Workforce Development & Continuing Education
Opportunities for Professional & Personal Development
WPCC offers a variety of classes for professional training and certifications along with personal advancement and enjoyment both in seated classes and online through ed2go. These classes are designed to accommodate busy lifestyles and provide opportunities to quickly get skills or explore interests.
Check out our list of upcoming classes. You can get more information on them and register for them by clicking or tapping on the name of the class.
The GEER Scholarship
Learn more about scholarship opportunities for certain workforce development & continuing education classes.
Upcoming Events
Click or tap on a class name for more information or to register.
- February 28, 2021, 6:00 pm: ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited Budget
- March 4, 2021, 11:00 am: Privilege License
- March 4, 2021, 2:00 pm: ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited Budget
- March 11, 2021, 2:00 pm: Finding Your Customers and Creating a Marketing Plan
- March 11, 2021, 6:00 pm: Finding Your Customers and Creating a Marketing Plan
- March 17, 2021, 11:00 am: Facebook Shops & Facebook Marketplace
- March 18, 2021, 11:00 am: Using Paid Online Ads to Promote Your Business
- March 18, 2021, 2:00 pm: Dynamite Marketing for Small Business
- March 18, 2021, 6:00 pm: Dynamite Marketing for Small Business
- March 19, 2021, 10:00 am: Your Community Health Plan for Businesses
- March 23, 2021, 6:00 pm: How to Start a Business
- March 25, 2021, 2:00 pm: How to Create a Solid Business Plan after doing Customer Discovery
- March 25, 2021, 6:00 pm: How to Create a Solid Business Plan after doing Customer Discovery
- March 30, 2021, 9:00 am: Sales & Use Tax Workshop
A complete calendar of course offerings is available below.
How
to
Register
Online Registration
You can sign up for classes via our online system. Please have the class title/name and the date(s) or class section numbers before clicking or tapping the buttons to access the registration forms.
Register for Workforce Development & Continuing Education Classes OnlineRegister for a Fire/EMS Class Online
In-Person Registration
In-person registration for Workforce and Continuing Education classes in Hildebrand Hall has been suspended due to the COVID-19 restrictions. We are still accepting registrations for classes being offered via online registration. Remember, you need to register for classes prior to the class start date (preferably 48 hours prior), allowing time for all payments to process before the class begins. If you have questions, please call (828) 448-3500.
Select a Category Below for Classes
Personal Enrichment
Courses for personal interests for all ages.
Allied Health
Training & Certification
for healthcare professionals
Customized Training
Specialized Training
for Businesses & Individuals
Online Classes
Courses when & where
you want to learn
Emergency Services
Certification & Training
for Fire & Rescue Personnel
HRD & CRC
Human Resources &
Career Readiness Certification
Certifications
Courses to acquire or renew job skills
Emergency Medical
Classes for emergency medical responders
Job & Career
Courses to increase and
improve job skills
Small Business
Training for Entrepreneurs
and Small Business Owners
Law Enforcement
Certification & Training
for Law Enforcement
Defensive Driving
Defensive Driving Information & Classes
Current Class Schedule
Here are the classes scheduled for the current month at WPCC. You can see future class offerings by clicking either the Next button to move to the next month or by choosing a month and date and hitting the Go button.
Add A Class to Your Calendar
Want to set a reminder for a class on your phone, tablet, or computer’s calendar? It’s easy. Click the class name to read a description and register to attend. At the bottom, click the iCal or Google Calendar link to add the class to your personal calendar.
