Powerline students climb poles during class.

     The need for qualified, certificated workers continues to grow across the state. It is a theme that is woven within every story told about adult and career-technical education.

     Pickaway-Ross Adult Education training programs are at the forefront of the push to fill these positions across all industries.

     The state also set credential attainment goals it hoped to reach by 2025. This year, the Ohio Department of Higher Education unveiled a need-based grant program aimed at increasing the number of short-term certificate earners in in-demand career fields in the state to meet the needs of area employers and simultaneously reach its attainment goals.

     The grant program initially served only a few programs at Pickaway-Ross but has been expanded to eight programs across two industries.

     Qualifying programs are Electrical, HVAC, Maintenance, Medical Assisting, NCCER Core, Nurse Aide, Phlebotomy and Power Line.

     Since its inception, 21 students have taken advantage of the short-term credential grant through Pickaway-Ross. The expansion of eligible programming comes at a great time as the start of Adult Education’s fall courses nears.

     The grant funding is determined by a student’s FAFSA, much like PELL and other federal and state grants. The grants are for programs that can be completed in less than one academic year (or fewer than 900 clock hours) and result in the student earning an industry-recognized credential, license or certificate of completion.

     Thanks to revamping some Trades courses to 600 hours, Adult Education was able to add these in-demand courses to the grant-eligible programs.

     For information on fall programs, go to www.pickawayross.com/o/prctc/page/ae-programs.