A new career in just nine credits!
Just 9 credits and you’ll be prepared for one of the fastest growing careers in the U.S.
It’s true! In just two semesters, a student who successfully completes nine credits will earn a YC phlebotomy technician certificate and is ready to work in a lab or doctor’s setting to draw blood. This is one of many allied health programs offered at YC. Allied health supports the dental, vision & medical professions although YC currently offers programs exclusively in the medical area.
Nancy Bowers, YC’s Director of the Allied Health Department within the Sciences & Health division explained that allied health employees are very important because they provide so many different services assisting the other health professionals to provide the best care for patients. Allied health is one of the fastest growing careers in the U.S.
Director Bowers shared that “we create allied health programs based on employment opportunities available now & into the future and students can become employed in all the disciplines offered by the college”. YC’s allied health programs are designed so a student aged sixteen or older can start out working on one certificate and often, the courses for that certificate apply towards other certificates and even an associate’s degree. YC currently offers the following allied health programs.
1. The nursing assistant program is 5 credits. Students are trained to assist the nurse and provide basic personal care to patients in a variety of medical settings.
2. The phlebotomy technician program is 9 credits. Students are trained to draw blood for labs.
3. The medical records technician program is 16 credits. Students are trained to work in a medical setting pulling and filing patients’ records.
4. The pharmacy technician program is 20 credits. Students are trained to work in a retail or hospital setting to help the pharmacist fill prescriptions and order the inventory.
5. The medical assistant program is 34 credits. Students are trained to work at a doctor’s office in the front as the first point of contact with patients or in the back with patients’ procedures that include taking vital signs and health history.
6. YC’s newest allied health program is an associates of applied science degree in Health Information Technology (HIT). Health information technicians organize and manage health information data using classification systems to code and categorize patient information for reimbursement purposes.
You can learn more through the college’s Allied Health website.
Almost all of YC’s allied health programs include an internship. The employer looks at the student as a perspective employee and the student looks at the employer as a perspective employer. It’s mutually beneficial to the student and the employer and can be considered an extended job interview. Although we don’t have a placement program, many of our students are offered a job during their internship or shortly after. And we know that a lot of our students become employed upon graduation from our programs. Allied Health positions are available all over the country & internationally.
YC’s allied health faculty have years of experience working in the allied health fields they teach. We look for the best people available in the field and bring them to Yavapai to teach students that discipline. When they teach YC students, they pass on their trade.
Director Bowers offers wise advice for student success at YC. Like any other YC program, allied health students need to:
- be self-motivated and ask questions
- tap into YC’s many resources and services including:
- recommended instructional resources
- academic & financial aid advisors
- TeLS (Teaching & eLearning Support)
- learning centers
YC’s libraries have all kinds of resources and the staff is well-trained to assist students with resources and technology. Here are some books available for checkout.
