Students in Magnolia and Tomball have the opportunity to explore various careers while in school and earn certifications through a variety of courses offered at local public high schools.

The courses, which offer certifications in fields including welding, CPR and child guidance are expanding in popularity among students, said Matthew Clark, director of Career and Technical Education with Magnolia ISD.

"Our Career and Technical Education (CTE) program focuses on ensuring that students are college ready and workforce ready," said Gary Moss, Tomball ISD's director of Career and Technical Education. "We also want to prepare our students to become contributing members of the workforce within our community. The certifications that our students obtain enable them to enter the workforce immediately. They also provide the opportunity to further their education while working part time in the field in which they are certified."

This year, Magnolia is offering a Certified Nursing Assistant and Phlebotomy certification course. The CNA portion of the course is co-taught by district teacher and registered nurse Cheryl Halbert and Lone Star College–Tomball instructor Mia Jones. As part of the course, the students must spend 40 hours working as a nursing assistant in the community. The students began their work at Magnolia's Heritage Manor assisted living facility last month.

Students enrolled in Tomball's nursing certification program also spend time working in the community, including at doctor's offices and the Tomball Regional Medical Center. Students in Tomball's new Dental Assistant program—which started this year—recently worked in partnership with TOMAGWA to conduct teeth screenings for children.

Among its health care offerings, Tomball also offers an EMT certification and a pharmacy technician certification.

At the end of the courses, students can opt to take a test for their certification, and, if they pass, they can begin working in the field immediately.

And if they choose to continue their health care education, students will already be that much ahead, Clark said.

"Our kiddos can go to Lone Star College or a four-year school and take it to the next level," he said. "It opens so many doors."

Next year, Magnolia is planning to expand its health care certification offerings to include EMT and EKG certifications and Tomball plans to add Medical Billing and Coding.

School districts foot the bill for most of the certifications.

"Our certification programs are identical to the certification courses offered at local colleges," Moss said. "The difference is that our courses are much cheaper."