FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2007

CONTACT: Steve Dolan
(619) 594-5664
sdolan@mail.sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, September 20, 2007 - According to the Department of Labor, 18% of today's 30 fastest growing occupations are in the health care industry. Within San Diego County, the health care job demand is predicted to grow significantly by 2010.

With health care being such a major force in our region, San Diego State University's College of Extended Studies (CES) is launching new professional certificate programs in health care beginning this fall.

CES will offer both face-to-face and online programs in such health care specialties EKG technician, medical billing and coding, dental assistant, and medical transcription, among others. Several professional health certificate programs will be launched in nutrition, fitness and health, women's exercise wellness, and healthy aging. Additionally, classes on accent reduction and English as a Second Language (ESL) have been in great demand.

Classes are skilled-based and are typically more relevant and focused for today's workforce than academic degrees and can be completed in a much shorter period of time.

San Diego Workforce Partnership reports that we are facing a "service crisis" for health care staffing in the U.S. This means there are not enough health care workers to take care of the people who need assistance.

According to the San Diego Workforce Partnership, in 2006, the median annual wage for all health care professionals was $49,700. For health care practitioners, technologists, and technicians, the median wage was $62,900.

For more information on the new health care certificate programs, call (619) 594-7078 or visit www.ces.sdsu.edu/healthcare.html.

SDSU's College of Extended Studies offers a wide variety of lifelong learning classes, seminars, and certificate programs. Career advancement courses are offered in many areas of management, leadership, and quality improvement while self-enrichment courses range from astronomy to web design. Additionally, the College offers over 35 certificate programs, on-line courses, and many other learning opportunities. To register or for more information, call (619) 265-SDSU (7378) or log on to www.NeverStopLearning.net.