. . . (TCCs) should prepare people for new or better jobs, and they should be responsive to the needs of business and industry.

Technical Certificates of Credit

Georgia’s Technical College System - Innovations for the Future

One initiative that embodies the three defining principles of Georgia’s Technical College System is the development of the Technical Certificates of Credit (TCC). The TCCs are an excellent example of how our system responds quickly to customer needs, works in close cooperation with our partners in business and industry, and provides a mechanism for guaranteeing the consistency and quality of training.

In addition to providing trained workers for employers, the TCCs also serve to offer training programs that fit the needs of students. Many students need a quicker, more accelerated path to the job market. They might not have time to complete a degree or diploma program. They need training in basic skills, and they need it delivered in an efficient, effective way. And these workforce certification programs fit the bill.

As a response to this need, Georgia’s Technical College System created the TCCs as a form of “just–in–time” education. This has proven to be a very popular strategy that allows students to maximize the return on their limited resources and limited time.

The TCCs also fit within Georgia’s model of “career ladder” programs. This model is structured in such a way that students can earn a technical certificate—even while still in high school—and then proceed to earn a diploma or degree as their time and ability allows. In many cases, the TCCs are a subset of other instructional programs that are designed to provide maximum flexibility. The TCCs also fit within Georgia’s model for seamless education, allowing credits to be shared between the state’s university system and technical college system.

The TCCs meet the same criteria as longer diploma and degree programs. They are designed to prepare individuals for new or better jobs, and they are broadly applicable to a range of industries; they are not just focused on the needs of one specific company or facility. Approval of the State Board is required for these programs to be initiated and the same kind of rigorous scrutiny is applied to the TCCs as is applied to any other program. This is training with a focus on fundamental skills and long–term value.

The success of this innovative training solution is evident not only in our graduates, but in the fact that numerous other states are licensing the programs from Georgia. Our programs for Certified Manufacturing Specialist and Certified Customer Service Specialist have become recognized models for the nation, consistently praised by business and industry leaders as programs that produce genuine results.

And this is just the beginning. As we remain dedicated to our fundamental principles, as we remain customer focused, committed to quality and partnered with business and industry, we will be able to respond to the needs of a changing economy. A trained workforce is essential for economic prosperity, and technical education is essential for creating that trained workforce. As long as we remain flexible, creative and innovative, Georgia’s Technical College System will be able to create the solutions to meet any challenge. Georgia’s Model for Seamless Education