional pharmacies. Students may be employed in chain drug stores, independent pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, hospital pharmacies and medical clinics. Other career opportunities may include employment with state healthcare agencies and prescription benefit management companies.

While completion of a formalized training program, and/or seeking certification as a pharmacy technician (CPhT) should benefit graduates as they enter the workforce, at this time these credentials are not required by the Alabama Board of Pharmacy in order to practice as a pharmacy technician. Additional information regarding pharmacy technician training and regulatory issues can be found at the Alabama Board of Pharmacy’s website, www.albop.com.

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a skilled technical health care worker who assists the physical therapist in providing services that help improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Duties of the physical therapist assistant are varied but include rehabilitation of orthopedic, neurological, pediatric, and sports-related problems. Once a patient is evaluated and a treatment plan is designed by the physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant can provide many aspects of treatment, as prescribed by the physical therapist. Components of treatment procedures performed by these workers involve exercise, massage, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. The physical therapist assistant is responsible for reporting patient responses and treatment outcomes to the physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants are employed in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health care agencies, private practices, and other specialized health care settings.

The Nursing program is designed to provide the necessary training to enable the graduate to obtain an entry-level position as a nurse. Employment options include a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, physician’s offices, long-term care facilities, home-health agencies and outpatient-surgery clinics. Upon successful completion of the third semester in nursing, students receive their certificate for Practical Nursing and are eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination – Licensed Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN). Upon successful completion of the fifth semester in nursing, graduates are eligible to apply to write the National Council Licensure Examination – Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). The program in nursing is approved by the Alabama Board of Nursing and accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), 3343 Peachtree Road, NE, Suite 850, Atlanta, Georgia, 30326, (404) 975-5000, www.ACENursing.org

A respiratory therapist is responsible for administering, under physician’s prescription, many types of breathing therapeutics, and utilizing specialized breathing, aerosol and humidification equipment. These include the use of oxygen or oxygen mixtures, chest physiotherapy, mechanical ventilation, and aerosol medications.

Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people whose lungs may be diseased. Respiratory therapists provide temporary relief to patients with chronic asthma or emphysema, as well as emergency care to patients who are victims of a heart attack, stroke, trauma, drowning, or shock.

They perform limited physical examinations, and conduct diagnostic tests that assess breathing capacities and determine the concentration of oxygen and other gases in patients. The respiratory therapist works closely with the physician and also directly with the patient in the treatment situation by performing regular assessments of patients and equipment.

This program is designed to provide necessary training for successful completion of the requirements for the advanced practitioner level as defined by the National Board for Respiratory Care.

The purpose of the Diesel Technology program is to provide students with training in maintaining

The Diesel Technology program at Wallace State Community College provides the education and training needed to compete in the field of diesel mechanics. The program is popular with students and boasts outstanding job placement rates and numerous industry partnerships.

The diesel engine is the workhorse powering the nation’s trucks and buses because it delivers more power, is more efficient, and is more durable than its gasoline-burning counterpart. Diesel-powered engines also are becoming more prevalent in light vehicles, including passenger vehicles, pickups, and other work trucks.

Diesel service technicians and mechanics, which includes bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists, repair and maintain the diesel engines that power transportation equipment such as heavy trucks, buses, and locomotives. Some diesel technicians and mechanics also work on heavy vehicles and mobile equipment, including bulldozers, cranes, road graders, farm tractors, and combines. Technicians need a state commercial driver’s license (CDL) to test-drive trucks and buses on public roads. Wallace State offers a certificate in Diesel Mechanics and provides CDL training and testing for those interested in a career in Diesel Mechanics or truck driving.

Increasingly, technicians must be versatile in order to adapt to customers’ needs and new technologies. It is common for technicians to handle all kinds of repairs, from working on a vehicle’s electrical system one day to doing major engine repairs the next. In modern shops, diesel service technicians use hand-held or laptop computers to diagnose problems and adjust engine functions. Because of continual advances in automotive technology, technicians must regularly learn new techniques to repair vehicles.

Wallace State Community College’s Engineering Technology program provides a pathway to give you opportunities to see exactly where you fit in the engineering world. There are many career options for those interested in a degree in engineering technology. There are careers where your office is the site of a new road, bridge, building, utility installation, or other major infrastructure projects. There are careers where you work in the comfort of an air-conditioned office.

Engineering technicians prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery, and spacecraft to structures such as houses, office buildings, and oil and gas pipelines. Engineering technicians’ drawings provide visual guidelines, show the technical details of the products and structures, and specify dimensions, materials, and procedures. Most engineering technicians use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to prepare drawings.

Many engineering technicians work for architectural, engineering, and related services firms that design construction projects or do other engineering work on a contract basis for other industries. Jobs are also found in manufacturing industries such as machinery, fabricated metal, computer and electronics, and transportation equipment, including aerospace products and parts manufacturing, ship and boat building. Others are employed in construction, government, wholesale trade, and utilities, or are self-employed.

