Continuing Education for Baby Boomers Going Back to School to Begin a New Career

Posted by David R. Wetzel Sep 16, 2008

As baby boomers begin to enter their retirement years, most are not ready to give up work and sit on a porch somewhere rocking in a chair and watching the world pass by them.

Baby boomers are flooding community colleges for earning new credentials and training to prepare for a new career.

There are approximately 1,200 community colleges in this country and they are being placed in an unexpected position.

Baby boomers do not want to take painting or gardening classes, as in years past. They want courses which help them begin a new career in nursing, computers, social issues, community issues, global issues, and more.

A recent survey conducted by AARP of 30,000 respondents age 42 and older found that 26 percent had changed careers in the past year. These same people stated they had completed courses in a community college to earn a degree or certificate for the new career.

Community colleges across the country are retooling their programs to meet the demands of baby boomers for continuing education.

One demand they are having to cope with is that baby boomers want courses and programs offered to meet their schedules and not the colleges' schedule.

Baby boomers want courses online, taught in the community center, offered in their community church, and other places. Community colleges need to adapt and they are working on solutions.

Additonal information can be found by visiting College for Baby Boomers Going Back to School and Changing Careers and Transferable Job Skills .