Career Pathways

Young career explorer jumping

Workforce Compass

Explore career pathways, local and virtual training, and search current local jobs in chosen career areas. Build your career passport to see how your current skills line up with a career path and find training and resources to gain the skills you need for your future career.

Get Started or Continue Your Current Journey

SnoCo Connect meets young adults wherever they are in their career journey. Whether you’re just getting started with career exploration, recently graduated high school, need help returning to school, are unsure which training program is best or looking into options to finance additional schooling, we have the knowledge to help you take the next step on your career pathway.

Explore Possibilities

There are many ways to develop your career. While enrolled in SnoCo Connect and pursuing your career pathway, our program will do everything possible to support you towards success. Explore the possibilities and let us know how we can help you!

Apprenticeships
As an apprentice you’ll earn a paycheck while learning the skills and fundamentals of a specific industry or trade from some of the top level professionals.

Pre-Apprenticeships
Attending a Pre-Apprenticeship Program will prepare you to enter and succeed in a Registered Apprenticeship program.

Short Term Training & Certifications
Many industry-focused training programs range from 1-18 months and provide an industry-recognized credential upon successful completion. You can elevate your employment portfolio and pursue higher-level positions if certified with a specific skillset. Various health care, manufacturing, information technology (IT), and professional-level training can be provided at a low-cost.

Entrepreneurship
We can help you understand the responsibilities and value of having your own business, including connecting you with resources to build a business plan, budgeting, and classes to help get you prepared to be successful in your new venture! Be your own boss and promote your products and services for all to enjoy!

Everett Community College (EvCC)

Below is a list a of programs and pathways offered by Everett Community College (EvCC). For more information about EvCC, visit their website by clicking here. 

(Please Note: All links below go to external websites.)

Website Link: https://www.everettcc.edu/programs/academic-resources/transitional-studies/

Dean of Transitional Studies: Katie Jensen

Here you can access:

  • ESL classes (and GED in Spanish)
  • High School Diploma options/ GED prep/ pre-college programs

Information available on website:

  • HS Transcript required for HS diploma programs, but not for GED prep programs
  • Application for admission is required first step before making an advising appointment

Website Link: https://www.everettcc.edu/rb-youth-re-engagement-program

Eligibility and requirements:

  • Ages 16 – 21
  • No High School diploma (severely credit-deficient)*
  • Free 

Students in U3 may take college-level classes at the same time, if they are at the right level (in terms of basic education). In practice, this would be similar to I-BEST and Running Start, but it is a different program.

*Exception - with a recommendation from social worker or case manager, students 2 credits (or similar) away from receiving HS diploma may still qualify for U3. The recommendation and supporting documentation for this exception needs to show evidence that the student has completely lost contact with their HS and there is no chance they could go back to complete their degree.

For any questions please contact:

Rebecca Hungerford

Email: rhungerford@everettcc.edu

Call: (425) 259-8738

Website Link: https://www.everettcc.edu/programs/pathways/program-maps/high-school-21

Eligibility and requirements:

  • 18 or older (no upper age limit)
  • Running Start and International students are not eligible
  • Classes are $25 each, but financial aid is available.

HS+ is competency-based, so students may be able to advance quickly through this program depending on their level (faster than traditional High School). Students in this program tend to be older (i.e. not youth).

Website Link: https://www.everettcc.edu/programs/academic-resources/transitional-studies/pre-college-programs/ged

The college provides GED testing at the EvCC testing center at $30 per test.

EvCC offers direct GED classes at Tulalip Tribes and Spanish GED at EvCC and Mariner High School.

EvCC main campus does not offer direct GED classes in English but students who would like to work on their writing, reading, and math skills before taking the test are encouraged to enroll in Transitional Studies courses (see U3 or HS+ programs).

Website Link: https://www.everettcc.edu/programs/academic-resources/transitional-studies/pre-college-programs/ibest

About Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training
(I-BEST) 

The Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training (I-BEST) pairs adult basic education and English language instructors together with professional-technical instructors to help you develop a combination of skills. In I-BEST, you can further your education and get workforce ready at the same time.

Many of these programs provide certifications that prepare students for specific entry-level jobs. See the links below.

Eligibility and requirements:

  • No HS diploma or GED required
  • CASA level 4 minimum

I-Best Programs

Click a program name to view more information on the EvCC website.

Academic

For students intending to move on to 2 or 4 year degrees (transfer), or Professional Technical Degree programs.

