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Alabama Career Essentials (ACE)

What Is Alabama Career Essentials (ACE)?

Alabama Career Essentials (ACE) is a FREE training course designed by the Alabama Community College System to provide Alabamians with relevant, cutting-edge, and industry-driven employability skills training to better prepare individuals for the Alabama workforce. The main goal of the new ACE course is to ensure current and future workers are equipped with the skills necessary to enter the 21st-century Alabama workforce.

What will participants learn?

The new ACE curriculum is based on the most current ACCCP and Technical Advisory Committee’s five most in-demand career clusters. The course will be delivered online, hybrid, and in-person and can be customized to meet the training and educational needs of business and industry. Participants will learn the following skills:
  • Computer Literacy
  • Math for Work
  • Financial Literacy
  • Effective Communication
  • Resolving Problems in the Workplace
  • Workplace Etiquette
  • Employment Preparation
  • Healthy Workplace Environments
  • Workplace Safety

Complete ACE and Get One FREE 4-Credit Class!

Step Out, Take the Leap! ACE will help further your goals. Whether you want to obtain employment, enroll in technical training, or advance into college we will help you meet your goals! The Alabama Community College System will provide one tuition-free college course up to four credit hours for students who successfully complete the ACE program.
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What will participants gain?

The ACE course is designed to lead individuals to a specific career pathway credential, employment, or job promotion. Students enrolled in the ACE course will have several pathway-specific stackable credential opportunities. Participants who successfully complete the ACE course will earn the Alabama Certified Employee credential and will lead to additional industry-recognized training and certification options.

Credentials

  • WorkKeys certifications
  • MAP course credentials
  • Trackable digital badges and certificates with official transcripts

Skills

  • Employability skills for success in any workplace
  • Pathway-specific technical and academic skills
  • 21st century workplace ready skills

Other Benefits

  • A new job
  • Gainful employment
  • A job promotion
  • Transition to post-secondary credit or non-credit program

How to Enroll

  • Attend two 3-hour enrollment sessions. Both sessions are required for entry into Adult Education classes. Attendance at both sessions is Mandatory prior to beginning class.
  • Orientation/Registrations are held nearly every week on both campuses. Morning and evening registration sessions are available. Both campuses have the same schedule.
  • Orientation/Registration sessions are walk-in only. No pre-registration is required.
    • Choose the session times you want- morning or evening. You must attend both sessions in the same week and time slots. Download Enrollment Schedule
  • Have documents to show eligibility for Adult Education Programs. Bring these required documents to orientation. Physical/paper forms only are accepted. Digital copies are not accepted. See below for Document List.

Eligibility

Any person who is at least 16 years of age, lives or works in Alabama, not presently enrolled in school (public or private), and has correct documents. See Enrollment Schedule for Required Document List. Students less than 18 years old must have additional documents. See chart below for documents required for 16-17 year olds.

What to Bring to the Enrollment Sessions

You will not be allowed to register without correct documents.

Required Documents: Valid Photo ID, Proof of Alabama Residence (Lease, utility bill, bank statement, etc.), Social Security Card/ Tax ID Number, AND one or more of the documents listed below. Adult Education programs have been mandated by the US Department of Education to implement processes to verify the citizenship or legal status of ALL individuals being served.

The U.S. Department of Education acceptable forms of verification for establishing eligibility for federally funded Adult Education Programs are:

  • US Government issued photo identification cards
  • US Birth Certificates
  • US Passports
  • DHS issued immigration documentation – VISA, letters allowing entry into the US
    • VISAs NOT allowed for AE entry: B, F, J All Non-Immigrant visas except U – Victim of Criminal Activity, and T- Victim of Human Trafficking. For more information, click here: Visa Categories from U.S. State Department 
  • Certificate of US Citizenship or Naturalization
  • Alabama Voter Registration Card
  • Alabama Conceal Carry permit
  • ALL FEDERAL VERIFIED DOCUMENTS MUST BE VALID. ALL FEDERAL VERIFIED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED IN PAPER/PHYSICAL FORM. DOCUMENTS IN DIGITAL FORM WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
Download Enrollment Schedule

Additional Required Documents for 16/17 year-olds

AgeLast SchoolProof of WithdrawalParent PermissionProof of Residency
Age:

16
Last School:

Public
Proof of Withdrawal:

School Official Completed Certificate of Exemption
Parent Permission:

Notarized and signed Parental Permission Form
Proof of Residency:

Copy of Alabama ID/Driver’s License/Permit
Age:

16
Last School:

Non-Public
Proof of Withdrawal:

Submit one of the following indicating withdrawal date: withdrawal form, signed letter on letterhead from principal, parental notice of withdrawal from coursework
Parent Permission:

Notarized and signed Parental Permission Form
Proof of Residency:

Copy of Alabama ID/Driver’s License/Permit
Age:

17
Last School:

Public
Proof of Withdrawal:

School Official and completed Exit Interview Form OR Notarized Parent Permission Form
Parent Permission:
Proof of Residency:

Copy of Alabama ID/Driver’s License/Permit
Age:

17
Last School:

Non-Public
Proof of Withdrawal:

Submit one of the following indicating withdrawal date: withdrawal form, signed letter on letterhead from principal, parental notice of withdrawal from coursework
Parent Permission:
Proof of Residency:

Copy of Alabama ID/Driver’s License/Permit

Enrollment Session Locations:

Decatur Campus

Building #9 – Testing Center & Adult Education | Room 119

6250 Hwy 31 North
Tanner, AL 35671

Huntsville-Research Park Site

Sparkman Building 1st Floor – Room 55 (Enter at Door 10)

102 Wynn Dr., NW
Huntsville, AL 35805

For More Information, Contact:

Please call 256-306-2536 or 256-890-4793.

For additional information about the ACE program:

Dr. Laura Frasher Tuttle

Decatur Campus