Frequently Asked Questions

Registration may be done in person at a customer service desk, by the web, fax, or mail. Visit Workforce Development and Continuing Education, Registration options. 

Exception to this is if you are taking the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)/Certified Geriatric Assistant (GNA). This program has mandatory orientation session and skills testing prior to registration. Visit CNA/GNA for more information. 

Payment may be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or Discover), check, or money order. Cash payments may ONLY be made at a cashier's office on the Rockville, Germantown, or Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus. See registration options for exact locations. 

The Tuition Installment Plan (TIP) is available for health science programs costing more than $900. Qualified programs are designated by a ▲ in the schedule. This allows students to pay one third of the class total as a down payment, and pay the balance in two payments before the class ends. There is a nonrefundable $35 fee to participate in the program. Students may sign up online or in-person at the time of registration. Visit WDCE registration options for more information.

Textbooks are usually included in the tuition and will be handed out in class. Refer to the course description for textbook procurement details. 

Workforce Development and Continuing Education programs are noncredit and do not qualify for federal student loans. 

• However, assistance may be available fro the following agency: Montgomery Works - for displaced workers 301-929-6880.
• Pending available funding, WDCE may have a limited number of career related scholarship opportunities available. Visit Workforce Development and Continuing Education scholarship opportunities for additional scholarship information. 
• Veteran opportunities. Some programs/classes qualify for veteran's benefits. These classes are marked with ♥ in the schedule. This course is Veterans Administration approved. For more information about applying for veteran's benefit funding visit registration information. 

Some classes require a student to pass the math and reading tests, and fulfill other qualifications. The classes listed below have specific prerequisites. For additional information call 240-567-5508.

• CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) prerequisites: pass mandatory math and reading tests, be at least 18 years old, and have a social security number or federal tax ID number. There are additional health & vaccination requirements for students participating in this program. Visit CNA/GNA prerequisites for more information. 

• Medicine Aide prerequisite: pass mandatory math and reading tests, and the student must bring a letter of recommendation from their employer.

• Medicine Aide update prerequisite: must have GNA (Geriatric Nursing Assistant) and CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) current certifications, have a letter of recommendation from their employer, and bring a letter of employment (at least one full year) from the Director of the Nursing from your current employment at a long-term care facility (not a group home, assisted living or agency).

• Nurse Refresher prerequisite: No math or reading test required, but must have possessed a U.S. nursing license at one time in order to attend clinical. Must have graduated from a RN or LPN Program. Must have passed NCLEX Exam. Must have an active, inactive, or a temporary license number. There are additional health & vaccination requirements for students participating in this program. Visit CNA/GNA/Nurse Refresher prerequisites for more information.

Yes. Some courses may have additional requirements, see below. For more information you may call 240-567-5508 / 5507.

Students must understand and meet all requirements and/or standards imposed by recognized professional societies and all contract requirements imposed on college students by the institution or agency where the clinical practice is to occur.

Must understand and be prepared to meet all requirements for participation in certain clinical courses involving hospital or clinical practice. These requirements may include the passing of an appropriate health examination and tests per CDC guidelines, e.g.: (1) complete blood count; (2) urinalysis; (3) a complete hepatitis B vaccination series (series of three or waiver); (4) annual TB screening; (5) MMR vaccinations(s) or positive titer(s); and (6) Varicella vaccination or a Varicella titer and (7) seasonal flu vaccine.

Must understand that drug testing and criminal background checking of nursing and health science students may be required by the facilities which are the sites for the clinical learning experience of nursing and health science students. These are conducted by an outside agency at the student's expense and must occur before a nursing and health science student can be placed at a facility for his or her clinical experience. The results of drug tests and criminal background checks will be available for review by designated personnel in each clinical facility and the clinical facility has the right to refuse admission for students based on such review.

See Nursing Refresher and CNA/GNA  Clinical Prerequisites for a complete list of prerequisites students must meet prior to participating in Nurse Refresher Clinical.

The math and reading tests will be administered at the MANDATORY orientation location TP/SS Health Sciences Building before the class begins. Dates and times are listed in the brochure.

Classroom instructors give students the geriatric assistant licensing exam application after successful completion of the class. Students should fill out applications, and a money order for $105.00 to “Pearson VUE”. Your instructor will collect these and the site administrator for credentials will send the completed applications.

Most WDCE Health Science classes are 8 to 15 weeks long.

Yes, there are some Saturday and Sunday classes. Check the schedule for class dates and times.

Workforce Development and Continuing Education programs have no formal job placement programs; however, faculty and staff assist students when informed about job openings. Students may find Montgomery College Career Services or Career Coach to be helpful. In addition, in-class courses include résumé assistance, speakers, some interviewing techniques, etc. Some classes have Human Resources Department speakers come to class.

The starting salary for WDCE Health Science graduates varies by program and employment qualifications. Graduating students can get, but are not limited to, $24,000 to $40,000 per year for entry-level positions. For CNA (Certified Nursing Assistants) the salary ranges from $14 to $18 per hour.

Typically 60% to 80% of our graduates get jobs

Not at this time.