Published, 2012

Students must have their high school diploma/General Education Diploma (GED), or be working toward that goal to qualify for training.

Office Careers is in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 , Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Office Careers does not discriminate on the basis of  race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, marital status, political ideology, sexual orientation, physical/sensory handicaps, or veteran status.

Credit will be given for students who have completed clerical/computer areas at other training facilities or have acquired skills on their own.  Students will not be required to repeat courses or learn skills they already have, training time and tuition will be adjusted to reflect skills already achieved.

Attend a tour/orientation session.

1. Attend a testing session to determine current skills.
2. Schedule an interview with the program manager at which time all application paperwork is turned in and financial options and support services are discussed.
3. On the first day of class, students must sign a student enrollment agreement.

Employment/Placement assistance is available on campus for students seeking employment.  Office Careers is a smoke free environment--there are designated smoking areas outside the building.  Office Careers has a list of job search material, community resources, support groups, and counseling services available to students posted on our bulletin boards and in a notebook in the administrative offices.                 

OVERVIEW OF OFFICE CAREERS

Office Careers is a non-profit customized computer and clerical support training program for adult students.  We offer industry-current training in a caring, intimate, culturally responsive environment with supportive individualized instruction.  We specialize in working with adults with special needs.  It is our belief that given the right raining environment, persons with disabilities can qualify for and be placed in meaningful unsubsidized clerical positions. 

The program is divided into three segments which can be integrated or taken as independent units:  Office Skills Training, Medical Clerical Training, or Accounting Clerical Training.  Training plans are established based on information from past training, work experience or assessments conducted at Office Careers.

Office Careers began in 1983 as a job-training program for low-income and disabled adults at North Seattle Community College.  In 1985 the program moved to Northwest Center Industries.  In the fall of 1991 Office Careers became a separate non-profit 501(c)3 school dedicated to serving the needs of adults with barriers to employments.

500 SW 7th St., #202, Renton, WA  98057, (425) 749-9890

James J. Jones
David M. Jordan

January, 2012

Office Careers is licensed under Chapter 29C.10RW.  Inquiries or complaints regarding this or any other private vocational school may be made to the Workforce Training and Education Coordinating Board, 128th Ave. SW, Olympia, WA  98504-3105, (360) 753-5673.

Office Careers has open enrollment.  Start dates and times are available by class space.  Start dates are arranged with the Program Manager and are first-come first-serve.  Students may change or adjust schedules after they enroll based on available space and instructor approval.

Objective
Through hands-on training with each student using his/her own computer terminal and business English/math applications, students master the technical skills necessary to obtain administrative occupations.

Computer and clerical training is designed to give students hands-on experiences with a variety of software that is most commonly used in business today.  In addition to using a computerized keyboarding program designed to improve speed and accuracy in typing and ten-key, students are taught how computers operate using Windows, how to do word processing in Word, databases in Access, spreadsheets in Excel, presentations in PowerPoint, and email/internet/scheduling using Outlook.  They also complete courses in business English, math, filing, and customer service to better prepare them for office work.

Office Careers is thankful to the Microsoft Corporation and the Architectual Firm NBBJ for donating software and computer equipment to our school.  This keeps our training current and our students prepared for an office work environment.

Office Careers uses an automated typing program to introduce and improve typing skills.  Daily accuracy and speeds are recorded as well as a participant’s “typing hurdles” or areas that need improvement.  Ten-key is taught using the same method.  We use a variety of keyboards for optimal comfort. Left and right-handed Dvorak keyboards are available as are different types of mice including trackballs and glide pads.  We can also train voice recognition software and scanning.

Office Careers teaches with structured workbooks and worksheets to introduce the features of the various programs outlined above.  This is combined with “real life” practice activities to solidify skills and build confidence.  Our goal is for each student to reach an employability skill level in each area.  Employability skill levels are determined by proficiency guidelines from local employment agencies and job postings.

Review of basic math functions is followed by work which emphasizes applying math skills to business situations.  Examples of the types of business math applications include learning to do payroll, taxes, accounting purchasing, and invoicing.

Review of basic English grammar with an emphasis on applying English skills to business situations.  Upon completing a review of spelling, grammar and punctuation, students are also taught how to compose basic business documents including cover letters and resumes.

Using a workbook and completing daily assignments, students learn the rules for alpha/numeric filing.  Students also learn geographic, subject, and government filing methods.

Students learn basic phone etiquette through hands-on practice in school, entering customer data, creating and maintaining contact lists, scheduling and dealing with various customer situations.

Student who wish to pursue medical office occupations or accounting clerical occupations usually attend the school 2-3 extra months.

