Your Fortis Institute in Birmingham
Begin your Dental, Electrical, Welding, Medical or HVAC-R education at FORTIS!
The Fortis Institute Birmingham campus will continue delivering classroom program content via online and remote modalities. At this time, we must discontinue on-campus activities in compliance with direction from the city and county local authorities. Ensuring a safe environment for students and employees is our highest priority and we are following all CDC and local guidelines. If you are a student and have not been contacted by your campus leadership, or are having connectivity issues, please reach out to your Program Director via cell phone or email for more information. If you are interested in learning more our nursing and healthcare programs, please call 855-436-7847 to learn how new students can enroll and start with online remote delivery of their career education.
Medical & Healthcare Institute in Birmingham, AL
If you are looking for a healthcare school in Birmingham, Alabama, consider FORTIS Institute. Formerly the Tri-State Institute, FORTIS provides accredited, comprehensive education in multiple healthcare fields, as well as other skilled trades. Our campus is conveniently located in Birmingham, just a short drive from Hoover, Talladega and Alabaster, allowing you to get your education while meeting family and work responsibilities.
Medical Programs in Birmingham, Alabama
The data is clear: Healthcare is a growing field that can provide a range of excellent career opportunities. Many healthcare professions will be seeing strong job growth over the next decade, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our country’s aging population, plus an increase in the number of people suffering from chronic diseases, means that there will continue to be a demand for well-trained medical and healthcare workers. FORTIS offers career training programs in several allied health, medical, and dental careers. Whether you are interested in being “hands-on” with patients as a dental hygienist or medical assistant or prefer to work as an office administrator or billing specialist, our programs can help prepare you for entry-level jobs.Dental hygienists and dental assistants are key members of every dentist’s oral healthcare team. Demand for dental hygienists is projected to grow 19% over the next 10 years. Many hygienists work part-time so this is a very flexible and rewarding career choice.Demand for medical laboratory technicians will grow over the next 10 years as doctors have greater need for lab and blood tests to diagnose and treat illness. In addition, as medical practices continue to grow physicians and hospitals will need to hire more medical assistants, and medical billing coders.
HVAC, Welding and Electrical Trade Programs
If the medical field is not for you, FORTIS offers other career training options. In the skilled trades, there is a growing need for electricians and welders, as well as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC) technicians who have completed formal training programs. Our HVAC, welding and electrical trades diploma programs can help prepare you for entry-level jobs in these trades. Our program includes classroom instruction as well as hands-on training. You’ll also learn how to use computer-based diagnostic programs, a skill that many employers now demand.
Next Steps
Interested in learning more? Our knowledgeable admission representatives look forward to talking with you. You can contact us by phone, email, or live web chat. We can answer your questions about our programs and help you find the one that best matches your interests, abilities, and career goals. We can also discuss our tuition and fees, as well as financial aid that is available to those who qualify. Finally, we can arrange for an on-campus visit so that you can see our facilities and meet with our faculty and staff.
Programs
Skilled Trades
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Electrical Trades
Many of today’s exciting job opportunities have now shifted into electrical trades - where working with your hands and discovering practical solutions, is far more exciting than sitting behind a desk all day. Learn to make a difference doing something you love to do.
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Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Trades
As today’s heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems become more complex, trained HVAC technicians are critical to maintaining healthy, comfortable environments in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
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Welding Technology
Many of today’s exciting job opportunities have now shifted into trades - where working with your hands and discovering practical solutions, is far more exciting than sitting behind a desk all day. Nationally, welding job prospects should be good for welders trained in the latest technologies, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Healthcare / Medical
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Medical Assisting
Get started on your career in medical assisting with an education from Fortis. Medical Assistants are essential to our healthcare system and are relied upon by physicians to provide patient care in a variety of settings including clinics, hospitals, and physicians’ offices.
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Medical Billing and Coding
Medical Billing and Coding is a critical function in the healthcare industry today. With billing and coding skills, you can work in a medical office alongside doctors and staff. At FORTIS, we can educate you to help you get into your medical career sooner than you might think!
Medical Technologists
If you enjoy touching people’s lives, making a positive impact on friends and family, love working with your community and those in need - a career in healthcare will surely bring you a great deal of satisfaction. With medical technologist programs that span a range of skills, FORTIS can place you on the right path to your perfect career.
Dental
Summary
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Dental Hygiene
As technology progresses and our population grows, dentists will need to hire more hygienists to perform a wider variety of dental care. Dental hygienists rank among the fastest growing occupations nationally and job prospects are expected to be favorable in most areas.
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Dental Assisting
Job prospects for dental assistants are expected to continue to be excellent nationally as dentists need help to perform additional routine tasks and duties, according the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As technology progresses, dentists are devoting more of their time to complex patient care procedures.
Campus Location
Further Your Career Today!
Who we are
We value your opinion and would love to hear all about your experience as a student at Fortis. Sharing your review online can help us make improvements to enhance your learning experiences and those of prospective students.

