Lone Star College Continuing Education: A Gateway to Lifelong Learning and Career Advancement

Lone Star College (LSC) offers a comprehensive range of continuing education courses designed to provide individuals with opportunities for personal enrichment, skill development, and career advancement. With a focus on accessible, fast-track programs, LSC's Continuing Education (CE) caters to diverse learning needs and career goals.

Continuing Education Programs Overview

Continuing Education at Lone Star College comprises fast-track certificates and courses designed to equip students with the skills needed for high-demand jobs. These programs emphasize the key technical and behavioral skills essential for success in targeted occupations. Each certificate program incorporates industry-recognized certification, as well as State or National occupational accreditation. Classes are offered with flexible scheduling options to accommodate various lifestyles, including day, evening, hybrid, weekend, and online formats.

Workforce Training Programs

Lone Star College's Continuing Education program features over 50 workforce programs, many of which can be completed in six months or less. These programs focus on providing individuals with the technical and behavioral skills necessary for specific occupations. Graduates receive certificates that are industry-recognized or have state or national occupational accreditation, enhancing their employability and career prospects.

The Mechatronics program at LSC-University Park exemplifies this approach, training students to work on equipment integrating electronics, mechanics, pneumatics, hydraulics, and computer controls. This program allows individuals to acquire career-related skills, such as troubleshooting electrical wiring, schematics, and basic hydraulic operations.

Specific Programs and Courses

LSC offers a variety of specific programs and courses tailored to meet the demands of the local job market:

Accounting and Payroll

Accounting Assistant: This non-credit, fast-track program provides hands-on training in Excel, QuickBooks, accounting fundamentals, and payroll management. Students learn to maintain accurate payroll records, handle employee status changes, file financial documents, and assist with payroll deductions. The program is offered fully in-person in English or Bilingual (Spanish/English), with no admissions testing required.
Payroll Assistant: Building upon the Accounting Assistant program, this course extends instruction to prepare students for payroll-related roles in payroll accounting, processing, and management. The program is offered in-person in English.

Healthcare Programs

Nurse Aide: This program prepares students for the Texas Department of Health and Human Services State Examination. Attendance is required to obtain the necessary hours mandated by the Texas Department of Aging and Disability. Lecture and skills training are conducted in-person at LSC-North Harris, while clinical training takes place offsite at a local Residential Care Facility. Completing the Nurse Aide program and obtaining certification opens doors to various entry-level positions within the healthcare field.
Phlebotomy: This program prepares students for certification as a phlebotomist, a healthcare professional specializing in drawing blood from patients for testing, transfusions, donations, or research. The program includes in-person lecture and skills training at LSC-North Harris, with clinical training conducted offsite at a local Residential Care Facility.
EKG/ECG Technician: This program trains healthcare professionals to record a patient's heart activity using an electrocardiogram (EKG) machine. Technicians learn to take patient medical histories, attach electrodes, and run tests to monitor heart rhythm and detect abnormalities. Graduates who obtain certification as a Certified Cardiographic Technician (CCT) are qualified for employment in hospitals, diagnostic clinics, and cardiology offices.
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): This program trains frontline healthcare professionals to provide critical pre-hospital care during medical emergencies.

General Education

Basic Mathematics: These courses provide remediation in developmental basic mathematical skills to prepare students for college readiness and the Texas Success Initiative (TSIA2) assessment.

Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL)

The Academy for Lifelong Learning (ALL) is a membership community within Continuing Education that provides free and low-cost classes, events, and activities for adults aged 50 and older. The annual membership fee of $25 grants access to classes across all Lone Star College campuses.

ALL offers a wide range of courses and activities, covering diverse topics:

Lectures, workshops, seminars, and tours on subjects such as birding, geocaching, the Constitution, and financing long-term care.
Off-site lectures and tours at locations like Jones Forest, Mercer Arboretum, and Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital's "Doc Talk" series.

The LSC-North Harris ALL program provides a real-time calendar accessible via phone, allowing members to verify dates, times, locations, and course details. New courses are consistently added, with over 300 free classes and activities offered throughout the year.

Leisure and Personal Enrichment Courses

Lone Star College-Montgomery offers a variety of continuing education courses for personal enrichment and leisure, including:

Floral Design
Piano
Electronic Music Arrangement
Web Development or Design
Digital Photography (including DSLR camera classes)
French, Italian, and Spanish language courses

Resources and Support

Lone Star College provides various resources and support services for continuing education students:

LSC Service Center: Available 24/7 online for accessing documentation, submitting tickets, or engaging in live chat with agents. Phone support is also available at 281.318.HELP (4357).
Financial Aid: Students may be eligible for state or federal grant funding through the Texas Public Education Grant or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Campus Resources: Continuing education students can utilize the campus library and participate in free programs and events.
Employer Recruitment: Lone Star College helps employers recruit trained professionals through its Continuing Education program.

Lone Star College System Overview

Lone Star College System (LSCS) is the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and the fastest-growing community college system in the nation. LSCS consists of eight colleges: LSC-CyFair, LSC-Kingwood, LSC-Montgomery, LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball, LSC-University Park, LSC-Houston North and LSC-Online, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSC.

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