Allied Health and Nursing Home > Health Care Assistant

Health Care Assistant
Technical Certificate of Credit
Contact Information

Augusta Campus

Admissions Office
706-771-4028
Mary Walker
706-771-4182 - Building 900

Waynesboro/Burke Campus
Student Services
706-437-6801

Thomson/McDuffie Campus
Student Services
706-595-0166

Entrance Dates:  
   Practical Nursing Augusta Fall and Winter
   Practical Nursing Thomson Winter and Summer
   Practical Nursing Waynesboro Fall and Spring
   Surgical Technology Augusta Fall
Length of Program: Three Quarters
Credit Hours Required for Graduation: Minimum 43

Admission

Admission to the Health Care Assistant program can be obtained through achieving the established minimum score on ASSET, SAT, ACT, COMPASS or having grades of “C” or higher in English 101, Math 101, or their equivalents. Applicants for the Practical Nursing, and Surgical Technology programs will be admitted to the Health Care Assistant program for completion of the Core Courses (ENG 101, MAT 101, and PSY 101) and Occupational Courses (AHS 101, AHS 104, AHS 109, and SCT 100). Students will be evaluated for admission to their program choice after completion of the core and designated occupational courses. Students’ admission to their program choice is contingent upon completion of the Health Care Assistant program which includes a specialization. For more information regarding this process, please contact the Admissions Office at (706) 771-4028.

Program Description

The Health Care Assistant program is designed to allow prospective students for the Practical Nursing, and Surgical Technology programs to meet core and designated occupational course requirements, and obtain a specialization that is occupational-producing. The areas of specialization include Electrocardiographic Technology, Health Unit Clerk, Phlebotomy, Medical Coding, Hemodialysis, Central Sterile Processing, and Patient Care Assisting. High school graduation or GED is required for admission to this program.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates are in demand for employment in medical laboratories, hospitals, clinics and doctors' offices.

Curriculum Outline

General Core Courses 15
ENG 101 English (or)
ENG 191 Composition and Rhetoric 5
MAT 101 General Mathematics (or)
MAT 191 College Algebra 5
PSY 101 Introduction of Psychology (or)
PSY 191 Introductory Psychology 5
Occupational Courses 19
AHS 101 Anatomy and Physiology (or)
BIO 193 Anatomy and Physiology (and) 5
BIO 194 Anatomy and Physiology 5
AHS 104 Introduction to Health Care 3
AHS 109 Medical Terminology for Allied Health 3
SCT 100 Introduction to Microcomputers 3
Students must complete one of the following specializations to meet program requirements for graduation.
Central Sterile Processing Specialization
CSS 100 Introduction to Sterile Processing 6
SUR 108 Surgical Microbiology 3
Phlebotomy Technician Specialization
PHL 103 Introduction to Venipuncture 4
PHL 105 Clinical Practice 8
Electrocardiographic Technology Specialization
ECG 103 Introduction to Electrocardiography 3
ECG 105 Electrocardiography Practicum 8
Hemodialysis Patient Care Specialization
HCT 110 Hemodialysis Patient Care 10
HCT 120 Hemodialysis Practicum 5
Medical Coding Specialization
ENG 112 Business Communication (if opted for ENG 111 instead of ENG 101) 5
MAS 112 Human Disease 5
MAS 151 ICD-9 Medical Procedures Coding I 3
MAS 152 ICD-9 Medical Procedures Coding II 3
MAS 153 CPT-4 Medical Physician's Procedural Coding 3
Patient Care Assisting Specialization
AHS 103 Nutrition and Diet Therapy 2
CNA 100 Patient Care Fundamentals 8
EMP 100 Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development 3
Health Unit Clerk
BUS 170 Health Unit Coordinating 8
BUS 171 Health Unit Coordinating Practicum 4

Notes

  • A grade of “C” or higher is required for all courses. A student will not be considered for admission to the Practical Nursing or Surgical Technology programs if he/she has to repeat more than one course to obtain a grade of “C” or higher. This applies to applicable courses taken in any program at Augusta Technical College and transfer courses on all submitted transcripts.
  • Prior to participation in campus/clinical labs, students are required to submit completed medical and dental examination forms. All required immunizations, including Hepatitis B, must be accompanied by documentation. Students who refuse to take the Hepatitis B vaccination series must sign a declination form and be aware that clinical practicum sites may refuse them an opportunity to gain clinical experience.
  • Applicants must have the appropriate ASSET, COMPASS SAT or ACT scores to take the equivalent associate degree level courses.
  • BUS 101 is a prerequisite for the Medical Coding Specialization.
  • Submission of an application to and completion of the Health Care Assistant program does not guarantee admission to the Practical Nursing, and Surgical Technology Programs. The Practical Nursing program is a competitive admission program.
  • Conviction of a felony or gross misdemeanor may prohibit employment in field and may make a student ineligible to take licensing/certification exam(s) required for the profession. A background check may be required by some agencies before a student attends a clinical practicum. For more information, contact the appropriate program advisor.
  • The prerequisites required by medical coding students for MAS 112 are ENG 101 or ENG 111, AHS 101, BUS 101, and AHS 109 or BUS 211.