College and Career Preparation

Welcome to the College and Career Preparation Program at East Central College

The College and Career Preparation Program at East Central College is designed for adult learners who want to further their education or enhance their job skills. Whether you have just finished high school, completed your High School Equivalency (HSE), or learned English as a new language, this program is a stepping stone towards a rewarding career or higher education.

Career Pathways

Education Pathways Pre-apprenticeship

East Central College is offering substitute teacher-paraprofessional training class free to adults who already have their high school diploma or equivalent at Rolla and Union campus locations as a part of the MoSEPWork Consortium. The pre-apprenticeship program is designed to provide job-seeking or current employees with training to work in a K12 classroom as a paraprofessional or substitute teacher. The benefits of the pre-apprenticeship course include support for students to pay up to $500 per student related to obtaining DESE certification. Students are then eligible for the registered apprenticeship program. Read the ECC press release for more information. Schedule your orientation for AEL.

East Central College – Union, Hansen Hall, Suite 270, Classroom H
Two-day Orientation (Tuesday and Thursday): July 8 and 10, 2025
Tuesdays and Thursday, 5:00 pm – 8:30 pm: July 14 through August 14, 2025

East Central College – Rolla Technical Center, Classroom 117
Two-day Orientation (Wednesday and Friday): July 9 and July 11, 2025
Mondays and Wednesday, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm: July 14 through August 13, 2025

NCCER Construction Core Certification

East Central College and COABE have partnered with NCCER and LOWE’S Foundation to offer training in carpentry and construction. This course is designed to prepare you for entry-level positions on project sites by providing the basics in safety, hand and power tools, construction math, materials handling, construction drawings, rigging, and employability skills. The goal of our fast track program is to recruit the high number of unemployed Americans into the construction industry and provide them with training, credentials and jobs that lead to high demand, sustainable careers. Schedule your orientation for AEL.

Classes will meet on Monday and Wednesday evenings from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Health Care Careers Certification

The AEL Program is partnered with the East Central College Center for Workforce Development to offer Health Care Careers Training. Short-Term Health Care Careers focus on specific jobs in the healthcare industry that provide students with a thorough understanding of the skills they will need to be successful. ECC has two short-term programs, Certified Nurses Assistant and Certified Medication Technician.

For more information or to register, call or email
Terri Warmack, Health Careers Outreach Coordinator
Phone: 636-584-6531
Email: terri.warmack@eastcentral.edu

Program Highlights

  • Preparation for Higher Education and Training Programs: Improve your skills to enroll in college or training programs.
  • Improvement in Employment Skills: Learn the skills needed for better job opportunities.
  • Exam Preparation: Get help to score better on exams like TEAS/HESI, ASVAB, college entrance exams, and job-related tests like WorkKeys (NCRC).
  • Assistance with Career Choices: We help you identify careers that match your interests and skills. Use resources like the Occupational Outlook Handbook, MERIC, and JOBS.MO.GOV to research potential careers.
  • Volunteer Experience for Career Exploration: Consider volunteering with organizations like East Central Area Literacy Council, AmeriCorps or VolunteerMatch to gain experience and explore different career paths.

Registration

Getting Started

  • Eligibility: Students must be 17 years or older, not enrolled in high school, and NOT have an F-1 visa
  • Register for AEL:
  • Orientation: ALL new students are required to attend an orientation session. An introduction to our program is provided, including class requirements and information about the assessments. Orientation dates are available on the AEL home page.
  • Assessments: Students are required to take a skills assessment called Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). This helps us understand what you already know and what you need to learn.

Contact AEL

By email: ael@eastcentral.edu

By phone: 636-584-6533 or 844-ECC-4AEL (844-322-4235)

Schedule your orientation for AEL.

HSE Transition Scholarship

For students who have successfully completed their High School Equivalency through East Central College’s AEL program, we offer the HSE Transition Scholarship. This opportunity is designed to support your first steps into higher education by providing financial assistance for your initial college class.

  • Eligibility: You must have completed the HiSET program at East Central College within the last 12 months and be enrolling in college for the first time.
  • Benefits: A tuition waiver for a three-hour college credit class. Note that this does not cover fees, books, or certain courses.
  • Application Process: Submit your HiSET scores along with the ECC Institutional Scholarship application to apply.

Schedule your orientation for AEL.