| SunSunday | MonMonday | TueTuesday | WedWednesday | ThuThursday | FriFriday | SatSaturday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January 31, 2021 | February 1, 2021 |
February 2, 20212:00 pm: Financing Your Small Business2:00 pm: Financing Your Small BusinessFebruary 2, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center If you have a great product or service to bring to market, the money is out there somewhere! Financing Your Small Business explores the myriad of funding sources available for both startup and expanding businesses. From collecting coins-in-the-couch to getting approved for loans...From winning grants to crowdsourcing through Go Fund Me pages...Financing Your Small Business helps you identify the best sources of funding for each stage and situation of your venture! Presenter: Mike Collins
6:00 pm: Financing Your Small Business6:00 pm: Financing Your Small BusinessFebruary 2, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center If you have a great product or service to bring to market, the money is out there somewhere! Financing Your Small Business explores the myriad of funding sources available for both startup and expanding businesses. From collecting coins-in-the-couch to getting approved for loans...From winning grants to crowdsourcing through Go Fund Me pages...Financing Your Small Business helps you identify the best sources of funding for each stage and situation of your venture! Presenter: Mike Collins
| February 3, 2021 |
February 4, 202112:00 pm: Nonprofits: Learning to Share Your Sandbox: Creating Effective Partnership Agreements12:00 pm: Nonprofits: Learning to Share Your Sandbox: Creating Effective Partnership AgreementsFebruary 4, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center This webinar shares with nonprofits leaders how to evaluate the organization’s current needs, identify potential partners, and cultivate partnerships that are efficient and effective. We will break down the written partnership agreement process and share tips and templates for key agreements such as “Memorandum of Understandings (MOU). Finally, our experts will explain why strategic partnerships are more important than ever and how partnership agreements can hinder or help your fundraising efforts. Take-Aways • Understand the difference between sponsorship and partnerships • Assess organizational needs • Identify best partnership prospects • Outline partnership agreements for community or grant writing purposes • Learn effective methods to develop and maintain strategic partnerships Presenter: Marie Palacios, Lead Consultant, Funding for Good | February 5, 2021 | February 6, 2021 |
| February 7, 2021 | February 8, 2021 |
February 9, 20212:00 pm: Creating a Winning Business Plan2:00 pm: Creating a Winning Business PlanFebruary 9, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center You can’t reach your goal—or get a loan—without the map that is your business plan. Creating a Winning Business Plan offers simple, easy-to-follow steps for creating a business plan that fits your small business. Speaker(s): Mike Collins is author of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now! and The Perfect Workday Book. He is president of The Perfect Workday Company and has been one of the leading presenters for the NC Community College’s Small Business Center Network for over 33 years. Registered participants will receive a free E-copy of Mike Collins books, The Best Small Business to Start Right Now! and The Perfect Workday. 5:00 pm: Gateway to Woodworking 1 | 632345:00 pm: Gateway to Woodworking 1 | 63234February 9, 2021 – J Building 1001 Burkemont Avenue Morganton, NC 28655 USA
Want space, equipment, and guidance to create your own woodworking projects? Western Piedmont Community College is offering an introduction to the safest and best practices for woodshop. This class is a prerequisite class for woodworking open labs. Students will build a serving tray. Students will learn about the shop's overall workspace including wood storage, rough ends, equipment in the machining areas, as well as seeing demonstrations of layout, measurement, and case fitting strategies. Individuals who have already taken the Gateway class previously may work on their own projects. Individuals must wear safety glasses and closed-toed shoes. Class Dates: 2/9, 2/11, & 2/16 Time: 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Location: Western Piedmont Community College J 20 Cost: $97.00 Section Number: 63234 Teacher Renewal Credits: 1.2 CEUS Educators - Please ask your local school system if they will accept a class for teacher renewal credits. Registration Link: https://www.wpcc.edu/personal-enrichment/ or WPCC Get Enriched! on Facebook Registration Deadline: Friday, February 5, 2021 WPCC complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and will make every effort to honor reasonable requests made by individuals with qualifying disabilities. Accommodations must be requested three business days in advance of school events or activities through the Office of Disability Services in Room 136 Hildebrand Hall or call (828) 448-3154.
