This past week, I was speaking to a family friend who was saying they would like to get a Pain Management certification. She is an RN and needs some credit hours for work. I asked her where she was taking the course, and she said,"somewhere in the city." Now, I live near New York City and visit a lot (especially since I transferred to NYU from community college), but the commute can be a hassle. Instead of traveling to take the course, I suggested that she should take it at a local community college.
At first, it sounded like a good suggestion. I mean, community colleges offer so much to students, including Ivy League transfer and career options. However, I could not find many community colleges offering this kind of a certificate. In many cases, community colleges are known for catering to the non-traditional student so I was a bit surprised so I decided to dig a little deeper.
Even if you're looking at Ivy League universities, it's hard to find this type of program. I searched from community college to Ivy League websites and found very little. Then, I came across Johnson County Community College's website and saw that they offer an online program. While I can't vouch for the program, I would expect the cost to be much lower than traveling to an Ivy League university or seminar.
Additionally, as a community college advocate, I would definitely encourage you to take the certificate at a community college, as long as the credit will transfer or qualify for your requirements. Many students transfer to Ivy League because the credits can transfer to university. So, if you're looking for an advanced pain management certification or degree, community colleges can offer great value for your money.
If anyone has taken the program, please leave a comment below and let us know how it went! You don't have to be a community college transfer student, but if you've taken the course, it will be a big help. Also, if you know of any other community colleges that offer certificates for pain management, let us know below too. If the demand is there, I'm sure more community colleges would offer the certificate. If they can help students transfer to Ivy League schools and secure jobs at fortune 500 companies, they can definitely help you get the certificate you need.
As my community college president used to say, "we take the word 'Community' in our title" very seriously!