The school helped me learn many of the skills. I learned many skills that helped with my externship. I can use my skills more in the medical field. The teachers helped a lot and when I had questions, they were always there. The school is great and I would have anyone go. Best experience of my life.

I actually was pregnant during my time here at Fortis and now that I have two little babies I am able to be home at night, I am able to home on weekends which I love and they love, I get more time with them.

I decided to do the Dental Assistant certificate program because I wanted the certification to go along with the work experience I already had accomplished as a Dental Assistant. I knew what I wanted because I was already in the field. I am career focused and this was to be the first of other credentials I will pursue.

The knowledge that I learned here actually helped me drastically to be able to do my job successfully, so that was actually what I needed.

I’ve been to school several times and I haven’t been able to finish. I’m just excited to say that I did finish. It’s a wonderful feeling.
Accreditation and State Authorization
Fortis Institute in Birmingham, Alabama is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), 7777 Leesburg Pike, Suite 314 North, Falls Church, Virginia 22043; telephone number (703) 917-9503; web address: https://www.abhes.org
Fortis Institute is licensed by the Private School Licensure Division, Alabama Community College System, P.O. Box 302130 Montgomery, AL 36130-2130; 135 South Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36104-4340; (334) 293-4500; http://www.accs.edu
The program in dental hygiene is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation [and has been granted the accreditation status of “approval with reporting requirements”]. The Commission is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the United States Department of Education. The Commission on Dental Accreditation can be contacted at (312) 440-4653 or at 211 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611.
The Medical Laboratory Technology program at Fortis Institute-Birmingham, AL is accredited by the National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (NAACLS), 5600 N. River Rd. Suite 720, Rosemont, IL 60018-5119, (773) 714-8880, www.naacls.org.
Notice to students: The Dental Assisting program at Fortis Institute has been placed on student achievement show-cause by their accreditor, the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, due to material noncompliance with its placement rate standard of 60%.
Mission & Objectives
FORTIS Institute provides postsecondary career education to both traditional and nontraditional students through a variety of degree and diploma programs that assist students in enhancing their career opportunities and improving problem-solving abilities. FORTIS strives to develop within its students the desire for lifelong and continued education, and believes that it makes an important contribution to the economic growth and social well-being of the Birmingham metropolitan area.
The following goals are integral to the mission of the Institute:
- To offer sound diploma and degree programs.
- To develop each student’s individual and professional growth, including written and interpersonal communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving competencies.
- To attract and retain qualified instructors who are effective in the classroom and familiar with appropriate current medical, and/or technical practices.
- To develop in students a professional attitude and an awareness of contemporary career practices through exposure to pragmatic course content and to faculty currently engaged in enterprise.
- To assist graduates in finding positions for which they are trained.
Consumer Information - Fortis Institute in Birmingham
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.