Billings Adult Education (billings.k12.mt.us/adulted/adulted/intro.html) focuses on job skill training and certification. Certificate and certificate-prep programs include accounting, certified nurse assistant, certified phlebotomy technician, dental assistant, paralegal, Web design and more. Students also can take noncertified classes in business, finance and design. Billings offers students the option to test out of classes, which can eliminate unneeded courses and lower the cost.
The College of Technology (msubillings.edu) prepares students for in-demand careers through its two-year programs. As of 2011, the school offers 18 Associate of Applied Science programs, two Associate of Arts programs, five Associate of Science programs and one ASN program. These programs provide training for many careers, including paramedics, automobile technicians, firefighter, computer system technicians and more.
The Academy of Nail, Skin and Hair (academyofnailandskin.com) offers training for a career in the beauty industry. The four courses -- nail care, esthetics, barbering and cosmetology -- allow students to specialize in one discipline and can be completed in nine weeks to a year. In addition to learning various techniques, students also will learn about ethics and business practices.
Students at SAGE (sageschools.com) receive classroom instruction along with hands-on training behind the wheel. Tractor-Trailer Driver Basic, SAGE's most popular course, consists of 50 hours of instruction, including 44 driving hours, conducted over four to five weeks. The course prepares students with no experience for their commercial license. Other courses include Tractor-Trailer Driver Advanced, a three-week course for those with some truck driving experience, and Tractor-Trailer Refresher, a one to two week program that focuses on helping students pass the written and practical portions of their commercial driver's examination.