I-BEST pairs a professional or technical program with Adult Basic Education (ABE) courses; including reading, writing, and math skills. I-BEST provides educational access and support for students to progress further and faster along career pathways. Students are paired with an ABE, ESL, or GED instructor, as well as a professional-technical program instructor for twice the support in each classroom.
The I-BEST programs are designed to:
- Earn a college certificate that prepares them to work in a high-demand career.
- Increase academic skills while earning college-level credits.
- Increase their abilities and opportunities for employment in their chosen career field.
I-BEST Career Programs
Agriculture (AG) I-BEST
YVC offers a three quarter I-BEST AG program that prepares students interested in a career in the wine industry. This I-BEST focuses on Viticulture and Enology while reinforcing basic reading, writing, and math. After finishing this program, students will be one course away from a YVC Wine Sales Certificate. With this certificate, students will be able to attain employment as a Tasting Room Attendant. This I-BEST is available at YVC’s Grandview Campus and helps students pursue Viticulture and Wine Technology certificates and degrees in the STEM Pathway.
Contact
Joe Trenkenschuh, Pathways Coordinator | 509.834.4527 | jtrenkenschuh@yvcc.edu | Yakima Campus
Business Technology (BT) I-BEST
YVC offers students the opportunity to obtain general office skills while reinforcing basic reading, writing, and math. This I-BEST is offered on the Yakima Campus for four consecutive quarters of study and prepares students to pursue Administrative Office Assistant and Bilingual Administrative Office Assistant degrees as well as other degrees and certificates in the Business Pathway.
Contact
Joe Trenkenschuh, Pathways Coordinator | 509.834.4527 | jtrenkenschuh@yvcc.edu | Yakima Campus
Business Technology Certificates
The Business Technology program offers two Office Worker certificates that begin every Fall and Spring quarter.
Office Worker Certificate I
Program Courses
Fall/Spring
- BT 100 – Intro to BT (2 credits)
- BT 101 – Beginning Keyboard (5 credits)
- ABE Writing 4/5 (I-BEST)
- ABE Math 4/5
Winter/Summer
- IT 102 – Windows (2 credits)
- IT 111 – Intro to Excel (2 credits)
- ABE Writing 4/5 (I-BEST)
- ABE Math 4/5
Office Worker Certificate II
Program Courses
Spring/Fall
- BT 102 – Intermediate Keyboard (5 credits)
- BT 130 – Basic Business Essentials (5 credits; Spring only)
- ABE Writing 4/5 (I-BEST)
- ABE Math 4/5
Summer/Winter
- BT 160 – Word (2 credits; in-seat only)
- BT 190 – Job Shadow (1 credit)
- ABE Writing 4/5 (I-BEST)
- ABE Math 4/5
Eligibility
- 18 years of age or older
- GED is not required
- Funding is available for those who qualify
- Required ABE levels: Reading/Writing-4, Math-4
WorkFirst Students
Case manager approval is required
Early Childhood Education (ECE) I-BEST
YVC offers a two quarter I-BEST ECE-Short Certificate that prepares students interested in the Early Childhood Education field. This I-BEST focuses on applying principals of Early Childhood Development and responding to community and workplace needs while reinforcing basic reading, writing, and math. Completion of the Washington State ECE short certificate will enable students to seek employment as an ECE teacher, assistant teacher or become an owner of a family childcare facility. This I-BEST is available at YVC’s Grandview Campus and helps students pursue ECE certificates and degrees in the Social Sciences & Education Pathway.
Contact
Sophia Ferguson, Education Department Coordinator | 509.574.4733| sferguson@yvcc.edu | Yakima Campus
Information Technology (IT) I-BEST
The three-quarter Information Technology I-BEST is designed to help students develop proficiency with installing and configuring operating systems. It helps students develop knowledge in basic system repair and maintenance while reinforcing basic reading, writing, and math. This I-BEST is available at YVC’s Yakima Campus and helps students pursue Information Technology certificates or degrees in the Business Pathway.
Contact
Joe Trenkenschuh, Pathways Coordinator | 509.834.4527 | jtrenkenschuh@yvcc.edu | Yakima Campus
Phlebotomy (AH) I-BEST
Phlebotomy is an exciting entry-level healthcare career that provides ample employment opportunities and excellent exposure to the many areas of the healthcare industry. Phlebotomists draw blood for tests, transfusions, research or blood donations. YVC’s Phlebotomy certificate program takes two quarters to complete, with lab instruction on both the Yakima and Grandview campuses. Working phlebotomists can expect to earn over $30k a year, with a job outlook growing faster than the average employment field over the next ten years.
About the Program
Phlebotomy Certificate (11 Credits) | Online instruction |100-hour externship
Opportunity Grant money available
Median wage: $17.97 an hour
22% Job Growth (2020-2030)
Contact
Joe Trenkenschuh, Pathways Coordinator | 509.834.4527 | jtrenkenschuh@yvcc.edu | Yakima Campus
Phlebotomy Program
The program is two quarters in length and students can begin in either Winter or Summer Quarters.
I-BEST supporting courses
- ABE Math 4/5
- ABE Writing 4/5
Foundation Courses
- Healthcare Terminology
- Healthcare English
- Healthcare Workplace Skills
- ABE Math 4
Program Courses with supporting I-BEST courses
- Quarter 1 Winter or Summer
• AH 155 First Aid/CPR/Blood-Borne Pathogen Training, 2 credits
• AHPH 170 Phlebotomy Theory, 4 credits
• AHPH 171 Phlebotomy Lab, 1 credit - Quarter 2 Fall or Spring
• AHPH 172 Phlebotomy Externship, 4 credits
Program entry requirements
- 2 doses MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) or proof of immunity by titer
- 2 doses of Varicella (chicken pox) or documentation from a physician of disease or proof of immunity by titer
- 1 dose Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
- 3 doses Hepatitis B, tuberculosis (TB) PPD skin test (if no documented negative skin test within the last 12 months a 2-step PPD is required)
- Current-year seasonal flu shot
- Current healthcare provider CPR/First Aid card and a 7-hour HIV/Blood Bourne Pathogens certificate is also required.