Opportunities are best for individuals with at least two years of postsecondary training in engineering technology and considerable skill and experience using CAD systems, along with well-developed drafting and mechanical drawing skills, knowledge of drafting standards, mathematics, science, and engineering technology.

Industrial growth and increasingly complex design problems associated with new products and manufacturing processes will increase the demand for engineering technician’s services. Engineering technicians with CAD expertise have broken out of the traditional drafting role and increasingly do work traditionally performed by engineers and architects, thus also increasing demand for engineering technicians.

Wallace State Community College’s Engineering Technology program provides a pathway to give you opportunities to see exactly where you fit in the engineering world. There are many career options for those interested in a degree in engineering technology. There are careers where your office is the site of a new road, bridge, building, utility installation, or other major infrastructure projects. There are careers where you work in the comfort of an air-conditioned office.

Engineering technicians prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery, and spacecraft to structures such as houses, office buildings, and oil and gas pipelines. Engineering technicians’ drawings provide visual guidelines, show the technical details of the products and structures, and specify dimensions, materials, and procedures. Most engineering technicians use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to prepare drawings.

Many engineering technicians work for architectural, engineering, and related services firms that design construction projects or do other engineering work on a contract basis for other industries. Jobs are also found in manufacturing industries such as machinery, fabricated metal, computer and electronics, and transportation equipment, including aerospace products and parts manufacturing, ship and boat building. Others are employed in construction, government, wholesale trade, and utilities, or are self-employed.

Opportunities are best for individuals with at least two years of postsecondary training in engineering technology and considerable skill and experience using CAD systems, along with well-developed drafting and mechanical drawing skills, knowledge of drafting standards, mathematics, science, and engineering technology.

Industrial growth and increasingly complex design problems associated with new products and manufacturing processes will increase the demand for engineering technician’s services. Engineering technicians with CAD expertise have broken out of the traditional drafting role and increasingly do work traditionally performed by engineers and architects, thus also increasing demand for engineering technicians.

Wallace State helps up-and-coming heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC/R) installers and service technicians gain the knowledge and skills they need to pass certification and licensing procedures in order to gain employment in this high-demand field. And gain employment they do. Wallace State's program has an outstanding repulation.

HVAC/R systems are diverse and consist of many different components. However, they all depend on the same mechanical, electrical and other scientific principles that allow these systems to perform the jobs that we depend on.

A technician may specialize in various aspects of the industry or they may regularly be exposed to many different task. Those who are successfully employed within the HVAC/R industry,are required to have a strong technical comprehension, to practice proper working skills, and maintain high ethical standards.

Due to advancements in technology and the increased need to meet ethical and trade standards, the industry prefers employees that have completed a formal technical program such as the HVAC/R program at Wallace State. This program provides a highly academic environment that focuses on the technical foundations of the industry along with practical demonstrations and hands-on exercises that helps students to develop their own marketable knowledge and skills.

Wallace State's program also guides students in preparing for available industry certifications that help them to achieve their professional goals. Obtaining industr minimal and advanced certifications are highly recommended for those who aspire to become successful in the industry. These certifications along with knowledge, craft skills, soft skills, and business skills greatly increase an individual’s chance of high levels of success.

Whether you are interested in hands-on welding or robotic operations, Wallace State’s popular Welding program offers the most up-to-date training in the field with outstanding student outcomes.

Welding, the most common way of permanently joining metal parts, is used to construct and repair parts of ships, automobiles, spacecraft and thousands of other manufactured products. Heat is applied to the pieces to be joined, melting and fusing them to form a permanent bond.

In recent years, welding has evolved into a highly sophisticated field filled with computer programming and robotics, and it is becoming more advanced every year. This evolution is evident in the welding department at Wallace State, which is equipped with state-of-the-art robotic welders.

Because industry is rapidly moving to robotic operations for repetitive wielding processes, particularly in the automotive manufacturing industry, students trained on these robots will have a significant advantage in opportunities for high-paying, highlyskilled employment. There is also an increasing demand for qualified and certified welders, which has pushed salaries higher and kept the job market vibrant.

In addition to robotics, students in the department also learn traditional techniques on equipment they will use in the workforce, performing stick welds, mig welds, flux core welds, aluminum welds, tig welds, pulse welds and many others.

The Electronics Technology program at Wallace State is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in diverse areas in the field of electronics with a solid foundation for early advancement and promotion. Teaching is accomplished by traditional lecture and demonstration in the classroom as well as using a hybrid format of computer based and web based instruction. Hands-on laboratory exercises reinforce concepts covered in the courses and strengthen the concepts by adding real world troubleshooting, maintenance and repair experiences.