6:00 pm: Creating a Winning Business Plan6:00 pm: Creating a Winning Business PlanFebruary 9, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center You can’t reach your goal—or get a loan—without the map that is your business plan. Creating a Winning Business Plan offers simple, easy-to-follow steps for creating a business plan that fits your small business. Speaker(s): Mike Collins is author of The Best Small Business to Start Right Now! and The Perfect Workday Book. He is president of The Perfect Workday Company and has been one of the leading presenters for the NC Community College’s Small Business Center Network for over 33 years. Registered participants will receive a free E-copy of Mike Collins books, The Best Small Business to Start Right Now! and The Perfect Workday. |
February 10, 202111:00 am: Successful Sales on Amazon11:00 am: Successful Sales on AmazonFebruary 10, 2021 – Amazon is the leading e-commerce website in the United States with more than $281 billion dollars in 2019 net sales. Amazon has more than 350 million active customer accounts worldwide. In this fast paced class you’ll learn How the secrets of Amazon's Search Algorithm, how to register & choose the account that fits your goals, and list an item on Amazon for free to maximize your profitability. You’ll learn how to ship your items or let Amazon ship them for you with "Fulfillment by Amazon" (FBA) shipping services. Learn how to make the most money with every sale. Amazon is the fastest way to start selling online. Sell just a few items and pay no monthly fee with the Individual plan or choose the Small Business subscription for unlimited selling. Presenter: Nick Hawks |
February 11, 20212:00 pm: Business Tax Essentials2:00 pm: Business Tax EssentialsFebruary 11, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center This seminar will cover the basic requirements to help NC businesses understand the laws and obligations necessary to be a tax compliant business. Participants will learn about filing and administrative requirements, the basics of NC sales & use tax law, and the basics of NC withholding tax law in addition to receiving directions for completing sales tax and withholding returns and for filing and paying online. Agencies such as the Secretary of State, Industrial Commission, Employment Security or Business Link NC may be present at dates noted below to deliver additional information. Speaker(s): Edward Shumaker, Education Officer, NC Department of Revenue Co-Sponsor(s): NC Department of Revenue | February 12, 2021 | February 13, 2021 |
| February 14, 2021 | February 15, 2021 | February 16, 2021 | February 17, 2021 |
February 18, 202111:00 am: Using Instagram to Build Your Business11:00 am: Using Instagram to Build Your BusinessFebruary 18, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center Although not usually considered a place for business marketing, Instagram has become powerful mobile platform for advertisers over the course of the past year. Join us as we explore how you can harness the energy of this powerful social media tool and put it to work in recruiting new customers. Presenter: Matt Rudisill | February 19, 2021 | February 20, 2021 |
| February 21, 2021 | February 22, 2021 | February 23, 2021 | February 24, 2021 |
February 25, 202111:00 am: How to Start a Business11:00 am: How to Start a BusinessFebruary 25, 2021 – WEBINAR - Register with the Small Business Center Don't miss the opportunity to learn the basics of starting a small business. Are you thinking about getting into business for yourself? This webinar covers the issues that an individual should consider before thinking about opening the doors. In other words, this webinar is the starting point on your journey into business ownership. Learn how to identify critical issues and make the right decisions as you prepare to start your business. Topics include business structures (sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations), licensing and zoning, trademarks, copyrights, patents, insurance, financing alternatives, record keeping, and taxes. Presenter: Ron Elmore, Regional Director, Hickory/Boone Center, NC Small Business & Technology Development Center 11:00 am: How to Start a Business11:00 am: How to Start a BusinessFebruary 25, 2021 – WEBINAR Don't miss the opportunity to learn the basics of starting a small business. Are you thinking about getting into business for yourself? This webinar covers the issues that an individual should consider before thinking about opening the doors. In other words, this webinar is the starting point on your journey into business ownership. Learn how to identify critical issues and make the right decisions as you prepare to start your business. Topics include business structures (sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations), licensing and zoning, trademarks, copyrights, patents, insurance, financing alternatives, record keeping, and taxes. | February 26, 2021 | February 27, 2021 |
February 28, 20216:00 pm: ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited Budget6:00 pm: ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited BudgetFebruary 28, 2021 – WEBINAR | March 1, 2021 | March 2, 2021 | March 3, 2021 |
March 4, 202111:00 am: Privilege License11:00 am: Privilege LicenseMarch 4, 2021 – WEBINAR This webinar will provide a basic overview on privilege license tax. Participants will learn about the purpose of a privilege license, who must obtain a privilege license, and how to apply for a privilege license. 2:00 pm: ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited Budget2:00 pm: ABCs of Starting a Small Business on a Limited BudgetMarch 4, 2021 – WEBINAR | March 5, 2021 | March 6, 2021 |
Our Locations
Western Piedmont Community College offers Continuing Education classes on the Main Campus (left pin on the map) and at the Foothills Higher Education Center (right pin on the map). Select a pin to get address and general contact information about each location.
WPCC Main Campus
Morganton, NC 28655
General Information: (828) 438-6000
Foothills Higher Education Center
Morganton, NC 28655
General Information: (828) 448-6140
Division of
Workforce &
Professional Development
Lee Kiser
Dean of Workforce &
Professional Development
(828) 448-6707