DSCC’s Healthcare Technician program prepares the student to become nationally certified through the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) or Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) certificate.
Healthcare
Technician
About the Program
DSCC’s Healthcare Technician program prepares the student to become nationally certified through the National Healthcareer Association’s (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) or Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) certificate. Students choose which track they wish to take.
CCMAs are multi-skilled professionals who are valuable assets to physicians. CCMAs assist during physical examinations, maintain treatment rooms, sterilize instruments, answer patient questions, and obtain vital signs.
CPCT/As are multi-skilled professionals who play a vital role in patient care, primarily in hospitals, nursing homes, or long-term care facilities. CPCT/As assist patients by serving meals, changing bedding, assisting with restroom needs, measuring and monitoring vital signs, managing food and liquid intake, and performing venipuncture.
CCMA or CPCT students will also take Phlebotomy and Electrocardiogram (EKG) classes. In Phlebotomy class, students will earn a nationally accepted certification through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) and become certified Phlebotomists. Students with credentials in Phlebotomy will be able to collect blood specimens from patients for testing purposes. In Electrocardiogram (EKG) class, students will also earn a nationally accepted certification through NHA and will become certified EKG Technicians. Students with credentials in electrocardiogram will be able to administer testing and interpret heart rhythms.
Due to clinical requirements for this certificate, the student should be prepared to have a background check and drug screen completed at the student’s expense.
Students will also be required to show proof of up-to-date immunizations.
The courses in this program require the student to take the industry certification exams in Phlebotomy, EKG, and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant or Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant after each applicable course. The certification exams also come at an additional cost to the student.
Top 10 FAQs for the
Healthcare Technician Program
Please review the top 10 frequently asked questions for the DSCC Healthcare Technician program below.
There are two ways to apply.
-Go to www.dscc.edu/apply. On the drop-down click on apply online, then underneath the video explaining the application process, click apply online. Then create a log-in ID and a pin, complete the application making sure you put the correct term (Ex. Fall 2022), and under the program of study select Healthcare Technician Certificate
-Visit the One-Stop center on DSCC Dyersburg or Covington location. Someone will assist with the admission application and completing the FASFA.
No, currently all classes are in-person on campus.
No, there are not any prerequisite requirements for the courses within the Healthcare Technician certificate program.
View the current Class Schedule.
Each class of students will earn a certification from a nationally accepted certification through the National Healthcareer Association. Once you have completed the entire program (ex. CCMA, Phlebotomy, EKG or PCT, Phlebotomy, EKG) students will graduate from DSCC and earn the Healthcare Technician Certification.
You must fill out a FASFA application and as long as the student qualifies and is enrolled in the entire program (Ex. CCMA, Phlebotomy, EKG or PCT, Phlebotomy, EKG) financial aid can be applied to the program.
Visit the DSCC Bookstore Website (www.dscc.edu/dscc-bookstore). There are no hard copy books required for the class. You will purchase online access through the bookstore for the courses.
It takes approximately one week to receive an e-mail with further information.
Each class is one semester long. A semester in the fall and spring is four months. Typically, students will take either PCT or CCMA in one semester then the other semester the student takes the Phlebotomy and EKG class. Classes for the Fall 2022 semester start on August 22 and end on December 5. Classes for the Spring 2023 semester start on January 17 and end on May 1.
DSCC does not require the COVID-19 vaccine; however, clinical partners do require it. The two classes that have a clinical component where a clinical partner does require vaccination are Phlebotomy and Patient Care Technician. You may file for an exemption at the clinical site for West Tennessee Healthcare. The links have been provided:
Medical exemption
Religious exemption
Books for each class, three-ring binder, folder with pockets. For PCT and Phlebotomy class copies of childhood immunizations (available at your county health department), these will include Tdap, MMR, varicella, Hepatitis B 3-vaccine series, up-to-date tetanus, TB skin test, flu vaccine or declination form, COVID-19 vaccine or exemption form. Must pass a drug screen and a background check.
For More
Information
Contact the DSCC Healthcare Technician program at healthcare@dscc.edu or (731) 286-3205.