Rockford Career College

In today’s world, just about everything we do is in some way, shape or form owed to the work of an electrician. Without them, we couldn’t see in the dark, power up a computer or go online to read this page. Electrical Technicians are responsible for duties such as:

• Wiring new construction sites for electrical use.
• Installing electrical wiring and outlets.
• Repairing or upgrading electrical systems.
• Interpreting blueprints and maintaining safety protocols.

Electrical Technicians primarily focus on the build, repair, safety, inspection and installation of electrical components and systems. Typically, this role works under the supervision of either an Electrician or an Electrical Engineer.

One of the best ways to enter the electrical field is through a diploma program. The Rockford Career College Electrical Technician Program is designed to provide an opportunity for students to develop knowledge and skills relevant and required in an Electrical Technician context. Our program can be completed in just 10 months and will prepare you to:

• Grasp electrical safety laws and regulations.
• Establish safety protocols and best practices on a job site.
• Understand conduit bending, AC/DC theory, motor controls and operations.
• Utilize transformers, branch and feeder calculations to establish new electrical systems.

Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, often abbreviated as HVAC/R, is a skilled trade, in high demand and a wonderful career choice for those who enjoy working with their hands. A qualified HVAC/R technician has duties which include:

• Installing heating and cooling systems.
• Maintaining and repairing heating and cooling systems.
• Providing excellent customer service for commercial and residential clientele.
• Studying blueprints and assembling HVAC/R equipment.
• Measuring and reporting on HVAC/R performance.
• Evolving skill sets to the latest technology and understanding water-based heating systems, solar technology or other sub-domains of HVAC/R systems.

To enter the HVAC/R field, it is important to have the proper training and understand safety protocols. One of the best ways to gain this knowledge is through an HVAC/R dedicated diploma program. Our program can be completed in just 10 months and will prepare you to:

• Problem-solve and troubleshoot HVAC/R equipment and systems.
• Complete required safety courses, necessary within the skilled trade for employment.
• Be introduced to various systems and brands common to the industry.
• Learn common terminology and procedures related to the HVAC/R field.

From construction to automotive, welding is an essential component of numerous industries and a necessary step in the construction of a great many structures. Simply put, welding is the process of joining metal parts into one individual unit through the use of heat. Duties of welders include:

• Interpreting and diagnosing blueprints prior to construction.
• Sourcing appropriate materials to progress a project.
• Measuring and cutting metallic materials to spec.
• Joining individual parts to construct a specific design.
• Ensuring safety protocols are met and delivering high-quality products.

If you like problem solving and working with your hands, while also enjoying a growing career field, welding may be the perfect career option for you.

Welders are highly skilled and a great way to get the training you need is through the Rockford Career College diploma program. Our hands-on Welding program can be completed in as little as 10 months and will prepare you to:

• Develop knowledge and skills relevant to the welding process.
• Study the essentials of welding theory.
• Grasp SMAW and GTAW specifications.
• Learn the steps for thermal cutting, material crafting and related skills of the trade.
• Gain competency in pipe welds.

Who doesn’t love a great smile? Dental Assistants are a sought after and strong contributing member of the overall dental team. Dental Assistants typically work in a comfortable dental office location in cities, suburbs and smaller towns. Dental assisting involves:

• Working as part of a team to provide patient care.
• Processing samples and performing laboratory functions.
• Collecting billing and insurance information from patients.
• Advising patients on proper oral hygiene.
• Performing administrative and other such duties to support the clinic.

A great way to launch your dental career is through a diploma program. Our diploma can be completed in just 10 months and has been carefully designed to:

• Provide training in didactic, laboratory and clinical processes.
• In-depth teachings of common dental procedures.
• Instruction for dental office administration.
• Gain knowledge of chairside assisting and infection control in an oral environment.

Few healthcare functions would be possible without Medical Assistants. This varied and fundamentally important career, is critical in providing services such as:

• Working alongside physicians and nurses to provide administrative support.
• Measuring and recording vital signs.
• Ensuring stellar patient experiences through appointment scheduling, cleansing rooms and processing customer data.
• In some cases, obtaining patient samples.
• Helping patients improve healthcare outcomes and improve lives.

