Paralegal Career Advancement Certificate Course Offered Among Others

Columbia State's Center for Economic and Workforce Development is offering several non-credit courses during the month of February.

Intermediate Excel 2007 teaches students how to manage workbook data, use tables, analyze table data, enhance charts, share excel files and incorporate web information. The class is being offered on Friday, February 5 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost of the course is $129 and includes the book.

The Online Medical Coding class will begin on Monday, February 15. Medical coders are professionals skilled in classifying medical data from patient records. The coding practitioners review patient records and assign numeric codes for each diagnosis and procedure. Coders find employment in hospitals, physician offices, same day surgical centers, multi-specialty clinics and insurance companies. Students will complete 950 hours of study during the program. The fee for the class is $1,999 and does not include the text.

Medical Coding - Live Lecture Format focuses on learning the art of coding, the rules and guidelines for the procedures, diagnoses and supplies that are used in the practice of medicine for reimbursement. These classes will prepare students to analyze medical records and assign codes to medical conditions, symptoms, diseases, lab, x-ray, surgery and diagnoses, establish proper documentation for billing any code to an insurance company to maintain accuracy is important to the coder, and understand how components of the documentation will be applied. The training involves 90 classroom hours. Each student should prepare to spend an additional 20 to 30 hours per week in self-study. This course prepares students to take a nationally recognized certification exam. The cost of the course is $2,495 and includes books and certification exam. The class will begin on February 2 and conclude on May 13. The class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for 15 weeks.

Resume Writing teaches students how to write a resume in a way that will increase its impact and effectiveness in the job search. Included will be the use of a proper format to best represent your skills, education, background and work experience regarding a particular job you are interested in getting, use of words in the resume to better represent accomplishments, and use of a cover letter to leave the desired impression on key decision makers. The fee of $69 includes all class materials. This class will be held on Tuesday, February 16 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Essentials of Leadership will focus on evaluating the use of important leadership behaviors and identifying leadership strengths and areas for development, assessing communication skills and developing particular skills the student wants to develop further, the use of the interaction process, Key Principles, Interaction Guidelines and process skills, to achieve critical business objectives while enhancing working relationships, and using technique to provide meaningful, supportive feedback. The fee of $99 includes the text and all class materials. This class will be held on Wednesday, February 24 from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m.

Paralegal Career Advancement Certificate trains students to interview witnesses, investigate complex fact patterns, research the law, prepare legal documents, and assist in preparing cases for courtroom litigation. Topics include legal terminology, introduction to the evidentiary predicate, identifying relevant authority, legal research, legal writing and appellate procedure. This class is scheduled for six weekends on Saturdays and Sundays beginning Saturday, February 20 through Sunday, March 28 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The cost of the course is $1,089. The required texts cost approximately $340.

For more information, or to register for these classes, call Columbia State's Center for Economic and Workforce Development at (931) 540-2660.

Columbia State is a two-year college, serving a nine-county area in southern Middle Tennessee with locations in Columbia, Franklin, Lawrenceburg, Lewisburg and Clifton. As Tennessee's first community college, Columbia State is committed to increasing access and enhancing diversity at all five campuses. Columbia State is a member of the Tennessee Board of Regents, the sixth largest higher education system in the nation.