Online certification programs for people interested in pursuing careers in the travel and healthcare industries are available through Coastal Carolina University's Division of Extended Learning and Public Services.

The short-term, self-paced certificates allow people to complete class work at their own pace in the comfort of their own homes. Otherwise, the work is handled via the Internet on the student's own timetable from any Web-enabled computer within a 12-week period. Upon completing the course, students are immediately ready to apply for full-time jobs without any additional training.

The Travel Agent certificate program is designed for individuals who are seeking entry into the tourism industry. The travel training certification program delivers the skills critical to success in the booming travel industry, which experts predict will add almost 140,000 new jobs by 2005. The program introduces students to domestic and international air travel, vacation packages, tour operations, ticketing, cruises, sales methods, job search skills, resume preparation and interview strategies. Students also learn about the most popular computer reservation software.

The medical industry is also experiencing a significant job boom, with several of the fastest growing career paths in the country. The medical transcription and administrative medical specialist certificate programs are designed to deliver immediate job skills in areas experiencing rapid growth. This includes training in new coding and billing requirements for healthcare providers, medical transcription and more.

For more information, call 349-2665 or visit www.coastal.edu/ learn/online on the Internet.