Health Care Assistant - Technical Certificate of Credit

The Health Care Assistant technical certificate of credit is offered with two options. Option I is offered with diploma level general education and health care occupational courses that may be applied to the LPN program.

Option II is offered with degree level general education and health care occupational courses that may be applied to any of the degree level health care programs (Medical Assisting, Radiologic Technology).

Both options prepare graduates for entry-level positions in four different specializations.

Health Care Assistant – Option I

Program Description

This certificate provides multiple career options for students who are seeking a career in the health care fields. The specialty areas build upon a common core of general education and health care courses. Graduates would have the option to complete more than one specialization in order to be more attractive to employers seeking multi-skilled health care assistants.

Length of Program
A minimum of 44-52 credit hours is required for graduation. A full time student can expect to
complete the program in 1-2 quarters.

Employment Opportunities
Graduates of the Health Care Assistant program choose one or more specializations. Depending upon the specialization(s) chosen, the graduate will be prepared to serve in a variety of health and medical offices as a phlebotomist, medical transcriptionist, medical office secretary, medical coder, or a patient care assistant (prepared to sit for the Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) exam.

ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS
Age: Applicant must be 16 years or older.
Education: A high school diploma/GED is required.
Program Acceptance/Placement: Applicant must achieve program ready or provisional scores on the ASSET placement test (or submit acceptable SAT/ACT scores.) Applicants who do not attain the minimum scores may take refresher/remedial instruction in order to meet admissions requirements.

Curriculum

Course # Course Title Credit Hrs
Communication
ENG 101 English 5
Social Sciences
PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology 5
Natural Sciences/Mathemateics
MAT 101 General Mathematics 5
Subtotal 15

Health Care Occupational Courses
SCT 100 Introduction to Microcomputers 3
AHS 101 Anatomy and Physiology 5
AHS 109 Medical Terminology 3
AHS 102 Drug Calculation & Administration 3

Choose one specialization

Phlebotomy Specialization
PHL 103 Introduction to Venipuncture 4
PHL 105 Clinical Practice 8
Elective 3
Subtotal 15

Medical Transcription Specialization
BUS 101 Beginning Document Processing 5
BUS 108 Word Processing 7
MAS 114 Medical Admin Procedures 3
Subtotal 15

Medical Coding Specialization
MAS 112 Human Diseases 5
MAS 151 ICD-9 Coding I 3
MAS 152 ICD-9 Coding II 3
MAS 153 CPT-4 Coding 3
Elective 2
Subtotal 16

Medical Unit Secretary Specialization
BUS 101 Beginning Document Processing 5
BUS 106 Office Procedures 5
Elective(s) 5
Subtotal 15

Certified Nursing Assistant Specialization
AHS 103 Nutrition and Diet Therapy 2
CNA 100 Patient Care Fundamentals 8
XXX xxx Occupationally Related Elective 5
Subtotal 15

Health Care Assistant - Option II

Curriculum

Course # Course Title Credit Hrs
Degree
Communication
ENG 191 Composition and Rhetoric 5
Natural Sciences/Mathematics
MAT 191 College Algebra 5
Social Sciences
PSY 191 Introductory Psychology 5
Subtotal 15

Health Care Occupational Courses
SCT 100 Introduction to Microcomputers 3
BIO 193 Human Anatomy & Physiology I 5
BIO 194 Human Anatomy & Physiology II 5
MAS 103 Pharmacology 5
Subtotal 18

Choose one specialization

Phlebotomy Specialization
PHL 103 Introduction to Venipuncture 4
PHL 105 Clinical Practice 8
Elective 3
Subtotal 15

Medical Transcription Specialization
BUS 101 Beginning Document Processing 5
BUS 108 Word Processing 7
MAS 114 Medical Admin Procedures 3
Subtotal 15

Medical Coding Specialization
MAS 112 Human Diseases 5
MAS 151 ICD-9 Coding I 3
MAS 152 ICD-9 Coding II 3
MAS 153 CPT-4 Coding 3
Elective 2
Subtotal 16

Medical Unit Secretary Specialization
BUS 101 Beginning Document Processing 5
BUS 106 Office Procedures 5
Elective(s) 5
Subtotal 15

Certified Nursing Assistant Specialization
AHS 103 Nutrition and Diet Therapy 2
CNA 100 Patient Care Fundamentals 8
XXX xxx Occupationally Related Elective 5
Subtotal 15