Credit Next Steps

How To Get Started
once you have been approved for a WIA individual training account and selected an Oakton WIA certified program.

To learn if you are eligible for a WIA Individual Training Account, please visit the
workNet Northern Cook County office in:

Evanston at (847) 864-3530
1615 Oak Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201
or
Arlington Heights at (847) 981-7400
723 W. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

If you have selected an Oakton credit program.

1. Apply.
Submit a completed Oakton Community College application* to the Admission Office at the Des Plaines Campus or the Enrollment Center on the Skokie Campus.

Or, you can apply online. Click on apply now on Oakton's home page.

*If you are interested in applying for one of Oakton’s credit health care programs, please contact the Office of Admission and Enrollment Management at 847-635-1629 for more information.

2. Meet with an Academic Advisor.
Contact an Advising and Counseling Center to schedule an appointment with a academic advisor.
Advising and Counseling Center
Des Plaines Campus, 1600 East Golf Road, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016,
847-635-1741, room 1130
or
Enrollment Center
Skokie Campus, 7701 North Lincoln Avenue, Skokie, Illinois 60077,
847-635-1400, room A100.

The Oakton advisor will review with you the classes required for the program that you have selected, provide a schedule of classes, explain how to register for classes, outline college policies and procedures, and tell you about resources at the college.

Be sure to tell the Oakton advisor about any special needs you may have.
Remember to pick up a “Career Sheet” for the program that you have selected.

NOTE:

Oakton’s Advising and Counseling Center created its own form to be used for program research: “Degree/Certificate Estimate Worksheet.” This is the only form which will be completed by Oakton Advisors and Counselors.

In addition, for prospective students who will utilizing an ITA, Oakton Academic Advisors and Counselors will print out the appropriate program page from Oakton’s WIA Certified Program Web site and attach it to the form provided by their One Stop Career Coaches/Advisors.

3. Register for your classes.
If you would like further assistance registering for Oakton’s credit classes, meet with an Academic Advisor.

4. Take your schedule and bill to your career advisor at the workNet Northern Cook County office.
The workNet Northern Cook County office will issue two vouchers, one for tuition & fees and one for books. You may be asked to bring the tuition & fees voucher to Faina Vilk in Oakton’s Accounting Services or to Oakton’s Financial Aid office. Or, the One-Stop counselor may send the voucher directly to Oakton. Please ask your One-Stop career advisor how your voucher is to be handled.

You will need to bring the book voucher to Oakton’s bookstore when you get your books.

Meet with an Academic Advisor if you Know the Program You Want to Study:
If you know which academic program(s) in which you are interested, make an appointment with an Oakton Academic Advisor. Note, program information will not be provided over the telephone.

Advising and Counseling Center
Room 1130
Des Plaines Campus
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
847.635.1741

Enrollment Center
Room A100
Skokie Campus
7701 North Lincoln Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60077
847.635.1400

Meet with a Career Counselor if You are Undecided:
If you have not made a decision about the career you want to pursue, make an appointment with a Career Counselor in Oakton’s Career Services. Career Services does not offer walk-in career counseling or career counseling via the telephone.

Career Services is located in Room 1125 on the Des Plaines Campus and career counseling is provided within the Enrollment Center, Room A100 on the Skokie Campus.

Career Services
Des Plaines Campus
1600 East Golf Road
Des Plaines, Illinois 60016
847.635.1735

Enrollment Center
Skokie Campus
7701 North Lincoln Avenue
Skokie, Illinois 60077
847.635.1400

Starting and Ending Dates:
Oakton cannot provide the dates that the "training" will begin and end. Many factors can impact the number of semesters a student will need to complete a certificate or associate degree. Factors include the semester in which the student begins his or her studies (fall, spring or summer), the number of courses for which a student enrolls per semester, course prerequisites, or placement into developmental English, reading and/or mathematic courses. The exact number of weeks a specific student would take to complete a specific program varies significantly.

Typically, the Fall semester begins the last week in August and ends mid December. The Spring semester begins the second week in January and ends mid May. The Summer term begins the first or second week in June and ends the last week of July.

Placement Tests and Prerequisites can Impact the Number of Credit Hours Required:
While this page has noted the number of credit hours for a certificate or associate degree, we are unable to state the number of developmental courses that may be required.

Students who wish to enroll in a math or composition course or other courses with math or composition prerequisites must take English and math placement tests (or present appropriate ACT/high school or college transcript data) to meet course prerequisites. In addition, full-time students will be required to take English and math placement tests (or present appropriate ACT/high school or college transcript data) to assist in educational planning and advising.

Placing into developmental courses or needing to complete other required course prerequisites may increase the number of credit hours for any given student. Some registration restrictions may occur based on placement test results.

An exit test is given at the end of each developmental English and English for the Non-Native Speaker course. The results of this exit test are used to determine the next English course placement. Advancement through English for developmental and Non-Native Speaker courses is determined by skill level, not by a predetermined sequence.

It is important to be aware of the following:

Tuition per semester hour.
To be eligible for in-district tuition a student must:
a) Live in the district. Submit proof of in-district residency to the Office of Admission and Enrollment Management by the date published in the class schedule.
b) Work in the district. A student who lives outside of Oakton's district but works full time for an approved in-district company may be eligible for in-district tuition through Oakton's Business Educational Service Contract Program.

Out-of-District Residents who wish to enroll in an Oakton program not available at their home institution may apply for a chargeback or joint agreement to attend Oakton at the in-district rate. If you wish to attend Oakton under a joint agreement or chargeback, you need to contact the Admissions Office at your home college. Most colleges require you to apply for a chargeback or joint agreement at least 30 days prior to the beginning of the semester.

Previous Credits.
If you have completed college courses at other colleges or universities you may be able to use the credits toward your program at Oakton. Ask an Oakton advisor how to have your transcripts evaluated.