The Greater Altoona Career & Technology Center (GACTC) became aware of allegations related to Executive Director, Eric Palmer, on November 8, 2024. The GACTC takes the allegations seriously and took appropriate action in the interim. The GACTC will fully cooperate with any investigation. Mrs. Nicole Zernick will be serving as Interim Executive Director.

Adult Programs

Financial Aid 101 webinar to focus on options for financing career training

The GACTC adult education office and the Blair County CareerLink have collaborated to provide a free webinar focusing on financial aid for individuals considering postsecondary (college and career training) education. During the webinar, the GACTC financial aid coordinator will review the basics of the financial aid process, types of funding, and next steps. The free webinar will be offered at 12 pm EST on the following dates in 2023: February 10 April 14 June 9 August 11 October 13 December 8 Preregistration is required for the webinar. To register for the webinar, please contact the Blair County CareerLink at (814) 940-6200 [...]

Financial Aid 101 webinar to focus on options for financing career training2023-02-14T10:36:48-05:00

GACTC offers credits towards postsecondary programs to career & technology students

Through an initiative of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, the Students Occupationally and Academically Ready (SOAR) program provides opportunities for secondary students that complete a career and technical program to earn credit towards related postsecondary credentials at participating postsecondary institutions. The GACTC recently received approval for two SOAR agreements, adding to existing articulation agreements the GACTC offers high school and adult students. Students that successfully complete the Health Occupations program at the GACTC or another career and technology center in Pennsylvania have the opportunity to earn credit towards postsecondary medical programs offered at the GACTC. Students that complete a Health Occupations [...]

GACTC offers credits towards postsecondary programs to career & technology students2022-12-22T13:21:42-05:00

Adult students collect more than 500 food items for community organization

Our adult education students collected more than 500 food items to assist with Family Services Incorporated food collection efforts to provide Thanksgiving meals to members of our community. Prior to Thanksgiving, our medical assistant students visited Family Services Inc. (FSI) to deliver the donations. Thanks to FSI for all they do for our community!

Adult students collect more than 500 food items for community organization2022-12-20T13:36:57-05:00

GACTC Practical Nursing program hosts blood drive in December

UPDATE (12/9/2022): Our blood drive gathered 35 units of blood! Thank you to the donors, practical nursing students and staff, and the American Red Cross blood team for their contributions to the successful blood drive.  The Practical Nursing program is excited to be partnering with the American Red Cross to host a blood a drive at the GACTC on December 6, 2022 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. The Practical Nursing faculty, staff, and students are honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the provision of a much needed community resource. Please consider donating to help us reach our goal, [...]

GACTC Practical Nursing program hosts blood drive in December2022-12-13T10:58:59-05:00

News from the Adult Education programs

In this edition of the Adult Education newsletter, meet a few of our students and alumni, get details for our December open house, and review the GACTC's open positions. Read the full newsletter here.

News from the Adult Education programs2022-11-27T18:38:28-05:00

GACTC holds graduation events for practical nurses

The GACTC graduated 63 students, both full-time and part-time, from the Practical Nursing program on August 18, 2022. Graduation activities including a pinning ceremony and graduation, which was held at the Altoona Area High School. The “pinning ceremony,” a symbolic welcoming of new nurses into the profession, can be dated as far back as the 12th century, and became standard in the United States by 1916. During the ceremony, students are pinned by nursing faculty. Separate pinning ceremonies were held for the part-time and the full-time programs on August 16 -- check them out below! The graduation ceremony on August [...]

GACTC holds graduation events for practical nurses2022-10-24T13:42:38-04:00

GACTC offers workshop for Practical Nursing program applicants

We invite applicants for the Practical Nursing program to join us for a study skills and test taking strategies workshop to prepare for the TEAS entrance exam necessary for the Practical Nursing program. Join us on Wednesday, August 3 from 5:30 to 7 pm at the GACTC for this workshop, which will highlight study skills, strategies for test taking, and information about the TEAS entrance exam. The GACTC is a testing location for the TEAS exam.   The GACTC offers a full- and part-time practical nursing program. The full-time programs begins on August 25 and the part-time program begins on September [...]

GACTC offers workshop for Practical Nursing program applicants2022-07-27T14:37:52-04:00

Postsecondary program updates program name

To better align the program name with the current careers available for our graduates, the Occupational Advisory Committee for the postsecondary Medical Office Specialist diploma program recommended to the GACTC’s Joint Operating Committee a change in program name to Medical Administrative Assistant. In this program, adult students gain knowledge and experience in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, disease, administrative assistant skills, medical office procedures, accounting, electronic health records, computers and informatics, and more. Students in the medical administrative program are prepared to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant and Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist exams through National Healthcareer Association. “The [...]

Postsecondary program updates program name2022-04-14T09:42:23-04:00

Adult HVAC students earn EPA 608 certification

The adult HVAC students successfully completed the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 608 certification in March. HVAC technicians are required under the Clean Air act to hold this certification to ensure they are properly trained to maintain, service, repair, or dispose of appliances that contain refrigerants. The certification exam covers proper refrigerant handling techniques. Congratulations to our adult HVAC students for earning this important industry certification!

Adult HVAC students earn EPA 608 certification2022-04-14T09:42:52-04:00

Regional employers participate in employer panel for postsecondary students

The GACTC hosted regional employers for a panel discussion with postsecondary students on Thursday, February 24, 2022. Four regional employers, including Conemaugh Nason Hospital, Curry Supply/Aerotek, Goodco Mechanical/Bovard, and UPMC, participated to share information about career opportunities available with their organizations and to answer questions about soft skills, interviewing and resumes.

Regional employers participate in employer panel for postsecondary students2022-04-14T09:43:08-04:00

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