Due to the complexities of healthcare and the importance of patient care, a diploma program is a great way to gain fundamental industry knowledge to launch a healthcare career. Our diploma program can be completed in just 10 months and has been carefully designed to provide:

• Instruction in both clerical and clinical best practices and skills.
• Development of medical communication and critical thinking.
• Includes a 160-hour externship designed to gain hands-on experience.
• Real-life examples of common challenges in the healthcare world.

Looking for a fast-paced, exciting career? This is it. A Surgical Technician assists with all manner of operating room (OR) procedures and patient care. They are critical to pre-operative processes and ensure the sterilization of equipment and the room itself. Some of their duties include:

• Organizing pre-operative equipment and ready the OR for surgery.
• Assisting surgeons during surgical procedures.
• Preparing and administering medications, assisting in retracting tissues and passing surgical tools as necessary.
• Applying bandages and removing patients after an operation.
• Participating in the sterilization of equipment.

Surgical Technology offers a rewarding career. To enter this field, one of the best paths is through an accredited degree program. Our program can be completed in just 18 months and will prepare you through:

• Advanced studies in anatomy, microbiology and physiology.
• In-depth study of medical terminology and operating room procedures.
• An externship in a healthcare setting, providing real-world experience.
• General education course work to meet the requirements of an associate degree.

Animal Sciences

Helping animals in their critical hour of need is at the core of what a Veterinary Technician does. This hands-on profession, sometimes referred to as simply a Vet Tech or Veterinary Assistant, involves:

• Providing critical support services for Veterinarians and animal hospital staff
• Participating in lab tests and sampling and ensure equipment is ready for administering services.
• Taking x-rays and performing physical exams prior to veterinary procedures.
• Supervising and training personnel in the essentials of animal care.
• Delivering exceptional customer service to pet owners.

To gain employment as a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Assistant, it is highly valuable to graduate from an accredited program and have passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). At Rockford Career College, our program will focus on the core subjects you need to master to pass this exam, including:

• Anesthesia
• Emergency Medicine/Critical Care
• Pharmacy & Pharmacology
• Pain Management/Analgesia
• Dentistry
• Laboratory Procedures
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Animal Care & Nursing
• Surgical Nursing

Rockford Career College’s Academic Associate of Applied Science Degree in Diagnostic Medical Sonography program prepares students to become competent sonographers in the general ultrasound concentration. Graduates of the program will acquire entry-level cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills to perform quality diagnostic ultrasound examinations required of a general sonographer on the abdomen, pregnant and non-pregnant pelvis, fetal structures and fetal measurements, superficial structures and segments of the vascular system.

• Knowledge and understanding of human gross and sectional anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology and recognition of normal and abnormal sonographic appearances.
• Knowledge, understanding and clinical application of acoustical physics, Doppler principles and ultrasound instrumentation in optimizing ultrasound examinations.
• Knowledge and understanding of ultrasound and tissue interactions and the probability of biological effects.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role of a sonographer in performing interventional/invasive procedures.

Practical Nursing, often referred to as Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN), is a very rewarding career and many are even considered as heroes in their communities. Practical Nurses have the power to change lives through their actions and are typically responsible for:

• Providing basic nursing care and being responsible for patient comfort.
• Checking blood pressure, changing bandages or other patient needs.
• Monitoring and reporting patient vitals to doctors and other medical staff.
• Under certain circumstances, administering medications.

One of the most common paths to become a Licensed Practical Nurse is through a diploma program. This approach provides invaluable lessons that aid in preparing for the NCLEX exam and help you launch a career in practical nursing. Our diploma program can be completed in just 14 months and has been carefully designed to:

• Provide necessary training to pass the NCLEX exam.
• Studies in anatomy, pharmacology and nutrition.
• Course work in clinical skills, critical thinking, medical ethics and nursing care.
• How to create a safe environment for patients, family and the community.