Mohawk Valley Community College has expanded its free FastTrack career program to offer opportunities in education and professional services alongside established programs in healthcare, manufacturing, and trades. The initiative continues to provide short-term, no-cost training designed to prepare students for in-demand careers in just one semester.
FastTrack provides a pathway from unemployment or low-wage jobs to skilled positions with long-term career potential. Students receive personalized training from industry professionals and gain practical skills that make them competitive in the job market. The program also provides holistic support and connects students with potential employers to help jumpstart their careers.
New education pathways:
- Teaching Assistant Certificate: This course prepares students to seek New York State Level 1 Teacher Assistant Certification. Over five sessions, participants will complete mandatory workshops in Child Abuse Identification, School Violence Intervention and Prevention, and Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). The course also provides instruction on fingerprinting and registering for the NYS ATAS, as well as ATAS test prep and resources for job search and interviewing.
- Childhood and Adolescent Education Microcredentials: These microcredentials were created to meet the growing community need for certified teaching assistants in K-12 classrooms. Designed for those who have met Level 1 Teaching Assistant requirements, these stackable programs provide a pathway for future and current teaching assistants to advance along a well-defined career ladder in the field of education. The microcredentials consist of six three-credit courses divided into two phases. In Phase 1, students take English Composition, General Psychology, and Social & Philosophical Foundations of Education. Phase 2 courses are New York State History, Child Development, and Introduction to Exceptionalities.
New professional services pathways:
- Certificate in Data Analysis: This course provides a basic understanding of how to analyze and interpret data in a business setting. Participants will develop skills to compare group differences, perform organizational inquiries, and communicate results effectively through graphs and reports. Power skills training is also included.
- Bookkeeping Basics: This course teaches the essential skill of tracking financial transactions for a business. It covers bookkeeping terminology, recording practices, and introductory QuickBooks.
More Spring FastTrack offerings:
Healthcare
- Pharmacy Technician
- Phlebotomy
- Certified Nurse Aide
Manufacturing and Skilled Trades
- Entry-Level Machining
- Robotic, Automation and Manufacturing
- Welding Prep
Hospitality
- Intro to Culinary Arts
- Brewing Fundamentals Certificate
For the full list of spring FastTrack courses, visit mvcc.edu/fast. For more information, contact Coordinator of Workforce Development Terésa Fava-Schram at 315-334-7778 or tfavaschram@mvcc.edu.