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Adult Education


Adult Education’s mission is to bring out the best in all students by helping them master the most important skills for success. Whatever is needed to earn the High School Equivalency diploma, to be trained in locating that perfect job, or just to learn the skills to succeed at work, Adult Education can help – at NO COST TO YOU!

Whatever your goals may be, Adult Education is here to help you move forward!

Services provided by Adult Education:

  • High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET) preparation and testing.
  • Smart Start Training, both in-person and hybrid, to develop job skills to be successful in college or employment.
  • ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC).
  • Day and night classes, both in-person and hybrid, to fit any schedule.
  • Classes in Alcorn, Prentiss, Tippah, Tishomingo, and Union Counties.
  • Career coaching and planning for a brighter future.
  • Short-term workforce training for better job opportunities.
  • Industry-recognized national certifications to aid in job readiness.
  • Scholarships and incentives for financial assistance. 
900+
High School Equivalency Diplomas Issued
1500+
Smart Start Credentials Issued
1000+
Students Transitioned into a Secondary Education Pathway


Smart Start

Your journey to a better life begins with Smart Start, the smart curriculum for success. Learn the skills needed to succeed professionally while earning valuable certifications.

  • Mississippi Smart Start Credential - Earn a state credential recognized by workplaces in Mississippi.
  • ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) - Earn an industry-recognized national certification which shows work and/or college readiness.
  • Success Skills - Learn essential professional skills such as teamwork, time management, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking–the skills employers are really looking for.
  • Job search skills - Build a resume, prepare for job interviews, and put yourself in the best possible position to get hired and/or promoted.
  • Financial literacy - Learn to make the best use of your hard-earned money.

High School Equivalency Diploma (GED/HiSET) Classes

NEMCC Adult Education can help prepare for the GED or HiSET exam to earn a High School Equivalency diploma – which is the legal equivalent of a high-school diploma in the state of Mississippi. However, Adult Education offers much more than that!

  • Reading skills to help you understand the mountain of information faced daily.
  • Math skills to help you understand problem-solving.
  • Learning skills to help you continually improve in modern life’s most important ability-learning new information.
  • Advising to help you move to the next level–whether the next level is college, training, military, or work. Wherever you are going, we help you get there.

At NEMCC, adult educational advancement opportunities are now greater than ever with multiple High School Equivalency testing options which supply a much-needed High School Equivalency diploma as well as College and Career Readiness (CCR). CCR standards align with the entry-level expectations of colleges, workforce training programs, and employers to ensure that you are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed in college, career, and life.

  • Earn a High School Equivalency by attending classes and passing a High School Equivalency test.
  • Earn a Competency Based High School Equivalency by completing the Smart Start Class, 15 hours of college credits, and obtaining a Sliver or higher on the ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).

Click the links below for additional information:

Gateway Youth Program

It’s an age-old problem in getting hired: you get turned down for jobs because you have no experience, but you can’t get experience without a job. We can help!  Participants who are 16-24 years of age can gain an advantage by enrolling in the Gateway Program.

  • Paid internships to help build valuable work experience.
  • One-on-one counseling for guidance to a better future.
  • Essential job skill training and certification.
  • Basic literacy skills.
  • ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC).
  • Industry and national certifications.
  • High School Equivalency Diploma.
  • Career pathways, advanced training, college, or military-all leading to employment.

In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Title IX, Educational Amendments of 1972 of the Higher Education Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended; and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Board of Trustees of Northeast Mississippi Community College hereby assures that no one shall on the grounds of race, color, national origin, disability, or sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in any program or activity of the college.

The Mississippi Partnership is an equal opportunity employer/program; auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Those needing TDD assistance may call 202.693.6515.

The Mississippi Partnership Workforce Board and Three Rivers Planning & Development District, Inc. is a funding source of the WIOA Youth Gateway Program.



Adult Education Integrated Education & Training Programs (IET)

Adult Education is not just a place to earn a diploma or certifications. Learning to be successful – whatever success means to you – is top priority. During enrollment, we discuss your goals and career plans. We help identify strengths, interests, and opportunities so that you may contribute and picture yourself five years later doing the kind of work you would like to do. We help you figure out where you are going – and create a plan to get there.

NEMCC Adult Education’s students are invited to dually enroll in MIBEST–the Mississippi Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training Program. Choose from a wide selection of short-term training and college-degree pathways – while earning the HSE diploma – and get incredible support along the way:

  • Assistance with tuition and college fees.
  • Team teaching and one-on-one tutoring for success in college-level courses.
  • High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma.
  • ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC).
  • Smart Start work-readiness skills.
  • College or industry-based credentials.
  • Possible Career Technical Education (CTE) credits.
  • Workforce certifications.

IET pathway courses are currently available to all Adult Education students:

Career-Technical Pathways (credit bearing)

  • Computer Technology - Two-year program at NEMCC
  • Construction Engineering Technology – Two-year program at NEMCC

 See an Adult Education College & Career Navigator for enrollment procedures

Workforce Pathways

Computer Technology/IC3 Pathway – available at our Corinth and New Albany locations. This course is offered day and night in Corinth; night only in New Albany and prepares the student to pass the IC3 certification exam.  Completion of this certification results in 3 Z-credit hours for CSC 1123 at NEMCC.  To complete this pathway and move on to one of the associated NEMCC MIBEST career technical majors, students must complete the Smart Start course and the IC3 certification.  Eligible students must score Bronze or higher on the WorkKeys (NCRC) exam.

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) – available at our Corinth, New Albany, & Ripley campuses.  This course is currently only offered at night in a Hybrid setting.  The course prepares the student to sit for the National Healthcareer Association's (NHA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant national exam (CMAA).  To complete this pathway and move on to one of the associated NEMCC career technical majors, students must complete the 120-hour Hybrid course that includes, Medical Terminology and Medical Office Procedures, as well as complete the Medical Terminology challenge exam which results in 3 Z-credit hours, if passed, for MET 1113 at NEMCC, available for a $50.00 transcription fee. (Note:  the $50 transcription fee is NOT included in the $408.00 program fee.) Eligible students must first score Silver or higher on the WorkKeys (NCRC) exam and complete the Smart Start course for entrance into the program.  The cost for this program is currently $408.00 and is subject to change each semester depending on the current cost of educational materials."

To register for an Adult Education IET Pathway: AE IET Pathway Registration



Hybrid Offerings in Adult Education

A limited number of IET courses may be completed in a hybrid environment; a combination of face-to-face class meetings and online class meetings, through the Adult Education department at NEMCC.*

*Please note, before students begin any hybrid course in Adult Education, he or she must attend in-person to complete registration, pre-assessments, and receive additional instructions exclusive to hybrid learning. Prior to taking the final exam or certification exam, students must again attend in-person and meet with the instructor to complete post-assessments and receive final instructions before completing the hybrid course. Online or virtual testing is not available for these courses, students must take their final exam or certification exam in a proctored environment, on campus.  

Current IET courses available through hybrid learning in Adult Education include Computer Technology/IC3, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, and A+

Current AE courses available through hybrid learning in Adult Education include the Smart Start Course and High School Equivalency Prep.

NEMCC Adult Education utilizes the Canvas learning system for all online courses apart from Computer Tech/IC3 prep.  The Jasperactive learning system is used in all Computer Tech/IC3 prep courses in Adult Education.