Maricopa Skill Center (MSC) will be launching five new Healthcare programs in the Fall of 2015 and Spring of 2016.
MSC will start offering certificates for Nursing Assistant, Clinical Lab Assistant, Patient Care Technician with Advanced Skills and Phlebotomy, in Spring 2016 Pharmacy Technician will be offered.
“We saw an increase in demand in the Valley and changes in the healthcare field which created a need for employees to be trained in different areas,” Assistant Executive Director CJ Wurster said. “The increase in demand is why Maricopa Skill Center decided to offer new healthcare certificate options.”
These new programs will be offered at the MSC Buckeye Campus, 1245 E. Buckeye Road. Currently, MSC offers two Healthcare Programs: Ophthalmic Assistant and Nursing Assistant/Patient Care Technician, which is a pathway into GateWay Community College’s Licensed Practical Nurse program.
The new Healthcare Programs provide hands on training and give students the core knowledge they need to start out in their careers.
The Nursing Assistant certification is preparing students to perform basic patient care under the supervision of registered nurses or licensed practical nurses. Students will learn to take vital signs, transporting patients, assisting with patients’ daily living activities and sterilizing equipment. The program is 198 hours long, approximately two months. The estimate cost is $1,225. The program is scheduled to start in August.
The Clinical Lab Assistant certification will teach students how to conduct medical tests on specimens and samples. They will also learn about taking medical histories and recording vital signs. The program is 762 hours long, approximately eight months. The estimated cost is $4,106. The program is scheduled to start in October.
The Patient Care Technician with Advanced Skills certification provides training in the technical skills necessary to service complex patient care in rehabilitation, basic bedside care, collecting laboratory specimens, phlebotomy and EKG’s. Students will also learn about vital signs, HIPPA regulations, personal hygiene, patient care and aseptic techniques. The program is 681 hours long, approximately seven months. The estimated cost is $3,826. The program is scheduled to start in October.
The Phlebotomy certification prepares students to correctly and safely obtain blood specimens and other bodily fluids, process specimens for laboratories and work with electronic patient information. Students will participate in a 128-hour externship to gain experience in the industry. The program has accreditation from American Medical Technologists. The program is 252 hours long, approximately two and a half months. The estimated cost is $1,451. The program is scheduled to start in November.
The Pharmacy Technician certification teaches students to receive and verify prescriptions, as well as prepare patient medication. Students will participate in a 240-hour externship in a clinical setting to gain experience in the industry. The program is 675 hours long, approximately seven months. The estimated cost is $3,481. The program is scheduled to start in January 2016.
These five areas of healthcare have been identified as occupations that are expected to grow rapidly over the next several years by the U.S. Department of Labor.
With the addition of the new programs, MSC is able to expand into more of a variety of Allied Health programs. Students will be able to use these certificates to start their careers in healthcare or build on ones they already have.
All of the new programs will offer classes during the day. Students will attend classes Monday-Thursday.