Let’s be honest — not everyone is interested in a four-year college degree. There are education alternatives, and often these programs can be completed in just a few months and can help with resumes and job placement.

CONSIDER A FAST TRACK
The newest kid on Little Rock’s educational block is Heritage College. Campus Director Anjean McCole says, “We teach people to change their life and we want them to succeed.”
Like the state’s public community colleges, Heritage College is willing to walk people through the process.
The private career-training college, which focuses on health and fitness, is more than 20 years old and has eight locations across the nation. At the Little Rock campus, they offer programs in Pharmacy Technician, X-Ray Medical Technician and Personal Trainer.
There are no academic classes; instead, students learn through lectures, audio and video demonstrations and hands-on work.
“Each program can be completed in about 12 months, and since many of the  students work full time, “we keep our schedules flexible,” with morning, afternoon and evening sessions, McCole says.
Health care remains a “protected industry,” says Gregg Peterson, a Heritage College spokesman. Over the next few years as the baby boomers age, there will be a need for more healthcare professionals.
Like state colleges, “Financial aid is available for those who qualify,” Peterson says.

RECESSION PROOF YOUR CAREER
Andi Wilson, owner of The Salon Professional Academy in North Little Rock, says her salon allow students to achieve their dreams while earning a living.
Certified programs like hers — in cosmetology, nail tech and esthetics (skin care) — generally offer students concentrated training at a fraction of the time of a traditional institution and at a fraction of the cost of a four-year education.
As a bonus, cosmetology holds its own during tough economic times. It’s a luxury many women and men aren’t willing to give up, she says.
Open for two years, the 7,200-square-foot salon includes state-of-the-art equipment and is sponsored by Redken. The national company that specializes in hair care and color products sponsors 32 schools, all independently owned, across the nation.
Cosmetology training at the academy includes theory and practical instruction that prepares students to perform hair, skin and nail services; esthetics training prepares students for skin care and makeup services; and nail tech (manicure) training at includes instruction on nail services.
Depending on the program a student chooses, training can be completed in as little as 10 months. For example, cosmetology training, which includes training in hair, nail tech and esthetics, takes a commitment of seven hours a day, five days a week for 44 weeks or 1,500 hours. Skin and nail training takes about 600 hours, or part-time training for 44 weeks. The academy also offers an evening cosmetology training program that runs 108 weeks.
All the academy’s three programs meet Arkansas’s requirements for state licensing.
 “We place a big emphasis on job placement,” says Wilson. Before a student graduates, he or she learns how to fill out applications and prepare resumes. The academy also teaches how to work with clients, bookings, referrals and more, she says.
The academy also holds job fairs, inviting area salon owners and managers to meet the soon-to-graduate students.

CHANGE YOUR LIFE TODAY
At Remington College’s Little Rock campus students encounter a teaching style that addresses their needs.
The college offers its students “a practical, focused approach” to give them the “knowledge, skills, and confidence to pursue a rewarding career after graduation,” says Nicole Brown, with Remington Administrative Services Inc. media office in Heathrow, Fla.
“We’re smaller than a traditional university or college,” Brown says. This allows their instructors more time to work with individuals, and “there are no giant lecture halls at Remington College campuses.”
Their average class size is about 25 students.
“We know that you may be juggling work, school, and family for a chance at a better future, so we offer you the flexibility of day and evening class sessions,” she says. Remington also provides online opportunities in some programs.
At the Little Rock campus, Remington College offers associate degrees in Computer and Network Administration and Criminal Justice. It offers diplomas in Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance and Coding, and Pharmacy Technician.
Classes start monthly, so a student can be working toward a degree or diploma without waiting for the fall or spring semester. Diploma programs can be completed in as little as eight months, with their degree programs completed in as few as 24 months.
All Remington College campuses participate in the Title IV Federal Student Financial Aid program and in addition to financial aid, other private (non-governmental) financing programs are available for qualified applicants.
And once the student has completed the programs, college staff are ready to help with the next phase.
“As a Remington College student, you’ll discover how our internship opportunities, career fairs, field trips, and one-on-one help with employment applications, resumes, and interviewing tips can help to prepare you for job interviews and the real world that awaits once you graduate,” Brown says.
Remington College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges of Technology (ACCSC), with 19 campuses across the nation.

You can server and be a student at the same time.