Student begin by learning basic medical terminology through daily quizzing and final tests.  They learn the meanings of medical roots, suffixes, prefixes and how to combine these to decipher medical words.  They also learn how to code using ICD-9, CPT and HCPCS coding guides.  Students also learned the basics of medical billing through practice exercises filling out HCVA-1500 forms.  Medical transcription is offered for advanced students.

Through a combination of individualized instruction, college accounting textbooks, and hands-on assignments, students learning accounting terms and concepts and complete assignments involving debits and credits, payables/receivables, bank reconciliation, general journal entries, payroll and taxes.  They also learn how to use Quicken and QuickBooks by completing a training manual and completing hands-on accounting assignments using the programs.

The goal of our training is for students to achieve competitive, training-related employment with skills that will enable them to maintain job retention.

Office Careers works with students on their resumes and cover letters to ensure they are accurate and relevant to the job posted.  Staff members help students learn how to search the internet for job openings, how to send resumes and cover letters using the internet, prepare them for job interview questions, and can help set up and monitor job practicums so that students can gain work experience.  Our goal is to place students in competitive, non-subsidized training-related employment within ninety (90) days of completing training.  Our placement services cover the following:

1. Complete a skills inventory, help evaluate barriers to employment, create resumes and cover letters that best present the student’s skills, and help prepare for interviews by reviewing common interview questions.
2. Help evaluate and respond to job leads.  Learn appropriate techniques in dealing with problem areas of a successful job search.
3. Help increase production of job leads using print, internet and networking sources.  Learn how to do follow-up on leads.
4. Help broker employment proposals, evaluate job offers, and offer spot training to prepare for work. 

Office Careers does not track placement rates for its graduates because our students usually have outside placement coordinators hired by the state who work with them 

Graduation requirements are determined based on a students skills, learning abilities and qualifications for employment.

While graduation requirements may vary depending on the student and vocational goals, the following outcomes are generally necessary for consideration as entry level administrative support, and, therefore, are the goals we set for our students to achieve by graduation:

1. Typing—30-40 wpm
2. Ten-key—120-130 kspm
3. Computer literacy (minimum of 75% accurately completed assignments in Windows/MS Office)
4. Customer Service (complete telephone techniques coursework)
5. Filing (minimum (75% average on filing assignments and final test)
6. Business English (75% average on assignments and final test)
7. Business Math (75% average on assignments and final test)
8. Medical Clerical (minimum 75% average on daily terminology quizzes and tests. Complete ICD-9 and CPT coding workbooks with minimum 75% average).
9. Accounting Clerical (complete 9 chapters of accounting text and QuickBooks training workbook).

Students will leave Office Careers ready for employment in many administrative support occupations.  Administrative support, especially in the medical field, is the largest category of employment and one of the largest areas of job growth.  Clerical offers the greatest chance of upward mobility and the widest range of salaries.  The work is generally not physically demanding and can usually accommodate a wide-range of disabilities.

After intensive computer/clerical training involving training in word processing, data management, spreadsheet, basic accounting, and medical terminology/medical transcription, students can qualify for:

1. Adjusters, investigators, and collectors
2. Clerical supervisors and managers
3. Credit clerks and authorizers
4. General office clerks
5. Information clerks
6. Material recording, scheduling, dispatching and distributing occupations
7. Record clerks, including billing and bookkeeping, brokerage, filing, order payroll, and personnel
8. Word processors and data entry

A certificate of completion will be issued and a graduation ceremony held upon the successful completion of these programs.

As an option to strengthen training and build confidence and relevant work history, students may work 50 hours or more as volunteers at a non-profit agency.  Practicums provide the students with direct experience in working in an office environment and using their newly acquired skills.

Students may choose their own practica or a practica may be selected for them by staff.  Students will work where their skills and interests are going to be best utilized.  Practica assignments will not conflict with class operation hours.

Office Careers is a Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP) for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and is a licensed provider of vocational services for the Dept. of Labor and Industries, WorkSource and WorkFirst.

Office Careers cooperates with the Social Security Administration to create plans for achieving self-support (PASS) for persons currently receiving SSI and have earned income.

The school provides all supplies and texts to students at no additional charge. A separate fee may be reqired fo internet service for students in the remote training.

At the end of each month staff writes reports on each student's progress.  Students can meet individually with their instructors for an evaluation. Vocational counselors are also invited to attend their evaluations. Instructors will go over each student’s grades for the month and give students a chance to discuss their training thus far. Students who have not achieved a minimum of 75% in their grades or attendance will be given one evaluation period (20 class days) to rectify deficient grades. If the student fails to achieve the required grade at the end of the next evaluation period, the student will be suspended from her/his program of study. Students may not begin their practicum if they have deficient attendance or grades.

