The Health Care Assistant technical certificate of credit is a program that provides academic foundations at the certificate 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.
Employment Opportunities
Graduates will be able to perform a variety of duties to assist the medical and technical staff.
Licensure Certification
Upon satisfactory completion of the Health Care Assistant program, students will be eligible to apply and sit for the State Nurse Aide Certification Exam.
Admissions Criteria
- Submit a completed application and application fee;
- Be at least 17 years of age;
- Submit official high school transcript or GED transcript;
- Submit official college transcripts, if applicable;
- Meet the following assessment requirements:
| Test |
Reading |
Writing |
Numerical |
Algebra |
| Accuplacer |
55 |
60 |
34 |
NA |
| Accuplacer (Next Gen) |
224 |
236 |
229 |
NA |
| Compass |
70 |
32 |
26 |
NA |
| SAT |
16 |
15 |
18 |
NA |
| SAT |
270 |
280 |
310 |
NA |
| ACT |
14 |
13 |
14 |
NA |
| ASSET |
37 |
38 |
32 |
NA |
| PSAT |
16 |
15 |
18 |
NA |
| GED |
NA |
145 |
145 |
NA |
| TABE |
461 |
NA |
442 |
NA |
Health Care Assistant Certificate Curriculum
The curriculum for the Health Care Assistant certificate program is designed for the semester system. A student may enter the program any semester. To graduate, certificate-seeking students must earn a minimum of 30 semester credit hours. The program requires a minimum of 555 contact hours and generally takes 2 semesters to complete.
Program Courses
Occupational Courses (30 Credits)
NOTE: “C” or higher grade is required for all the above courses.
Program Costs
Tuition ($100 per credit hour): $3,000
Fees ($385 per semester): $770
Books/Supplies: $750
Liability Insurance: Liability Insurance (click to find your program)
Uniforms: $100
TB Testing: $35
Criminal Background check: $80
Drug Screen: $30
Health Screening: $150
Course Supply Fee: Health Care (click to find individual course fees)
(Costs are estimates and are subject to change.)
Clinical Education
Number of Clinical Sites: 5
General Location of the Clinical Sites: Bulloch, Evans, Candler, and Screven Counties.
Special Requirements of the Clinical Sites
(Students must complete the following requirements and submit documentation to the instructor by the assigned date in order to participate in clinical and complete the program):
- CPR Certification; First Aid Training;
- The student must submit documentation of TB skin testing, all required immunizations, and including Hepatitis B. Students who refuse the Hepatitis B vaccination series must sign a declination form and be aware that clinical sites may refuse to accept them. Forms will be provided by the instructor;
- Criminal Background Check
- Urine Drug Screen
Clinical Education Courses
The Nurse Aide course (NAST 1100) provides students with an opportunity for in-depth application and reinforcement of patient care principles and techniques in a long-term care setting. The clinical experience allows the student to become involved in a professional work situation applying technical skills.
The clinical experience requires that the student spend a minimum of 45 hours in a supervised work setting. Students may not receive pay from the clinical site for clinical hours. Students are evaluated by the clinical instructor.
Clinical Assignments
Clinical hours and days may vary depending on the clinical sites. Clinical sites are selected by the program coordinator. Students are responsible for having reliable transportation to the site. Clinical hours must be fulfilled in order to complete the program. Clinical sites will be assigned by the instructor.