Traditional approaches don't work for everyone. Whether they are looking for a quick entry into the workforce or simply want to change careers, many students are finding that certificate or diploma programs are the answer.

In an economy where skilled professionals are in demand, many Americans are finding that a postsecondary education is a necessary requirement to jumpstart a career. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 90 percent of the fastest growing jobs require some form of postsecondary education.

Designed to prepare students to enter the workforce quickly, certificate and diploma programs offer postsecondary training in a variety of high-demand fields. At Kaplan Higher Education campuses, certificate and diploma programs are offered in the health care, information technology, trade, travel and tourism, and paralegal fields. Many can be completed in less than 12 months and aim to equip students with the job skills necessary for an entry-level position in their field of study.

Benefit From a Simulated Work Environment.
To help students prepare for their new career, Kaplan has structured its programs and classroom labs to reflect the work-place.

"We strive to create a simulated work environment so that students are inundated, in a good way, with what the real-world work experience will be like in their new career," Kathleen Prince, Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction for Kaplan Higher Education campuses said. "From practicing wiring a stick room to taking dental X-rays, students are surrounded by the elements relevant to their career choice."

Classes are often taught in a lab designed to allow students to practice their skills. For example, labs for medical and dental assistant programs often resemble a mock clinic, complete with hospital beds, x-ray equipment, dental chairs, and various other tools students can expect to use on the job.

Instructors Are Key.
The classroom instructors also play an integral role in creating a simulated work environment. Kaplan instructors are wellprepared and often have extensive work experience in their field, offering students industry knowledge that can't be found in a text book or taught in a lecture hall.

"Their insight helps students understand what will be expected from them once they enter the working world," Prince said. "They know what skills the students need to be successful. Students also get experience in working with people who will be similar to their future supervisors."

"My instructors were extremely knowledgeable," Barbara Hughes, a graduate of the Kaplan College Thornton campus' general practice paralegal certificate program shared. "They all work in the field and they tell you about day-to-day experiences."

Get Hands-On Training.
Kaplan's approach combines classroom learning with hands-on training utilizing materials and equipment students are likely to encounter on the job. Students in a phlebotomy program can count on practicing drawing blood and administering IVs so that they have many "sticks" by the time they graduate.

Hughes, who is employed as a paralegal, said the education she received at Kaplan College was hands-on and applicable to her current job. "I've been able to apply everything that I've learned to what I'm doing now. I felt very prepared."

Many certificate and diploma programs at Kaplan Higher Education campuses include an externship, requiring students to receive on-the-job training to graduate. Students spend ample time in class practicing job skills, but an externship allows them to apply classroom-learned skills in an actual work environment. For the first time, students may be writing a motion for a real case, drawing a patient's blood, or helping clean their teeth.

"Students are actively engaged in the learning process by virtue of the hands-on training," said Prince. "Externship opportunities allow students to be in the real world, practice what they learned in class, and put their skills to the test."

In fact, many students are so successful while on externship that their externship employers offer the student a full-time position after graduation. Hughes was hired by her paralegal externship site after she graduated. "My externship was great," Hughes said. "They put me to work right away. They offered me a position and I accepted it."

Experience-Driven Education.
Kaplan Higher Education campuses focus their certificate and diploma programs in some of the country's fastest-growing occupations, as projected by the U.S. Department of Labor. Kaplan campuses are responsive to their communities to ensure that their programs match the local employment needs. Campuses work with local employers to ensure curriculum is current with the demands of related fields. Advisory board committees are in place so that campus faculty and area employers can meet regularly to discuss course content and make changes to reflect today's job market.

"We map our content to reflect what local employers look for in an employee," Prince said. "Students can be very confident that they're getting the skills required by professional organizations."

Flexibility is Vital for Today's Busy Schedules.
Whether a student is changing careers or just out of high school, flexibility can be an important ingredient for success. Kaplan Higher Education campuses provide practical career training to busy adults who often juggle the demands of work, home and family while pursuing their education. Many campuses offer both day and night classes. They also have monthly program start dates, so there's no waiting to start a program at the beginning of a semester. Students can begin classes when it's convenient for them. Classes are also year-round, allowing students to complete the program and start their career more quickly than if there were lengthy summer or semester breaks.

Along with scheduling, Kaplan campuses offer support services to help students succeed. This comprehensive support system includes financial aid guidance, academic advising, study skills workshops, time management skills building, and more. Whether a student is fresh out of high school or hasn't been in school for decades, Kaplan recognizes each student has his or her own needs. Kaplan strives to offer services that help each student achieve their career and educational goals.

It's All About the Career.
Certificate and diploma programs are career-focused and course content is applied to a particular job. Understanding that the desired end result of a student's education is to attain employment, coursework is focused on acquiring the skills necessary to be successful in the working environment. By making the program specialized to a career field, students can be confident they will have the opportunity to gain skills necessary for entry-level employment.

About Kaplan Higher Education Campuses.
Kaplan Higher Education campuses offer certificate, diploma and degree programs that prepare students for employment in fields including health care, business, criminal justice, fashion, design and graphic arts, information technology, and paralegal studies. At more than 70 campuses in the United States, Kaplan offers educational opportunities to help people improve their lives.