Your neighborhood Fortis College in Columbia, SC
Offering education programs in Nursing, Dental, Healthcare, and HVAC-R.
Fortis Trade School in South Carolina (Columbia)
FORTIS College in Columbia, SC was founded to provide career education and training in South Carolina for the nursing, medical, dental, healthcare and skilled trades career fields. FORTIS offers postsecondary education to students looking to start a new career or advance a current one. We offer a variety of quality certificate and degree programs to serve the needs of traditional and non-traditional students in Columbia and the state of South Carolina.
Do you want to train to be a nurse in South Carolina? Does a nursing career sound exciting to you? If yes, then consider the Associate Nursing Degree program at FORTIS College Columbia. The ADN nursing program at FORTIS is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as a registered nurse. The program offers classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences in a collaborative learning environment. Upon graduation, FORTIS students are prepared to sit for the licensure exam to become a registered nurse.
FORTIS also offers allied health and medical career training programs in Medical Assisting, and Dental Assisting. As our population ages and demand for medical services increases, the prospects are strong for those with the right medical training.
The second program in Skilled Trades at FORTIS College is the HVAC program. Students train to become HVAC technicians by learning to install and repair heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration systems. With the extreme weather in South Carolina, HVAC mechanics are necessary to service heating and cooling systems in residences and commercial businesses. Some in the HVAC field eventually choose the freedom to work as independent contractors.
Our Columbia, SC campus is just a short drive from Saint Andrews, Seven Oaks & Dentsville.
At FORTIS College, we can help you develop a professional attitude and career-ready awareness through hands-on training and exposure to rigorous course curricula from our experienced faculty. Find the necessary career education you’ve been looking for at FORTIS College in Columbia, SC and start your path to a rewarding future career!
Programs
Nursing
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Associate Degree In Nursing
The Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Fortis trains students for entry-level positions as a registered nurse (RN). Small class sizes, nursing simulation technology, and experienced faculty all come together to help students gain the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to enter this rewarding profession. Upon completion of the ADN program, graduates will be prepared to sit for their licensure exam to become a registered nurse.
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Practical Nursing
A practical nursing program is a fast and focused way to start a career in healthcare. Students will gain real clinical experience to prepare them for the workforce and sit for the NCLEX-PN exam upon graduation. Fortis’ hybrid PN program provides the theory, laboratory and clinical experiences students need for an entry-level position as a Licensed Practical Nurse (PN).
Skilled Trades
In our skilled trade programs, you will learn the knowledge and hands-on skills that will allow you to make a difference doing something you love to do. Our comprehensive skilled trades program curriculum combines traditional classroom instruction with situational and practical learning experiences to prepare students for an entry-level position.
Healthcare / Medical
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare and medical career opportunities are forecast to grow over the next decade, due in part to our aging population and increased need for healthcare. Fortis offers a variety of medical and healthcare training programs to help meet this need.
Dental
The dental assisting and dental training programs at Fortis Colleges and Institutes help students acquire the skills and knowledge they need to demonstrate competency required for relevant licensing and getting started on a new career. Dental assistants and dental hygienists are critical members of the healthcare team and Fortis’s dental training programs can help prepare you for a new career.
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Accreditation and State Authorization
FORTIS College, Columbia is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, 6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730, North Bethesda, MD 20852 P. (301) 291-7550 info@abhes.org
FORTIS College was founded in 2010 as a non-main campus of Fortis Institute-Towson, Maryland (Formerly The Medix School in Towson, Maryland) and is licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.
The Associate Degree in Nursing program is approved by the South Carolina Board of Nursing.
Effective July 8, 2025, Fortis College, the associate degree nursing program at Fortis College located in Columbia, South Carolina is a candidate for initial accreditation by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. This candidacy status expires on July 8, 2027.
Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN)
3390 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1400
Atlanta, GA 30326
(404) 975-5000
View the public information disclosed by the ACEN regarding this candidate program at Search ACEN Programs.
Note: Upon granting of initial accreditation by the ACEN Board of Commissioners, the effective date of initial accreditation is the date on which the nursing program was approved by the ACEN as a candidate program that concluded in the Board of Commissioners granting initial accreditation.
Consumer Information - Fortis College in Columbia
The following links provide consumer information required by federal regulations, and in accordance with school policy, that will allow you to make informed decisions relevant to your education. For details regarding each category below, please hover over the titles. For more info please click here for a complete glossary of terms.
A hard copy of each disclosure is available by request from the Admissions Office.
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College Navigator Website
Title IX Policy
Title IX Staff Annual Training
Title VI Policy
The Consumer Information Guide Summary is a tool prospective and current student’s can utilize to find all relevant and required consumer information as defined by federal regulations.
This guide contains certain consumer information that institutions must provide annually to its students.
Contains information about the school, the programs offered, the admissions requirements, and other institutional standards and requirements, along with the accreditation and licensing information.
The rate required for disclosure and/or reporting purposes under Student Right-to-Know Act. This rate is calculated as the total number of completers within 150% of normal time divided by the revised adjusted cohort. A paper copy is available by request from the Admissions Office.
These rates are calculated in accordance with our institutional accrediting body and in accordance with federal regulations. These rates are updated annually based upon the Annual Reports submitted to each institutional accreditation agency. For institutions accredited by ACCSC, both the graduation rates and placement rates are disclosed.
In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) of 2008 and in addition to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended), each postsecondary educational institution must disclose information on the recommended and required textbooks needed to complete each course of study.
The institution provides this information to all its employees and students as part of the institutions commitment to safety and security pursuant to the requirements of the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.
In accordance with U.S. Department of Education regulations, we provide you with a Net Price Calculator (NPC), which will calculate an estimated net price of education specific to the institution, and based on your individual circumstances. You will be required to answer several questions in order for the calculator to provide an estimated net price.
The retention rate is a measure of the rate at which students persist in their educational program at an institution, expressed as a percentage. This rate is compiled based on specific instructions and cohorts that are defined by the National Center for Education Statistics through the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS).
The purpose of the Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) is to ensure the safety of students, faculty, staff, and visitors in the event of an emergency. The plan describes emergency communication, response, and evacuation procedures.
Licensure and Certification
This program meets the educational requirements for licensure as a Registered Professional Nurse (RN), by examination, in the states of South Carolina and North Carolina.
We have not made a determination for the following states*: AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, ND, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.
Those who successfully graduate from the professional nursing program may be eligible to take the NLCLEX-RN ®. Approval to take the examination is not automatic. Successfully passing the NCLEX is one of several requirements for licensure.
Requirements for licensure vary among states. In order to locate the licensure eligibility requirements of another state, please refer to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to find the contact information the Board of Nursing of that state. Click here to visit the NCSBN website.
*If you need additional information on state eligibility or transferability requirements for these states, please contact the Campus President or Dean of Nursing.
Graduation does not guarantee eligibility to sit for licensure, certification, or registry exams. Please understand that licensure and certification eligibility can be affected by unlawful events that take place after acceptance into a program. As part of the licensure, certification, and registration application process, arrest and court records of final adjudication for any offense other than a minor traffic violation may be submitted to credentialing agency for review. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony and whose civil rights have not been restored may be considered incomplete by the College until documentation of restoration of civil rights is received.
Licensing and certification requirements vary by state. Students who relocate to another state during their enrollment may or may not satisfy the eligibility criteria to obtain a professional license or certification in that state.
Please contact the Campus President or Dean of Education/Nursing if you have additional questions pertaining to your program of interest.
