ADULT GENERAL EDUCATION (Adult Only)

Adult Basic Education (ABE)

   Provides basic literacy and life skills for adults who are performing at or below the ninth grade level.

English Literacy for Career and Technical Education (ELCATE)

   Provides English language learners with skills to be successful as students in career education programs and/or successful employees in the workplace. 

General Educational Development (GED) Preparation

   Prepares students to pass the official GED Test and be awarded a State of Florida High School Diploma. 

Pre-Vocational Preparatory Instruction (Pre-VPI)

   Prepares students with basic skills levels below 6.0 for academic, technical and personal success.

Vocational Preparatory Instruction (VPI)

   Prepares students for academic, technical, and personal success through basic skills related instruction scheduled concurrently with the career education program. 

BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY

(Business Technology Education is geared toward IC3, MOS, Net+ and INet+ Industry Certification)

Accounting Operations (6 HS Credits, 900 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in double-entry accounting principles, payroll records and tax forms, accounting control systems and account and transaction analysis. 

Administrative Assistant (7 HS Credits, 1050 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in planning, management, finance, technical and production skills, higher level thinking skills, decision making skills, advanced features of business software applications, and office procedures tasks.

Digital Design

(8 HS Credits, 1200 Hrs.)

   Prepares students for practical experiences in computer generated art and text, graphic design, graphic production, electronic design skills, electronic scanning, and specialized skills in multimedia presentations.

Medical Administrative Specialist (1050 Hrs.)

   (Evening Only) Prepares students in the use of technology to develop communication skills, higher level thinking skills, decision making skills; medical terminology; the performance of office procedures specific to the medical environment; and transcription of medical documents from machine dictation.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Network Support Services (7 HS Credits, 1050 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in computer literacy, software application support, hardware configuration and troubleshooting, networking technologies, troubleshooting, security, and administration.

MARKETING

Customer Service Representative

(4 HS Credits, 600 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in interpersonal skills, customer service and selling concepts, math, keyboarding, communication and employability skills. 

HEALTH SCIENCE

Massage Therapy (750 Hrs.)

(Adult Only)     

   Prepares students in theory and practice of massage and hydrotherapy, hygiene, human anatomy and physiology, legal aspects of massage practice, allied modalities, health and safety and CPR.  Students are prepared to take the National Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork after completion of the program.

Patient Care Technician (600 Hrs.) (Adult Only)  

   Prepares students for elements of the health care industry such as planning, management, finance, technical and production skills, and labor, community, health, safety, and environmental issues related to patient care technicians.

Pharmacy Technician   (1050 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   The program introduces medical terminology, medicinal drugs, pharmaceutical compounding, sterile techniques, maintenance of inventory, IV preparation, prepackaging unit dose packages, etc.

Phlebotomy (165 Hrs.) (Adult Only)    

   Prepares students for work practices in obtaining adequate and correct blood specimens by capillary or venipuncture.  Other instruction includes preparing blood smears, labeling specimens, accurately and completely collecting timed specimens, medical terminology, etc.

Practical Nursing (1350 Hrs.) (Adult Only)       

   This program prepares students in medical, surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and geriatric nursing; family and community health concepts; nutrition; human growth and development; body structure and function; mental health concepts; pharmacology and administration of medications; and legal aspects of practice.

INDUSTRIAL

Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating Technology (7 HS Credits/1000 Hrs. - High School Only) (1350 Hrs. - Adult Only):  Prepares students to understand matter and heat behavior, fluids, pressures, refrigerants and related codes, fabrication of piping, tubing and fittings, have knowledge of system components and accessories, electrical control systems, residential and mechanical heating, air conditioning system operations, etc.

Applied Welding Technologies (8 HS Credits, 1170 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in fuel, arc, TIG, MIG, pipe, plasma and flux-core arc welding, and metal fabrication.  Included is the use of metal identification, processes and procedures of welding, blueprint reading, fitting and layout, and testing methods. 

Automotive Service Technology (NATEF Certified)

(12 HS Credits, 1800 Hrs.)

   Prepares students with a working knowledge and application of skills in brake systems, suspension and steering, electronics, engine repair and performance, heating and air conditioning, manual drive train and axles, transmission and trans-axles, etc. Students can attain national certification through ASE by passing the certification exam given twice each year at the Ridge Career Center.

Building Construction Technology

(7 HS Credits, 1050 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in safety practices, hand and power tool use, construction components in carpentry, electrical, plumbing, air conditioning systems, etc.

Carpentry (7 HS Credits +150 Post-secondary Hrs; 1200 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in manual and power tool use, installation of exterior covering and trim, interior doors, walls and ceilings, using a transit and builder’s level, on-site preparation and layout, framing and installing scaffolding, and complying with hurricane codes, etc.

Commercial Class "B" Driving (150 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students (19 years of age or older) with skills to drive a Class B single unit commercial vehicle on public roads, as well as loading and unloading cargo.

Commercial Foods and Culinary Arts 

(10 HS Credits, 1500 Hrs.)

   Prepares students for employment as restaurant cooks.  The program content will include the following: food preparation and serving; and identification, storage, selection and presentation of a wide variety of foods, etc.

