The Health Care Assistant Technical Certificate of Credit is a program that provides academic foundations at the diploma level in communications, mathematics, and human relations, as well as technical fundamentals. Program graduates are trained in the underlying fundamentals of health care delivery and are well prepared for employment and subsequent upward mobility.
Students are accepted into the Health Care Assistant certificate program every semester. A student can complete this program in 3 semesters. To graduate, students must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours.
Employment Outlook
Career Traits/Requirements
Individuals wanting to enroll in the Health Care Assistant certificate program must have good work ethics, be people oriented and possess great organizational skills. Instruction and practical application of learned skills provide a broad occupational background which appeals to prospective employers.
Employment Opportunities
Students in the Health Care Assistant TCC will complete NAST 1100 - Nurse Aide Fundamentals which prepares them to take the National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) examination. Students must pass the national examination to be certified as Certified Nursing Assistants.
Program Costs
Tuition & Fees: $3,993.00
Books & Supplies: See program advisor
HOPE Career Grant: The HOPE Career Grant, formerly known as the Strategic Industries Workforce Development Grant, is available to HOPE Grant-qualified students who enroll in select majors specifically aligned with one of 12 industries in which there are more jobs available in Georgia than there are skilled workers to fill them. To qualify, an OFTC student must be fully admitted to the college, enrolled in one of the approved programs and receiving the HOPE Grant for the same term. The amount of the HOPE Career Grant award is a fixed amount for each term of enrollment:
- 9 or more credit hours – $500/semester
- 3-8 credit hours – $250/semester
- 1-2 credit hours – $125/semester
- Commercial Truck Driving – $1,000 one time award
High School students in dual enrollment and joint enrollment are NOT eligible for HOPE Career Grant.
Additional Fees
Malpractice Insurance: $11.00
Drug Screen: $50.00
Criminal Background Check: $51.50
BLS for Healthcare Provider: $7.00
Nurse Aide Certification Test: $130.00
(Costs are estimated and are subject to change.)
Admission Requirements
OFTC may accept a student’s official entrance score on the following validated assessment instruments if the scores meet the required minimums:
- COMPASS/ASSET,
- SAT,
- ACT,
- PSAT,
- PACT,
- Accuplacer/Accuplacer Next Generation/Companion,
- HOPE GPA after completion of 10th grade of 2.6 or higher, or High School GPA of 2.6 (for occupational programs), or 2.0 for Workforce Entry Level programs, or GED.
The College may accept transfer credit for other courses according to the College’s transfer policy.
Curriculum
General Education Courses
Occupational Courses
| ALHS 1011 | Structure and Function of the Human Body | 5 | 75 |
| ALHS 1040 | Introduction to Health Care | 3 | 75 |
| ALHS 1090 | Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences | 2 | 30 |
| COLL 1060 | Introduction to College and Computers | 3 | 50 |
Nurse Aide Specialization
| ALHS 1060 | Diet and Nutrition for Allied Health Sciences | 2 | 30 |
| NAST 1100 | Nurse Aide Fundamentals | 6 | 135 |
Program Pathway
Year 1
Semester 1
| ENGL 1010 | Fundamentals of English I | 3 | 45 |
| COLL 1060 | Introduction to College and Computers | 3 | 50 |
| ALHS 1090 | Medical Terminology for Allied Health Sciences | 2 | 30 |
Semester 2
Semester 3