Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I have been shopping around and have found another college offering a program like yours, but
they are charging $16,000-$20,000 and yours is less than $3,000. What’s the difference?
A: There are many area career college that have similar programs to ours. The most popular are in
Billing, Coding, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, and Pharmacy Technician. Our programs are similar
to theirs in the following ways:
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Both include instruction designed to teach students skills and required knowledge to be
successful in the industry
Ours, and most others, lead students towards national certification
The courses at Collin College are different from most other career colleges in the following ways:
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Collin College is a non-profit, public educational institution. Most career colleges are forprofit, private companies who offer educational courses.
A percentage of the total revenue for Collin College is received through tax dollars, so
the full cost of operating the college does not have to be collected through tuition. This
allows us to keep the cost of education low.
Our main goal in CE is to train students with the skills and education needed to get a job
and perform well. We keep the training courses as short as possible to help you be able
to enter the workforce as quickly as possible.
Q: Are the CE programs accredited?
A: Collin College is accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on
Colleges. More information about college accreditation can be found at http://www.collin.edu/aboutus/
Q: How do I apply?
A: For most of our courses, there is open enrollment. That means you simply choose which course you
want, register and pay for the class. You can register online, over the phone at 972.985.3711 or at the
Courtyard Center. For the following healthcare courses, there is an application which must be
completed and submitted with supporting documents:
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Nurse Aide Training
Phlebotomy Lab
Clinical Medical Assistant
Nursing Refresher
Dental Assistant Training
Community Health Worker
All Externships
Q: Do I have to submit all of the application documentation, or can I register first?
A: You must submit all of your documents and be approved for the course before you will be given
approval to register. Once you submit a completed application and are approved, a space in the class is
held for you. You must register at least 2 days prior to the class beginning, or your spot may be given to
another student.
Q: Why do I have to submit an application and provide shot records?
A: The application and shot records are required so the College can ensure the safety of all students and
any patient in a clinical setting that our students may contact. We follow guidelines set by state and
local governing bodies when setting requirements for vaccine documentation.
Q: Do I need to be admitted into the College to take a CE Course?
A: No, college admission is not required for CE courses.
Q: Is there a payment plan?
A: No, payment for each class is due in full when you register.
Q: Is financial aid available?
A: Yes, instructions on applying for financial aid are available at
http://www.collin.edu/ce/financialaid.html
Q: Where do I get a textbook?
A: Textbook information is located on each course page, on the right-hand column. You can purchase
books at the Courtyard Center bookstore or through a vendor of your choice.
Q: Is the exam fee included in the course tuition?
A: No, exam fees are separate and should be paid directly to the certification provider.
Q: Do you offer job placement?
A: While we do not offer any formal job placement, we do have several mechanisms to help you find a
job after completion of your coursework. Those are as follows:
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Participating in an externship is a great way to enter the workforce as a student and
prove your skills to a potential employer. If they are not able to hire you, they can write
you a good letter of recommendation
Employers call us quite frequently when they are searching for employees. They are
aware when they call the school that students will have no experience. We pass the job
posting information along to teachers and students who are in our classes.
We have contact with placement agencies and recruiters in the area who can also assist
you in finding employment.
Q: Do I get a certificate when I’m finished?
A: Some of our courses are Certificate Series of courses. When you have completed all of the courses in
the series, email your name, certificate completed, and mailing address to [email protected]. We
will pull your transcript and issue a certificate. We do not issue Certificates for individual courses. If at
any time, you would like proof of completion, you may request an official transcript by calling
972.985.3711. The list of Certificate series can be found at http://www.collin.edu/ce/courses_cert.html
Q: How much time will I spend outside of class studying?
A: Plan to spend about an hour outside of class for every hour that you are in class. For online courses,
the number of hours listed for the course is equivalent to classroom hours. You will probably spend
additional time studying and completing your assignments.
Q: Do I have to do an externship?
A: Externships are optional, however, some are required for certification. See each course page for
details.