Frequently Asked Questions

Courses vary in price, length and location. Short-term courses (those lasting one session to 12 weeks) can be found in our current catalog. Information about long term (work preparation type) programs can be found on our business and industry and adult health sciences pages.

Electronic copies of our catalogs are available on the current catalogs page.

Many of our courses can be arranged at your own company. Please contact Jim Sharrock at 573-214-3810 with your requests.

The majority of our classes are for those 18 years and older unless otherwise stated specifically in the course description. Children can be an unexpected distraction to the learning of others.

The Career Center is located at 4203 S. Providence Rd., Columbia, MO 65203. We are south of Nifong Blvd. and just north of Rock Bridge High School. The Professional & Community Education office is located in Room 147.

The refund policy can be found on the Current Catalogs page.

If Columbia Public Schools is closed due to inclement weather, evening Adult Education classes will NOT be held. If conditions deteriorate during the day, please listen to local TV and radio stations for cancellation information after 4:00 pm. You will be contacted with the reschedule information as soon as it is available.

If attending classes at The Career Center there is parking available in the front lot and south side of the building. For classes at Rock Bridge HS there is plenty of well-lit parking in the north lot.

Yes, anyone 65 years or older may register for one class each semester at a 20% discount on the course fee. Fees for books, supplies, etc. must be paid at full cost. This discount may not be combined with any other discount or promotion. This discount is not applicable to career training programs or individual classes in the career training section of the catalog. Bring or mail proof of age with enrollment.

Click Here to view our document on Guidelines for Disabilities

Qualified students in our Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology programs are not subject to the new cap on tuition reimbursement.

Beginning January 2012, A+ tuition reimbursement was capped at the published standard per credit hour tuition rate charged by Linn State Technical College. Due to this cap, A+ recipients did not qualify for full tuition reimbursement at the Columbia Area Career Center. We applied for and have been approved for a waiver of the tuition cap on A+ Award reimbursements for students in our Practical Nursing and Surgical Technology programs. The waiver is effective for a maximum of three years, beginning January 1, 2012. Students in our Practical Nursing or Surgical Technology programs who qualify for A+ tuition reimbursement are no longer subject to the reimbursement cap and may receive A+ reimbursement for the full cost of their tuition.

Our program has been referred to as "Strawn School" because we were located on Strawn Road in Columbia. We are now located at the Columbia Area Career Center in the Health Science wing. Directions and map here.

The PN program is an 11 month program beginning in March with time off during spring break, late July and December spanning 12 continuous months.

The PN program is self-contained meaning the courses taught are specific to the program and do not carry credit toward an RN program at this time. CACC is looking to expand in the future to offer such credit.

We accept all forms of financial aid including A+, VA, Pell Grant, Federal Student Loans. Find out more about Financial Aid by contacting Cathy Holle at 214-3809.

Technology Institute's (ATI) Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) for its entrance test. The TEAS does not have a pass or fail score. It provides a measure of strength and identifies areas a student can study for improvement.

Study for the entrance test by using the local public library resources to review English, Math, Reading and Science subject areas. A workbook can be purchased online; or, the school has a book available for use from 7am to 4pm Monday -Thursday.

The ST program is an 11 month program beginning in August with time off during December and spring break, spanning 12 continuous months.

A PN (practical nurse) has not yet fulfilled the requirements of the state board in order to practice as a licensed nurse. Most students of practical nursing programs are referred to as practical nursing students. An LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse) has completed and passed the state's board of nursing exam.

An LVN (Licensed Vocational Nurse) is the same as an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)

Click Here to view our document on Guidelines for Disabilities

Once accepted as a student, the following Mandatory Health Requirements must be met or in the process of being met:

• Tb Skin Test
• A completed Hepatitis B series by immunization or a positive titer
• Documentation of two MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) immunizations with the latest after 1980 or a positive titer
• Two (2) Varicella (chicken pox) vaccines 1 month apart or a positive titer
• Documentation of Tetanus/Diptheria (Td) within the last 10 years
• 14 Panel Urine Drug Screen with negative results

Anyone 16 years of age or older who is not enrolled in any public school or is being home schooled.

No, the GED prep classes are free of charge, however, the State does charge a fee ($20.00) for the application to take the actual GED exam. There is also an additional $20.00 fee that the testing site will charge each time an applicant takes the test.

Yes, please call 573-214-3690 for class schedules and availability.