Cape Fear Community College announced Tuesday the offering of an online contact tracing certificate through a college learning partner, 4MedPlus.

Contact tracing is used to help slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Contact tracers interview those who have been recently diagnosed with COVID-10 to identify and notify their close contacts of potential exposure, a news release explained.

“With a growing need for contact tracers and other healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic, state and private healthcare entities are in need of qualified individuals to help during this time,” said Liz Riepe, CFCC business and industry training coordinator, said in the release. “CFCC is excited to offer affordable and convenient certificates to connect students with these jobs.”

According to the release, the self-paced, online contact tracing certificate covers the Centers for Disease Control training elements required to apply for the contact tracer role and can be completed in six to eight hours.

Upon successful completion of the course and final exam, students will receive a Certificate of Contact Tracing Proficiency (CCTP), the release stated.

The contact tracing course can be taken independently without the certification for free or with the certificate for $49, according to the release. Individuals can receive a 20% discount through CFCC with the coupon code CFCC20.

Registration and additional information about the contact tracing certificate is available online.