The Electronics Technology program at Wallace State is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in diverse areas in the field of electronics with a solid foundation for early advancement and promotion. Teaching is accomplished by traditional lecture and demonstration in the classroom as well as using a hybrid format of computer based and web based instruction. Hands-on laboratory exercises reinforce concepts covered in the courses and strengthen the concepts by adding real world troubleshooting, maintenance and repair experiences.

The Electronics Technology program at Wallace State is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in diverse areas in the field of electronics with a solid foundation for early advancement and promotion. Teaching is accomplished by traditional lecture and demonstration in the classroom as well as using a hybrid format of computer based and web based instruction. Hands-on laboratory exercises reinforce concepts covered in the courses and strengthen the concepts by adding real world troubleshooting, maintenance and repair experiences.

The Electronics Technology program at Wallace State is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in diverse areas in the field of electronics with a solid foundation for early advancement and promotion. Teaching is accomplished by traditional lecture and demonstration in the classroom as well as using a hybrid format of computer based and web based instruction. Hands-on laboratory exercises reinforce concepts covered in the courses and strengthen the concepts by adding real world troubleshooting, maintenance and repair experiences.

Wallace State Community College’s Engineering Technology program provides a pathway to give you opportunities to see exactly where you fit in the engineering world. There are many career options for those interested in a degree in engineering technology. There are careers where your office is the site of a new road, bridge, building, utility installation, or other major infrastructure projects. There are careers where you work in the comfort of an air-conditioned office.

Engineering technicians prepare technical drawings and plans used by production and construction workers to build everything from manufactured products such as toys, toasters, industrial machinery, and spacecraft to structures such as houses, office buildings, and oil and gas pipelines. Engineering technicians’ drawings provide visual guidelines, show the technical details of the products and structures, and specify dimensions, materials, and procedures. Most engineering technicians use computer-aided design (CAD) systems to prepare drawings.

Many engineering technicians work for architectural, engineering, and related services firms that design construction projects or do other engineering work on a contract basis for other industries. Jobs are also found in manufacturing industries such as machinery, fabricated metal, computer and electronics, and transportation equipment, including aerospace products and parts manufacturing, ship and boat building. Others are employed in construction, government, wholesale trade, and utilities, or are self-employed.

Opportunities are best for individuals with at least two years of postsecondary training in engineering technology and considerable skill and experience using CAD systems, along with well-developed drafting and mechanical drawing skills, knowledge of drafting standards, mathematics, science, and engineering technology.

Industrial growth and increasingly complex design problems associated with new products and manufacturing processes will increase the demand for engineering technician’s services. Engineering technicians with CAD expertise have broken out of the traditional drafting role and increasingly do work traditionally performed by engineers and architects, thus also increasing demand for engineering technicians.

Wallace State's Machine Tool Technology is accredited by the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) and has outstanding relationships with area employers. Students are often have jobs waiting for them upon graduation.

Machinists use machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, and machining centers to produce precision metal parts. Although they may produce large quantities of one part, precision machinists often produce small batches or one-of-a-kind items. They use their knowledge of the working properties of metals and their skill with machine tools to plan and carry out the operations needed to make machined products that meet precise specifications.

The Precision Machining at Wallace State program trains students to carry through to completion the construction and repair of all kinds of metallic and non-metallic parts, tools and machines. It also teaches students to understand blueprints and specifications. Students will learn to use all machinists’ hand tools and machine tools such as lathes, drill presses, milling machines, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, computer-assisted programming equipment and graphics programming.

Wallace State Tool and Die Technologists will be trained in a comprehensive program including design, setup, maintenance and repair as well as covering topics on tig welding and metallurgy.

Tool and Die Makers are among the most highly skilled workers in manufacturing and are knowledgeable in machining operations, mathematics, and blueprint reading. They must also be familiar with machining properties, such as hardness and heat tolerance, of a wide variety of metals, alloys, plastics, ceramics and other composite materials. Tool and Die Makers plan and execute the entire sequence of tool and die construction from design to final machined product. They perform the following tasks:

Study blueprints or specifications and visualize shape of die, part, or tool.
Compute dimensions of assembly and plan sequence of operations.
Measure, mark, and scribe metal or plastic stock to lay out machining, using instruments, such as protractors, micrometers, scribes, and rulers.
Set up and operate machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, and grinders, to machine parts.
Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plate or worktable, using hoist, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates.
Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloth, or power grinder.
Design tools, jigs, fixtures, and templates for use as work aids. Cast plastic tools or parts, or tungsten-carbide cutting tips, using pre-made molds.
Inspect die for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects by touch or visually, using loupe or microscope.

Tool and die making will appeal to those who enjoy solving practical, hands-on problems, working on their own, and making decisions. Tool and Die Makers need extreme patience and painstaking attention to detail since they must be precise to one ten-thousandth of an inch. Since the work involves intricate manipulation of tools and instruments, Tool and Die Makers need a mechanical aptitude, the ability to understand and analyze the workings of machinery, knowledge of shop mathematics, and the capacity to visualize mechanical and physical relationships between objects.