Earn College Credit
Which Credential Is Right For You?
At Piedmont Technical College, our focus is providing you with the hands-on training you need for a secure and rewarding career.
We offer training in fields that are in high demand — the careers that make up the largest part of South Carolina's labor market. If you are looking to save on a four-year degree, we also offer seamless transfer options to several colleges and universities throughout the state.
Above all, we want to make sure the education you receive fits your life and schedule. So, we've packaged our credentials in ways that provide the best options for attaining your career and educational goals.
- Earn an Associate Degree or Diploma
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At PTC, we offer 80-plus programs in fields that include health care, advanced manufacturing, business and public service. Our associate degree programs take approximately two years to complete—though these times vary depending on the program. Some are designed to prepare students to transfer to four-year institutions. Others, like our Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degrees, are career-focused programs that prepare you for immediate employment after graduation. Many of our diploma programs can get you the training you need to kickstart your career in less than two years.
- Start with a Credit Certificate
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Along with associate degrees, we also offer a host of certificate programs that can help you earn a better job, advance your career or demonstrate your mastery of specific skills. Some even lead to industry-recognized professional certifications. Certificates can typically be earned in a year or less. Many of these credentials can be stacked over time to complete parts of our diploma and associate degree programs.
- Credit Versus Noncredit Credentials
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Colleges and universities often use academic terminology and assume everyone knows the lingo. A frequent area of confusion is credit and noncredit courses. The degree, diploma and certificate programs we mention above all require you to accumulate credits that add up to completion of one of our programs. However, not all of our training works this way. For instance, you might take a noncredit course, or continuing education course, to gain job skills or for fun. Noncredit courses may give you a foundation that will help you get a headstart on a credit degree, but they don't lead toward the same type of credential. Still, this type of training will often lead to job training that might be paid for by your current employer. Plus, skill-building courses generally lead toward industry certifications or continuing education certificates.
Noncredit offerings are a great way to get fast job training that will help you explore new career avenues.
Take the Next Step
There are several convenient ways to get started. You can start by calling our admissions office at (864) 941-8369. Or, visit the campus location closest to you.