Education is important and worth prioritizing, but not everyone has the freedom to schedule life around their classes.
If you’re a full-time employee or working parent, it may be the opposite — classes need to be scheduled around other priorities in your life, and that’s okay. It doesn’t mean you have less passion or drive — just different needs.
American Career College understands this reality, and that’s why for several of ACC healthcare programs, students can elect a weekend class schedule for the program’s core courses. (The weekend schedule does not apply to externships and clinical practicum experiences that are part of the program.)
As an aspiring student, you may be wondering: “How much more time will an altered schedule add to the length of my program?” That’s a valid concern, but fortunately, the answer is no time at all for certain programs.
The majority of the ACC programs with weekend class options allow you to graduate on the same schedule as those attending classes during the week. In other words, you get increased scheduling flexibility that aligns with your needs while still being able to stay on track with your academic goals. No need to choose between your educational aspirations and your existing obligations — you can invest time into both!
ACC’s offers weekend classes for the following programs:
*The one exception to weekend class options being the same length is the Vocational Nursing program. While ACC’s Vocational Nursing program does have an evening/weekend option, it can be completed in as little as 20 months, as opposed to 13 months for the regular schedule.
Blended Programs Create Opportunities for Student Accommodation
How is ACC able to provide a weekend class option that does not prolong graduation? The answer is through blended programs.
Blended programs allow students to complete part of their studies online and part through in-person instruction, which cuts down the amount of time they are required to spend on campus. The Medical Assistant, Dental Assisting, and Pharmacy Technician programs are all blended, so classwork is done online during the week and labs are attended on campus on the weekends.
“Our weekend classes offer students a way to complete the lab portion of the program during their off time as they may be busy with work or homelife obligations during the week,” said Melissa Chacon, Medical Assistant Program Director at ACC’s Ontario campus. “Assignments are still completed mid-week online in Canvas (the learning management system used by ACC students).
“The curriculum and rigor of the program is the same as our mid-week courses,” Ms. Chacon continued. “While this is a short-term sacrifice for the months they are here, it allows them an opportunity to earn an education where they otherwise may not be able to commit to school.”
Ms. Chacon added that once medical assistant students finish their on-ground courses, they are ready to move on to the clinical component, which is completed during regular business hours in a medical office. This 200-hour externship gives students the opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce the knowledge and skills they acquired during the training program.
Working on Your Career While Keeping Your Day Job
According to Mary Jacob, Dental Assisting Program Director at ACC’s Los Angeles campus, the weekend option gives students the opportunity to keep their job while working on their long-term career goals.
“By opening the weekend course option to the Dental Assisting program, it allows students to have a full-time job during the week and still benefit by obtaining a diploma in a career,” Ms. Jacob said. “The applicants who are considering enrolling in our program know that having a career is far better than just having a job.”
Looking for a Program That Works with Your Busy Schedule?
If you’re interested in a healthcare education that will allow you to attend classes on the weekends, you may want to consider one of ACC’s programs. Fill out the brief form on this page to speak with a member of our team. We’re happy to answer any questions you have!
