Looking to accelerate your career in telecommunications? The National Coalition for Telecommunications Education and Learning (NACTEL), in partnership with Pace University, offers online telecom degrees that can be completed from home.

The online classes are meant to fit busy schedules and can be done from anywhere with Internet access. Applications for the spring 2010 semester are now being accepted.

Registration for the late spring semester, which starts in March, opens on January 7.

Courses can range from nine to 15 weeks.

The NACTEL program is designed to help both veteran and new telecom workers get the training they need to help meet the growing demand for highly-skilled workers—including cable splicing technicians, switching and transport installers and repairers and wireless and broadband experts—in the telecommunications industry.

One of the newest fields is video technology. The increased popularity of combined wireless, cable and phone packages, such as Verizon's FiOS, makes a certificate in video technology essentials vital to opening up new job opportunities.

And greater demand for broadband Internet access across the country makes the introduction to broadband certificate offered by NACTEL timelier than ever.

More advanced degrees are also available. NACTEL offers a bachelor's degree in telecommunications technology, which gives students a firm grounding in every aspect of the industry.

Degrees are fully accredited and sponsored by industry and union leaders, including the IBEW.

"I like the NACTEL program at Pace University," said East Windsor, N.J., Local 827 member David Furey. Furey, a technician with Verizon, received his bachelor's degree through the program. "It seems to be the closest to hands-on work, and it is designed with an eye on what the industry needs."

In addition to class readings and online discussions, students are responsible for a variety of hands-on projects. "They end up doing everything from soldering their own phone to doing at-home chemistry experiments," said Scott Bates, director of marketing for NACTEL.

Degrees and certificates are available in:

• Video technologies
• Wireless networking
• Networking telecommunications
• Telecommunications

Discounted tuition is available to all IBEW members. Financial aid through your employer may also be available. Consult your employer's tuition policy.

For more information and to download an application, go to www.nactel.org.