Business and IT

Complete core courses to be “workforce-ready.” Complete 2 additional quarters to “earn a 43-credit certificate as a Technical Customer Service Representative, Office Assistant, Legal Office Support or Medical Receptionist”, or move on to additional degree or certificate programs.

* Program is not offered every quarter.

Welding

Complete one quarter to learn “welding terminology and math skills while adding-in support for OSHA 30 safety class and blueprint reading.” Complete both quarters to earn an Entry Level Welder Certificate.

Career Pathway: Welding Fabrication Certificate

* Program is not offered every quarter.

Early Childhood Education

2-quarter program, upon successful completion, earn “the 12-credit State Initial Early Childhood Education Certificate and the 20-credit State Short Early Childhood Education General Certificate.”

Career Pathway: Early Childhood Education

* Program is not offered every quarter.

Manufacturing Pre-Employment

“This one-quarter program will prepare you for an entry-level position in assembly and fabrication. Upon successful completion of the course, you’ll receive a Manufacturing Pre-Employment Certificate.”

* Program is not offered every quarter. Additionally, this program has not had enough demand to run since before COVID-19. It will be offered if enough students apply.

Health Sciences

Courses include: Medical Terminology, Applied Anatomy and Physiology, Disease and Pathology, Critical Inquiry in Healthcare

Career Pathway: Nursing Assistant Certified (NA-C)

Edmonds College (EC)

Below is a list of programs and pathways offered by Edmonds College. For more information about Edmonds, visit their website by clicking here. 

(Please Note: All links below go to external websites.)

Website Link: https://www.edmonds.edu/programs/deved/default.html

High School Completion and GED program comparison

This is a helpful table comparing the requirements, cost, outcomes and other notes of each program.

High School+ 

Eligibility and requirements:

  • 18 or older (no upper age limit)
    • Students need to be 18 by the time they graduate, can enter before 18 if they have “school release”
  • Running Start and International students are not eligible
  • Classes are $25 each, but financial aid is available.
  • High School Transcript

HS+ is competency-based, so students may be able to advance quickly through this program depending on their level (faster than traditional High School). Students in this program tend to be older (i.e. not youth).

Website Link: https://www.edmonds.edu/programs/deved/edcap/default.html

Similar to U3 at EvCC.

Eligibility and requirements:

  • Ages 16 – 21
  • No High School diploma (must be significantly credit-deficient)
    • GED is OK
    • If NOT significantly credit-deficient, have a counselor recommendation stating the student is unlikely to graduate by the age of 21.
  • Free

Students in EdCAP may take college-level classes at the same time, if they are at the right level (in terms of basic education). In practice, this would be similar to I-BEST and Running Start, but it is a different program.

EdCAP GED in the EdCAP program youth can choose to complete their GED instead of completing HS diploma (this is different from EvCC U3 program).

For any questions contact:

Program Specialist:

Email: Chelsey.Berry@edmonds.edu

Front Desk:

Call: (425) 640-1593

Email: Precollege@edmonds.edu

Website Link: https://www.edmonds.edu/testing/tests/ged.html

Eligibility and requirements:

  • No HS transcript necessary
  • $25 per class, fee waivers are available

The college provides GED testing, $30 per test.

Due to COVID, testing is not being held at the college for now.

Website Link: https://www.edmonds.edu/programs/deved/ibest/default.html

Eligibility and Requirements:

  • ESL Level 5+
  • CASAS test (temporarily waived due to COVID)
  • Running Start and International Students are not eligible.

I-BEST Programs

Allied Health Care

Health care is the second fastest growing industry in the nation. At Edmonds College, you can train for opportunities in direct patient care and support occupations.

Business Management

Learn new or enhance existing business skills you need to succeed in the workplace, advance into a managerial role, start your own business, or manage projects.

Engineering Technology – Material Science

Upon completing the program, graduates can expect to qualify for Entry-level earnings about $15-19 per hour with careers such as a Quality Control Inspector, Fabricator and Fitter, and Prosthetics Tech. There are many further degree and certificate programs, which are stackable.

Basic Medical Office

Medical Billing & Coding Certificate. There are many further degree and certificate programs, which are stackable.

Entry level job opportunities include: Medical Receptionist/Secretary, Patient Registration Clerks, Medical Claims Clerks, Medical Records Assistants. Entry-level earnings average about $16.39-$19.68 per hour.

Computer Information Systems

In this day and age, technology is everywhere, and countless IT job opportunities exist requiring personnel with critical foundational IT knowledge. Career pathway includes Desktop Support COC & Network Technology. 

Academic I-BEST

This are no one specific program. Please explore Edmonds Community College program page to learn more about specific areas of study.