College and Career Readiness programs educate adults without a high school diploma and adults with a high school credential who need to upgrade their fundamental skills in reading, math, and/or the English language for college and/or workplace readiness learning opportunities.
Programs offered:
- Adult Basic Education (ABE)
- Adult Secondary Education (ASE)
- Adult High School Diploma (AHS)
- NC High School Equivalency (HSE)
Admissions
Adults 18 and over, and minors, ages 16 and 17 with an authorized school release or withdrawal form signed by the administrator of the last public school, private school, or home-school attended, are eligible to enroll in College and Career Readiness programs.
How to Get Started:
- Complete the Student Information Form.
- Sign up to take the TABE test at the Online TABE Sign-Up or in-person at F100, ask for Hannah Pierce. Note: ID is required to take the TABE Placement Test. Your class assignment will be based on your TABE scores.
- Register for Class. Attend an orientation session to register for class(es) by contacting Veronica Faison at (252) 246-1295 or vfaison@wilsoncc.edu.
- Start Attending Classes. You will be tested every 40 hours to track your progress and keep you on the path to graduation. Note: Missing class sessions may delay your graduation timeline.
Orientation
During the orientation you will:
- Complete a student registration form.
- Receive a class schedule.
- Discuss important classroom information.
Career Pathways
Students enrolled in a College and Career Readiness program can also earn a certification in Industrial Welding, Nurse Aide Level 1, BioWorks, HVAC, or NC Income Maintenance Caseworker at the same time. Contact your instructor or anyone on the College & Career Readiness Team once you are enrolled. Additional fees required.
This course will provide a basic overview of Heating and Air Conditioning. Topics will include terminology, safety, and identification. Students will be able to identify components, explain the HVAC process, and use tools and instrumentation of the trade.
The 136-hour BioWork certificate program will teach you the foundational skills to begin a career as a process technician for a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or chemical manufacturing company. Process technicians are responsible for the production of chemical and pharmaceutical products.
This course provides instruction on the principles and practices of welding. Emphasis is on blueprint reading, metallurgy, welding inspection, and destructive and non-destructive testing. Course content will be specific to a particular welding process such as SMAW (stick), GMAW (MIG), and GTAW (TIG). Upon completion, students will have the knowledge base to sit for various industry-specific certifications.
The Natural Hair Care program is designed to teach students how to care for natural hair without the use of chemicals such as perms/relaxers and hair color. The style techniques include braiding, twisting, wrapping, extending, and locking natural hair. The coursework also includes teaching the proper health, safety, and sanitation procedures to avoid spreading infections.
This course prepares students to perform basic nursing skills for patients or residents in a health care related setting. Coursework includes lecture/class, laboratory, and clinical learning experiences. Upon successful completion of the Nurse Aide I course, students will be eligible to take the NC Nurse Aide I State Exam (estimated cost $140).
Student’s successfully completing the Nurse Aide I course and passing the NC Nurse Aide I State Exam, will be eligible for listing with the Division of Health Service Regulations on the Nurse Aide Level I Registry in North Carolina. Initial listing is valid for two years following the written and skills evaluation.
The Nurse Aide will work under the supervision and direction of a licensed nurse.
In the AHS Program, students earn units of high school course credits to complete the program and to receive a diploma issued by the Wilson County Board of Education.
In order to complete this program, 16 core courses and 6 elective courses for a total of 22 credits, is required. Credits can be transferred in or earned as a part of the AHS program.
AHS Requirements:
- Obtain 22 course credits (16 core courses and 6 course electives).
- To be eligible for enrollment, students must enter with 15 credits.
Additional Fees:
- Graduation Cap and Gown – can be purchased at the Wilson Community College Bookstore
In the NC High School Equivalency Diploma Program, students are evaluated in four subject areas equivalent to 9th -12th grade high school coursework:
- Language/writing
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Classroom or online academic instruction is recommended prior to attempting HSE exams but is not a requirement. A student must pass the HSE exam in order to receive a NC HSE diploma awarded by the NC Community College System.
Adult Basic Education
The Adult Basic Education program is designed for adults who function below the high school level. Instruction is provided using a combination of instructor led classes and computer-based instruction Monday through Friday at on- and off-campus sites.
The objective of the Adult Basic Education program (ABE) is to raise students’ basic skills in:
- Reading/Writing
- Math
- Language
Giving students the skills they need to meet their daily life at home, the workplace, and in the community.
Adult Secondary Education
The Adult Secondary Education program of study is designed for adults functioning at the 9th grade or higher level. Instruction is provided both by instructor led classes and hybrid classes. Classes are available Monday through Thursday at both on-campus (AHS) and off-campus (HSE) class sites.
All students who enroll and complete the requirements of an ASE Program are eligible to receive free tuition, up to 5 credit hours in a curriculum course, or 1 continuing education occupational course, or 1 continuing education course.
All students must attend a two-day or three-night orientation session. Minors, 16 & 17 years old must complete the required paperwork prior to attending the orientation session.
Testing Requirements:
- Pass the GED® Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics exams.
- Visit the GED® website www.myged.com to register, pay for the GED®exams, and select Wilson Community College PersonVue GED® Testing Center.
- $26.00 per subject for the GED® test, retake the test one time for free. (effective July 1, 2023)
- Note: The GED® exams are computer-based exams.
or
- Pass the HiSET Reading, Writing, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics exams.
- Visit the HiSet website hiset.org to register, pay for the HiSET exams, and select Wilson Community College HiSET Testing Center.
- $18.00 per test – effective April 1, 2026
(Retake the test up to two times for free.) - Note: The HiSET exams are paper-based exams.