Hero Image
 

Career in a Year

 

Earn a professional certificate and jump-start your career in a year or less.

Many recent workforce and labor studies show that two out of three jobs created between now and 2030 will require education and training beyond a high school diploma. However, many of these jobs will not require a four-year college degree. Southwest has certificate programs that allow you to fast-track your way to career success in one year or less. These credentials prepare you to enter the workforce right away or build a foundation for continued study to earn more credentials on up to the associate degree.

Health Care Careers

Emergency Medical Services
To learn more, email Merry Mattix at mmattix@southwest.tn.edu or call 901-333-5413/5400.

The EMT Program includes both classroom instruction and clinical experience. This program will teach you how to give care to people in medical emergencies, as well as those with injuries. Graduates enjoy fulfilling careers with local fire departments and ambulance services. To become licensed in the State of Tennessee, you must successfully complete the Basic Emergency Medical Technology Program, pass an EMT program comprehensive exam, pass the National Registry Exam for EMT and apply for Tennessee Licensure as a Basic Emergency Medical Technician.

View the certificate course information

The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Program includes basic and limited advanced skills. The program focuses on the acute management and transportation of critical and emergency patients. The Advanced Emergency Medical Technician must have the knowledge and be competent in all of the skills of the emergency medical responder and emergency medical technician. Other skills studied in this program include pharmacological interventions, tracheobronchial suctioning of an already intubated patient, and intravenous therapy.

View the certificate course information

 

Allied Health Sciences
To learn more, email the Allied Health Department or call 901-333-5407/5400.

Laboratory Phlebotomy Technician program provides education and training on the latest techniques of collecting blood samples and performing waived testing on all types of body fluids. These technicians work in a variety of clinical settings, such as hospitals and health clinics. The fast-track program in Phlebotomy is a one-semester program, including 18 semester credit hours of coursework. Upon completion of the program, graduates receive the Laboratory Phlebotomy Technician Technical Certificate and may take national certification exams in phlebotomy.

View the certificate course information

Pharmacy technicians are essential to providing patients with safe and effective medication therapy. A pharmacy technician assists pharmacists with filling and dispensing medicines, maintaining patient records, labeling medicines and other job-related duties.  These technicians work in a variety of settings including hospitals, clinics, and community pharmacies. Students in the program will rotate in assigned pharmacy settings. During this period, the program calendar may differ from the academic calendar. The Pharmacy Technician program is accredited by the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP).

View the certificate course information

 

Technology Careers

Technologies
To learn more, email the Technologies Department or call 901-333-4159.

The technical certificate in Mechatronics Technology is designed to prepare graduates for many different careers related to manufacturing with an emphasis on technology, critical thinking and problem solving. Students will take courses in the basic fundamentals of engineering technology and move on to very advanced applications including PLCs and robotics.

View the certificate course information

The Basic Electronics Technician Certificate program is designed to provide basic electronic skills for entry-level electronic technicians. The program covers five areas that are essential for entry-level technicians. These areas include: electric circuits, electronic circuits, digital circuits, electronic test equipment and soldering (wire splicing, PCB assembly/rework for through-hole and surface mount components).

View the certificate course information

The Technical Certificate in Industrial Motion Control Technology is designed to prepare graduates with skills needed for working with and maintaining equipment used in a distribution, warehousing or manufacturing environment. Emphasis is placed on technology, critical thinking and problem solving. Students will take courses in the basic fundamentals of engineering technology and move on to advanced applications including PLCs and robotic/conveyor support systems.

View the certificate course information

The PC and Networking Technician Technical Certificate Program provides the skill set needed to begin a career in the Information Technology field. The program is designed for dually-enrolled high school students, high school graduates, those entering the workforce for the first time and those seeking to retrain into an occupational field with a high level of projected growth over the current decade and into the next. The coursework provides training in three areas: personal computer hardware and software installation and support, computer networking and network security,

View the certificate course information

This program provides skills for those who are interested in a career as a maintenance technician or process technician. The program trains you to work as a key member of a team responsible for the planning, analyzing and controlling the production of products from the acquiring raw material through the production and distribution of products to customers in a variety of industries. Graduates are prepared to enter technology fields such as: quality control, power plant operations, maintenance, chemical plant operations, water and wastewater treatment, plant and systems operations, and process control operations.

View the certificate course information

 

Engineering

The Advanced Machining Technical Certificate is designed to equip graduates with the advanced machining skills that will enable them to find high-level positions in the machining and metal fabrication fields. Students will become better acquainted with NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) machining standards. Emphasis is placed on advanced CNC and CAD/CAM topics. This certificate combines theoretical principles and hands-on practical skills. The program has been designed to meet the needs of local industries.

