Allied Health Education - Patient Care Technician Certificate

Certificate Prerequisites  Certificate Requirements  Certificate Outcomes

See program requirement sheet.

The Patient Care Technician Program is a cluster of planned, sequenced instruction designed to prepare a cross-trained health care worker. With multiple exit points, the program consists of the following modules: nursing assistant, EKG technician, phlebotomy technician, and advanced nurse assisting skills. Students are prepared to function as advanced patient caregivers under the supervision of the registered nurse.

Upon completion of individual program modules, students will be eligible for certification as a nursing assistant, phlebotomy technician, EKG technician and licensing as a Health Care Assistant Category “A” (WA State).

Completion of the nursing assistant module (or proof of current nursing assistant certification in WA state) is required to enter the Advanced Nurse Assisting skills module. The EKG technician and phlebotomy technician modules may be taken in any sequence. All modules must be completed to obtain the Patient Care Technician certificate.

Graduation Application A completed Graduation Application form must be submitted to Enrollment Services by the 10th day of the quarter in which the student expects to graduate. Forms are available online or at Enrollment Services located in Lynnwood Hall.

Students are advised to:

• Plan their schedule several quarters in advance in order to accommodate courses that are offered only once or twice a year,
• Review the college catalog for required course prerequisites and include these in schedule planning, and
• Communicate with a faculty adviser.

Credit/Grade Requirements This Certificate requires successful completion of a minimum of 26.5 credits or a minimum of 18.5 credits with documentation of a valid CNA license in Washington State. A minimum of one-third of the required credits must be earned from Edmonds Community College. Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 in all college-level courses.

Students must achieve a grade of 2.0 or higher in the Phlebotomy and EKG technician modules and a grade of 2.5 or higher in the Certified Nursing Assistant and Advanced Nurse Assisting Skills modules to receive their certificates.

Prerequisites Proof of completion of the prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of 2.0 or equivalent is required to enroll in the certificate classes. Course substitutions are allowed. Students with previous health care training may be able to waive prerequisites on adviser approval. Students must see their Allied Health program adviser to complete this process.

SPECIAL NOTES
Criminal background checks are required for all Allied Health programs. Students should be aware that certain gross misdemeanors and felonies may disqualify them from participating in clinical externships and unable to complete their certificate. Future employment opportunities in the health care field may also be affected.

Students may request their background check from the Washington State Patrol (small fee required); students are encouraged to meet with an adviser if the background check reveals any activity that might disqualify them from the externship.

Summary of Occupational Exposure Students planning to enter the Patient Care Technician program or any of the modules contained within the program need to know that, as a health care provider, they are at risk for exposure to blood borne pathogens. Tasks and procedures performed by the health care professional involve risks classified by the Center for Disease Control in the following ways:

• Category I – Direct contact with blood or other bodily fluids to which universal precautions apply
• Category II – Activities performed without blood exposure but exposure may occur in emergencies
• Category III – Task/activity does not entail predictable or unpredictable exposure to blood

Note: This requirement planning sheet is not a substitute for meeting with an academic adviser. Meeting the requirements to graduate with an Edmonds Community College degree or certificate is ultimately the responsibility of the student.

PGM Code – 329C, 375C, 382, 391C
Effective summer 2011 | Rev: 02/11