Students must attend classes 75% of the time to remain enrolled. Attendance is taken at the time of the first class; tardiness is also noted. Should a student miss a class day, that day will be made-up at the end of the regular training period at no additional cost to the student or funding agency. Leaves of absences are available for emergency situations. Requests for leave must be submitted in writing to the program manager.

Office Careers has the right to suspend or to withdraw any students whose conduct is detrimental to the educational environment within the classrooms or to the well-being of fellow students or faculty and staff members; who cause damage to the appearance or structure of the school facility or its equipment, or who otherwise display conduct detrimental to their own academic progress or ultimate success in the field for which they are being educated.

Office Careers adheres to federal guidelines as outlined within the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. The Federal Register, which outlines all the details of the Act, is available for review by students in the Office Careers' office. The following items address some of these rights:

1. Students have the right to inspect their academic, financial, or general records, by appointment, during normal school hours. The only exception is the confidential student flow sheets maintained by the instructors.
2. Office Careers may not release or disclose academic, personal, or financial information to outsiders (employers, agencies, individuals) without first securing a written release from the student with the exception of number 3 below.
3. Parents or guardians of dependent students as defined by the Financial Aid Program requirements are permitted to receive information about the student’s academic and general performance. Vocational counselors are also permitted to receive the student’s monthly progress reports for their files. The VA is exempt from the requirements of the Family Education and Privacy Act and must have access to student records at all times

Office Careers admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and sexual orientation to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national ethnic origin and, sexual orientation in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs. Published January, 2011.

Students will receive a full refund of all money paid if they are not accepted by the school. They will receive a full refund of tuition and fees paid if they withdraw not later than midnight of the fifth day (excluding Sundays and holidays) after signing the contract or making an initial payment, provided they have not commenced training.

Veterans who enroll have a refund policy based on VA guidelines. Staff will provide a copy of VA refund policy for these students (see addendum).

The official date of termination of a student shall be the last date of recorded attendance when withdrawal occurs in any of the following manners:

1. When the school receives notice of the student’s intention to discontinue the training.
2. When the student is terminated for a violation of a published school policy which provides for termination.
3. When a student, without notice to the institution, fails to attend classes for fourteen calendar days.

1. If you terminate during the first week or ten percent of contracted instruction, whichever is less, the school may retain ten percent of tuition cost plus registration fee (equal to ten percent of the total tuition cost, or one hundred dollars, whichever is less).
2. If you terminate after the first week or ten percent of instruction, whichever is less., but prior to completion of twenty-five percent of contracted time, the school may retain twenty-five percent of tuition costs plus registration fee (equal to ten percent of the total tuition cost, or one hundred dollars, whichever is less).
3. If you terminate after completion of twenty-five percent but prior to completion of fifty percent of contracted instruction time, the school may retain fifty percent of tuition cost plus registration fee (equal to ten percent of the total tuition cost or one hundred dollars whichever is less).
4. If you terminate after completion of more than fifty percent of contracted instructional time, the school may retain the full tuition cost plus registration fee (equal to ten percent of the total tuition cost, or one hundred dollars, whichever is less).
5. If a school continues to operate under its license but discontinues instruction in any program after training of students has begun, the students enrolled in the discontinued program are entitled to a pro rata refund of all tuition and fees paid unless comparable training is arranged by the school to be provided at another public or private vocational school and such arrangements are agreed to in writing by the student except as provided by WAC 4904000(4).
   • Notice in advance of the discontinuance must be provided to the agency and to students in writing, including at the least data required under WAC 490400-220(2).
   • The term “discontinued” generally applies to the elimination by the school of a particular course offering prior to its completion. However, the term includes circumstance where program(s) commenced at a specific location under terms of an enrollment agreement are relocated to substituted physical site.
   • A student affected by relocation may voluntarily accept transportation and other arrangements offered by the school in order to continue her/his training or may file a refund claim.
   • Requests for refunds pursuant to this provision must by made in writing by the enrolled student within 90 days following discontinuation of the program. Money due the anpiicantlstu4ent shall be refunded within thirty days after receipt of the request.

A student who fails to maintain satisfactory progress, violates safety regulations, interferes with other student’s work is boisterous, vulgar or obscene; under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or does not make timely tuition payments is subject to immediate termination.

The school reserves the right to cancel a starting class if the number of students enrolling is deemed insufficient. Such cancellation will be considered a defection by the school and the student is entitled to a full refund of all money paid.

In ease of prolonged illness or accident, death in family, or other circumstances that make it impractical to complete the course. Office Careers will make a settlement that is fair and reasonable. Requests for refunds must be made in writing by the enrolled student within 30 days following discontinuation of the program. Money due the applicant will be refunded within 30 days after receipt of the request.