Non-credit continuing education courses provide an opportunity to increase occupational efficiency, enhance leisure time, or pursue personal development goals. Typical subjects range from computer skills, insurance, and supervision, to painting, gardening, cooking, and exercise. Instruction is offered through a variety of programs, including PRIME Time (Positive Retirement through Imaginative Education) and the Institute for Professional Development. Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) may be earned upon completion of certain continuing education courses. CEU’s allow individuals to accumulate, update, and transfer their records of professional development. Call the Continuing Education Department at (850) 729-6085 for more information.

Courses offered through these options range from personal enrichment, recreation, leisure, and crafts to professional development and customized business/industry training. Courses offered through these options are non-credit and may not be used toward any NWFSC degree or certificate program. Students enrolled in non-credit courses receive all of the benefits of the regular students, including use of the library, access to special events, and free parking.

Costa Leadership Institute - Learning Experiences Allow Us to Develop and Achieve Our Full Potential

The Costa Leadership Institute at NWFSC provides a variety of unique professional development opportunities and customized business skills training options for individuals, businesses, government, military and not for- profit organizations. Programs offered by the institute include open enrollment trainings in the spring and fall, customized training for businesses, Leadership Okaloosa community leadership program, Collegiate High School leadership program, STEM programs, community outreach and more. The Costa Leadership Institute is located on the third floor of the college’s 75,000 square foot Student Services Center on the Niceville campus and offers facilities to host association, community, governmental meetings and special events.

The programs of the Costa Leadership Institute are specially designed to support the economic and workforce development of our region and our vital role in the state and global economy. The Costa Leadership Institute is committed to providing the highest standard of achievement for our participants and developing strong and ethical leaders to guide our community. Through experienced instructors you will:

• Learn new skills
• Develop your expertise
• Achieve your professional goals and full potential
• Network with other emerging and established community leaders
• Earn professional certifications, continuing education credits and much more!

The Allyn C. Donaldson Entrepreneurial Institute at the NWFSC South Walton Center is also under the umbrella of the Costa Leadership Institute with a special focus on creating an entrepreneurial spirit that promotes innovation, creativity and change in leaders from the public and private sectors.

The college has always been a community steward and the Costa Leadership Institute incorporates this part of the college mission by supporting community-based strategic partnerships such as emergency management, public safety, sustainability, and military transition and provides facilities to host meetings and special events for area organizations.

For more information on the NWFSC Costa Leadership Institute, please visit www.nwfsc.edu/LI or call (850) 729-6880.

Recreation and Leisure (Personal Enrichment)

A variety of non-credit personal enrichment courses are available throughout the year. Topics range from computer skills, finance, consumer education and a variety of courses to meet the needs of the community. Fees vary with the length and type of course offered; most classes are held on the Niceville Campus.

PRIME Time (Positive Retirement through Imaginative Education)

The PRIME Time program offers a wide selection of non-credit courses for adults of all ages who are interested in leisure learning. Courses range from art, politics, fitness, food and wine, lunch and learns, and computers. The main objective of these classes is for personal enrichment, therefore students learn at their own pace, without the stress of grades and tests. The course offerings are planned by a special PRIME Time Curriculum Committee, which considers topics and suggestions of past enrollees and of community members. Fees vary with the length and type of course. Classes are held at the Niceville Campus, South Walton Campus and at select locations in the local area. For more information call (850) 729-6084.

Professional Certification/Testing

NWFSC offers a variety of professional certification and testing services.

Prometric (Information Technology Certifications) - Designed for software and technology professionals, exams offered at NWFSC include: Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), UNIX, LINUX, A+, Network +, CISCO Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Certified Novell Administrator (CNA) and Certified Novell Engineer (CNE). For information contact the Professional Certification Testing Center at (850) 729-6499.

Pearson VUE - Delivers certification and licensure tests through NWFSC’s test center in the areas of Academic/Admissions, Construction Trades, UST & Inspectors, Driving Test, Employment/HR/Management Safety, Financial Services, Health/Medicine/Nursing/Pharmacy, Information Technology, Insurance, Legal Services, real estate/Appraisers/Mortgage and Loan, and State Regulated Certifications and Licensures. For information contact the Professional Certification Testing Center at (850) 729-6499.

Certiport - NWFSC offers the official Microsoft Office Specialist certification for desktop productivity in the following areas: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Project. The IC³ training and certification program covers a broad range of computing knowledge and skills that proves competency in: Computing Fundamentals, Key Applications, and Living On-line. For information contact the Office of Workforce Education at (850) 729-5202.

Florida Ready to Work is an on-line assessment, training, and career database through which completers obtain a Ready to Work credential. For information contact the Office of Workforce Education at (850) 729-5202.

Student Career and Competency Assessments

The following are offered through the NWFSC Career Resource Center:

CareerScope offers a broad range of career assessment measures, including an interest and aptitude test to assist individuals develop a career plan.

Evolve Reach (HESI) Admission Assessment Exam for Nursing assesses knowledge of math, reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and anatomy and physiology, and is a required exam for all individuals who wish to apply to the Nursing (RN) program.

FBAT (Florida Basic Abilities Test) is a required exam for all individuals planning to enroll in either the
college’s Law Enforcement Academy or Corrections Academy.

Hogan’s Personality Assessment is administered only to the individuals in the college’s Dental Assisting program.

Keirsy Temperament Sorter II® (KTS®-II) is a personality instrument that helps individuals discover their personality type. The KTS®-II is based on Dr. David Kersey’s Temperament Theory. It helps individuals gain insight into themselves and the people around them, to aid in selecting a career or work environment.

OccuBrowse+ provides quick and easy access to career, occupational, employment, wage and training information.

Skills Tutor is delivered online and can be used as a teacher-aided instructional tool or as a one-on-one tutoring resource for individualized instruction, diagnostic testing, assignments and more.

TABE (Test of Adult Basic Skills) assesses literacy level work-skills in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.