At a Glance
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology (MBIT) has been providing technical education to meet the needs of adults for over 40 years. MBIT offers adults:
- Adult Evening Classes
- Adult Day Programs
- Online Courses
- Custom Industry Training for Employers
Description
MBIT Adult Education courses offer training in the skills needed for today’s workforce. Adult Evening classes feature hands-on learning to provide opportunities for a new career, updated skills, or certifications. Adult Education at MBIT offers flexible scheduling, affordable tuition, and current up-to-date technology. MBIT Adult Education is focusing on courses that will allow adult students in specific business areas to upgrade their skill sets while showcasing the instructors, programs, and facilities at MBIT.
MBIT Adult Education offers courses in the Fall and Spring on Tuesday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm for approximately three to ten weeks. Most courses are 30 hours, with one course running for 60 hours. Only PA Safety and Emissions are PDE Industry Credential Courses. Due to time constraints, MBIT Adult Education has not offered many Certification courses.
MBIT secures full-time staff from MBIT, industry professionals from the Occupational Advisory Council (OAC), or an MBIT graduate to teach courses. Due to the part-time work structure, recruitment and retention of instructors can be challenging. The Adult Education program is always looking for new instructors to replace those who have moved on. When a qualified instructor is willing to work with MBIT, Adult Education takes advantage of this opportunity to develop a course aligned to the instructor’s field of expertise.
Virtual programs and courses are inexpensive and convenient, and MBIT partners with Ed2Go to offer a suite of online courses. MBIT Adult Education offers evening courses to meet the needs of students who prefer hands-on experiential learning. Community colleges and other Adult Training Facilities offer full-time classes with certifications, so students looking to switch careers can take introductory courses at MBIT and move to full-time programs elsewhere.
A strength of the MBIT Adult Education Program is its team of instructors who are willing to design innovative classes that highlight their area of expertise and provide training to niche markets. These include:
Oral Radiology Test Preparation: Held in the Spring of 2022 for seven weeks from 5:30 to 9:00 pm (24.5 hours), this course was priced at $600, and nine students attended. Instructor Pam Gay is well known in the dental industry. She included hands-on exercises, quizzes, and support to prepare students to take the Oral Radiology exams. Note: This course was offered as the second half of a 14-week Dental Assisting Course. The first half of the course (Dental Assisting Test Prep) was canceled due to low registration. MBIT targeted dental offices for the second half of the class, Oral Radiology Test Prep, and almost filled that session.
Marketing: MBIT sent letters and emails to dental, orthodontic, and oral surgery offices that were on our OAC, had hired Cooperative Education students or graduates in the past, or were identified by instructors. One orthodontist sent two students, and an Oral Surgery group paid for five students to attend the class.
Medical Insurance Billing: Offered in Fall 2022 for 13 weeks from 6:00 to 9:00 pm (39 hours), the course is priced at $725 with a minimum of six students and a maximum of ten students. Instructor Alice Andress is an expert in the medical field and wrote the book, “Medical Insurance in a Flash!” The class will cover medical terminology, billing codes, and medical insurance claims with practice exercises. MBIT will contact medical offices to target receptionists and other front-office employees who want to move up to acquire skills and knowledge in the Medical Billing field.
Impact
MBIT’s Adult Education Program strives to meet the needs of their community and workforce by demonstrating flexibility and creativity in developing these niche programs.
Contact
Middle Bucks Institute of Technology
Nancy Lawson, Adult Education Coordinator
nlawson@mbit.org
215-343-2480 ext. 108