Career Pathways: Key to career enhancement and planning are career pathways that identify and include Stackable Certificates in the Advanced Manufacturing, Health Care and Green Jobs (including Construction) industries using state and national models, modified to meet the needs of Region 5 employers and employees. Additional asset mapping of programs currently available in Region 5, which addess the skill development required in the above pathways is ongoing by R5WC members.

A CAREER PATHWAY IS A SERIES OF…..

• Connected educational programs
• Integrated work experiences
• On-the-job training
• Supportive services

Stackable Certificates: For displaced workers who need upgraded skills to compete in today's market, Stackable Certificates provide the skills and certification that employers are seeking. Unlike "matchbook" correspondence courses, R5WC stackable certificates deliver for jobs today... and a career tomorrow.

Stackable Certificates are individual courses or groups of courses currently offered to provide skill training or work competency that are offered by the coalition members. Specific courses in these combinations can be taken from various members in a "stacked" manner for a more complete background education. A certificate of competency is awarded upon completion. A unique aspect of this training is the opportunity to have college credit applied to a certificate program, an associate's degree, or in the completion of a bachelor's degree.

Stackable certificates are initially being offered for five (5) career pathways: Health Care, Construction and Green Technologies in Manufacturing - Environmental, Mechanical, Electrical. Each pathway begins with courses that are offered through tri-state Adult Career - technical Centers, Community Colleges and University Regional Campuses. You build credentials for entry into an associate's degree program at the college, and eligibility for a university-based bachelor's degree program.