The Architectural/Construction Fundamentals Certificate Program emphasizes the basic skills needed to begin a career in architecture and building construction. Designed for high school graduates or those entering the design and construction field for the first time, the program covers six important areas. These areas include engineering technology techniques, architectural drawings, surveying, computer aided drawing, the materials and methods of building construction, and the use of modern computer software including word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

View the certificate course information

The Electrical/Electronic Fundamentals Certificate Program emphasizes the basic skills needed to begin careers in either the electrical or electronics engineering technology fields. Designed for high school graduates or those entering industry for the first time, the program covers six important areas: introduction to electrical/electronic technology; engineering technology techniques; electric circuits; electronic circuits; CAD drawing; and computer systems and applications such as word processing and spreadsheets.

View the certificate course information

The Industrial Computer Fundamentals Certificate Program emphasizes the basic skills needed to begin a career in the computer engineering technology field. Designed for high school graduates or those entering industry for the first time, the program covers several essential areas. These areas include: introduction to engineering technology; computer systems applications such as word processing and spreadsheets; hardware/software essentials; introduction to electric circuits; digital circuits; and introduction to programming.

View the certificate course information

The Machining Fundamentals Technical Certificate is designed to equip graduates with the basic machining skills that will enable them to find entry-level positions in the machining and metal fabrication fields. Students will become acquainted with OSHA safety standards and NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) machining standards. Emphasis is placed on manual machining and basic CNC topics. This certificate combines theoretical principles and hands-on practical skills. The program has been designed to meet the needs of local industries.

View the certificate course information

The Mechanical/Manufacturing CAD Certificate Program emphasizes the basic skills needed to begin a career in industry. Designed for high school graduates or those entering industry for the first time, the program covers four important areas. These areas include the study of materials and how they behave; basic manufacturing processes and quality used to create everyday products; computer-aided design concepts; and the use of modern computer software including word processing, spreadsheets and databases.

View the certificate course information

The Quality Assurance Certificate Program provides the student with intensive measuring and testing skills. Major areas of study include: common measuring instruments and techniques using micrometers, gage blocks and calipers; special measuring equipment and techniques using coordinate measuring machines, computer vision machines and digital measuring devices; materials testing covering stress and strain analysis, tension and compression tests; metallograph inspection and analysis; and hardness and strength studies involving heat treating.

View the certificate course information

The Quality Assurance Supervision Technical Certificate Program is designed for students with varied backgrounds. The certificate provides education and training in the practical knowledge and skills needed in today’s ever-changing workforce. The courses can be tailored to the needs of the student and local businesses.

View the certificate course information

 

Business Careers

To learn more, email the Business and Legal Studies Department or call 901-333-4130.

The Accounting Technical Certificate is designed to prepare students to become qualified for entry-level positions in the accounting job market. The program provides enhancement of accounting and computer skills for those already employed in accounting who are seeking promotion.

View the certificate course information

The tremendous growth and expansion of international trade has generated the need for a greater understanding of the import/export process. This is especially evident in Memphis, a major international distribution center. The primary goal of this program is to provide practical experience working with documents and processes used by customhouse brokers. Through a detailed understanding of the Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States and Customs Regulations, students will be able to apply knowledge to actual business applications. Upon completing this program, students will have gained practice to master the questions on the United States Treasury Department’s Customhouse Brokerage Examination.

The certificate for Logistics/Transportation Management is designed for students with varied backgrounds. The certificate provides education and training in the practical knowledge and skills needed in today’s ever-changing workforce. This curriculum includes a total approach to logistics management, including domestic and international transportation, warehousing, purchasing  and materials.

View the certificate course information

The Tax Preparer Technical Certificate is designed to prepare students to take the new IRS required tax preparer exam and to enhance their ability to find jobs in payroll and tax preparation.

View the certificate course information

 

Education and Human Services Careers

To learn more, email the Education, Criminal Justice and Human Services Department or call 901-333-5483.

The Early Childhood Education Technical Certificate program is designed to prepare early childhood professionals by developing competencies in developmentally appropriate practices. Completion of this program will provide the candidate with knowledge of theory and practice necessary to plan and implement a holistic program for individual children and groups. Courses taken in this program may be used toward the Associate of Applied Science degree with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education.

View the certificate course information

 

Contact Information

  • Main Operator
  • 901-333-5000
  • Toll-free
  • 1-877-717-7822

Campuses, Centers, and Site