Commercial Vehicle Driving (320 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students (19 years of age or older) as tractor-trailer truck drivers (Class A) with knowledge of Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations, Occupational Safety and Health Acts (OSHA), first aid application, correct records keeping , and basic mechanical aspects of the truck related to safe operation.

Cosmetology (8 HS Credits, 1200 Hrs.)

    Prepares students in Florida cosmetology law and rules, the related chemistry, bacteriology, anatomy and physiology, hair shaping, permanent waving, curl/chemical relaxing, color/bleaching, hairstyling, etc. Students will be eligible to take the state board examination upon completion of the program.

Drafting 

Architectural/CAD (13 HS Credits/1900 Hrs.)  

   Prepares students in all phases of architectural working drawings, pictorial, basic civil and basic building utility drawings.

Mechanical/CAD 

(13 HS Credits/1900 Hrs.) 

   Prepares students in all phases of mechanical working drawings such as pictorial, basic civil, pneumatic/hydraulic, production, tool and advanced mechanical drawings. Manual and computer aided drafting (Auto CAD 2005) practices applied.

Heavy Duty Truck and Bus Mechanics

(14 HS Credits, 1680 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in maintaining and repairing diesel engines and electrical systems, reconditioning diesel fuel injection systems, overhauling diesel engines and performing diesel engine preventive maintenance.

Electricity (8 HS Credits, 1200 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in alternating current (AC) circuit skills, direct current (DC) electrical circuit skills, National Electrical Codes (NEC) installing residential and commercial wiring, specialized electrical skills, etc. 

Facials Specialty (2 HS Credits, 260 Hrs.)

    Prepares students for Florida cosmetology law and rules, acquisition of knowledge of the cosmetology related chemistry, bacteriology, anatomy and physiology, the art of make-up, development of skill in performing the manipulative and electrical techniques required in the practice of facial specialists.

Nails Specialty (2 HS Credits, 240 Hrs.)

    Prepares students for Florida cosmetology law and rules, acquisition of knowledge of the cosmetology nails specialist and the related chemistry, bacteriology, anatomy and physiology, and development of skills in performing nail techniques.

Refrigeration Technology (1350 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students in electrical generation and distribution components for commercial heating and air conditioning systems, refrigeration-systems vibration and insulation, commercial refrigeration-pipe sizing and troubleshooting procedures, using refrigeration-systems skills and refrigeration electrical-systems skills in commercial applications and maintaining and troubleshooting commercial refrigeration systems.

School Bus Driver Training (40 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students to operate buses, load, unload, and transport students, report delays or accidents on the road, and keep records. This program is offered in conjunction with the Polk County School System’s Support Services Division.  Please call 863.534.0500 for enrollment information and steps in becoming a school bus driver for the Polk County School System.

Apprenticeship Programs

  Ridge offers apprenticeship programs in diesel mechanics and automobile mechanics.  Students must be employed and complete 144 hours of related study per year for four years along with 2000 hours of on-the-job training per year.

PUBLIC SERVICE  

Fire Fighter II (Minimum Standards) (450 Hrs.)

   Prepares students in orientation to fire service,  vehicles, apparatus and equipment, fire behavior, fire streams, fundamentals of extinguishment, ladders, hoses, tools and equipment, forcible entry, salvage, overhaul, ventilation, rescue, protective breathing equipment, first responder emergency medical techniques, water supplies, and controlled burning and safety. This program is approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

Fire Inspector I (200 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students in understanding fire inspection practices, fire protection systems, fire codes and standards, building construction, and plans review. This program is approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

Fire Instructor (80 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students in an understanding of leadership, evaluating an active training group; giving presentations and leading discussions; facilitating structured activities and promoting team learning; developing active training objectives; preparing effective lectures; finding alternative methods to lecturing; and designing and planning active training programs. This program is approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

Fire Investigator I (160 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students in fire chemistry and fire behavior, the point of origin and causes of fires, the conduct of crime and fire scene processing and investigation, significant court cases and precedents, and courtroom procedures. This program is approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

Fire Officer (553 Hrs.) (Adult Only)

   Prepares students in orientation to fire services,  vehicles, apparatus and equipment, fire behavior, fire streams, fundamentals of extinguishment, ladders, hoses, tools and equipment, forcible entry, salvage, overhaul, ventilation, rescue, protective breathing equipment, first responder emergency medical techniques, water supplies, and controlled burning and safety. This program includes many of the competencies in Fire Fighter II in addition to an understanding of principles of supervision, training methods, fire inspection practices, fire protection systems, fire suppression tactics, and hazardous materials. This program is approved by the Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

Teacher Assisting (3 HS Credits, 600 Hrs.)

    Prepares students for employment as substitute teachers and paraeducators involving direct student contact for at least 75 hours in a classroom at an elementary school, a middle school, a high school or a career education program.

BUSINESS/INDUSTRY SERVICES

   Ridge Career Center assists new and existing businesses by assessing their training needs, customizing curriculum and delivering expert training. This training is continuing workforce education training.

AUXILIARY TRAINING SITE/EAGLE RIDGE MALL

   Ridge Career Center offers computer courses at the Eagle Ridge Mall in Lake Wales, Florida.  Courses are taught in Microsoft Office, Windows XP, Introduction to Personal Computers, as well as many other short-term computer courses.  These courses are taught both day, evening and weekends as requested.