Continuing Education in the Classroom

111109-ncatsu-3472-2.jpgN.C. A&T State University's in-person Continuing Education courses through the Extended Campus will prepare you for employment in some of today's fastest-growing health care fields or give you additional expertise to advance in your career. Earn professional certification, upgrade your skills or train for a new occupation. Get hands-on experience in classes taught by local professionals who are experts in their field.

Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) program

This weeklong program is an expanded practice course for operating room nurses, nurse midwives and nurse practitioners, providing the perioperative nurse with the advanced knowledge and skills to function at an advanced practice level. Based on the Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) Core Curriculum, this program is one of only 13 approved programs nationwide that has met specific criteria and is accepted by the CCI (Competency and Credentialing Institute) as an acceptable program for CRNFA eligibility.

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Registration for in-classroom Certificate programs:

The Certified Clinical Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare students to function as professionals in multiple healthcare settings. Medical assistants with a clinical background perform various clinical tasks including assisting with the administration of medications and with minor procedures, performing an electrocardiogram (EKG), obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients, and other related tasks. Job opportunities are prevalent with physician’s offices, clinics, chiropractor’s offices, hospitals and outpatient facilities.

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $2,399 (140 hours of instruction)
    Instructor led classes with all textbooks, workbooks, and related course material.
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Clinical Medical Assistant Program

The purpose of this program is to prepare students to assist physicians by performing functions related to the clinical aspects of a medical office. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Clinical responsibilities of the medical office – assisting the physician with patient related care
  • Preparing patients for examination and treatment, routine procedures and diagnostic testing
  • HIPAA, patient confidentiality, legal aspects of healthcare and regulatory patient care issues
  • Recording and taking of vital signs, blood pressure and other patient care items related to the physician office visit
  • Review and administration of medications, allergies and other pharmacology related items
  • Laboratory procedures, phlebotomy and the proper techniques required to collect specimens for laboratory analysis
  • Cardiology and the proper placement of leads when taking a 12 lead EKG

Educational Requirements

  • Clinical Medical Assistants should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • Students who complete this comprehensive course will be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification examination.
  • In addition to facilitating entry-level clinical medical assisting positions, this course is ideal for students interested in pursuing a future formal Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Nursing (LPN) or Nursing (RN) program.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • Responsibilities of the clinical medical assistant and introduction to healthcare facilities
  • Medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, circulation of the heart and blood vessels
  • Care and safety of patients, medical & legal aspects of care, confidentiality and HIPAA
  • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication, interpersonal skills and human behavior
  • Aseptic techniques, infection prevention, universal precautions, proper use and disposal of biohazards and sharps
  • Documenting patient medical histories, updating patient medical files, vital signs and documentation
  • Appling sterile dressings, preparing patients for X-rays, performing injections, administering oral medications, instructing patients on the proper usage of medications
  • Phlebotomy, venipunctures and capillary sampling, collecting specimens and point of care testing
  • Performing 12 lead EKGs and EKG strip analysis (P,Q,R,S,T wave form)

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

Call Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu

EKG technicians are in demand! EKG technicians work in physician’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities and organizations. EKG technicians also work for insurance companies to provide data for health and life insurance policies. Similar to other growing healthcare professions, the demand for EKG technicians is expected to continue to grow substantially. According to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for EKG Technicians are expected to grow 22% by 2024.

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $999 (50 hours of instruction)
    Instructor led classes with all textbooks, workbooks, and related course material.
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The EKG Technician Program

This EKG Technician program prepares students to function as EKG technicians. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Detailed anatomy and physiology of the heart
  • Medical disease processes and terminology
  • Medical ethics and legal aspects of patient contact
  • Electrocardiography and echocardiography
  • An introduction to the components, function, and proper use of the EKG machine
  • The normal anatomy of the chest wall for proper lead placement
  • 12-lead placement and other practices

Educational Requirements

  • EKG Technicians should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • There are several EKG technician national certification exams that are available to students.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • Role of the EKG technician
  • Function of the EKG department in a variety of settings (hospital, clinic, office, mobile service)
  • Medical terminology related to electrocardiography
  • Care and safety of patients including medical and legal aspects of patient care
  • Anatomy and physiology of the cardiovascular system
  • Electrophysiology, the conduction system of the heart, and the cardiac cycle
  • Circulation of blood through the heart and vessels
  • Lead placement for 12-lead electrocardiography
  • Basic EKG interpretation of normal rhythms and arrhythmias
  • EKG troubleshooting including recognizing artifacts
  • Waves and measurements
  • EKG strip analysis (P,Q,R,S,T wave-form interpretation)
  • Identification of rhythms using the 12-lead EKG
  • Pacemakers
  • Holter monitoring and the echocardiogram

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

To learn about this program call Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu 

Medical billing and coding is one of the fastest-growing careers in the healthcare industry today! The need for professionals who understand how to code healthcare services and procedures for third-party insurance reimbursement is growing substantially. Physician practices, hospitals, pharmacies, long-term care facilities, chiropractic practices, physical therapy practices, and other healthcare providers all depend on medical billing and coding for insurance carrier reimbursement. With the big growth in the healthcare industry, medical facilities will continue to need candidates who specialize in medical billing and coding.

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $1,799 (80 hours of instruction)
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Medical Billing and Coding Program

This billing and coding program delivers the skills students need to solve insurance billing and coding problems. It details proper assignment of codes and the process to file claims for reimbursement. With the transition to ICD-10, effective as of October 1, 2015, this course will also provide training in ICD-10-CM. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • An overview of the healthcare and insurance industries
  • The organization and use of the ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS manuals to identify correct codes
  • Detailed review and practice using the alphabetic index and tabular list of the ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, and practice coding examples within the CPT
  • Basic claims processes for medical insurance and third-party reimbursements
  • Completing common insurance forms, tracing delinquent claims, and appealing denied claims
  • ICD-10-CM Overview

Educational Requirements

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • Numerous national certification exams are available for students who complete this course, including American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), American Health Information Association (AHIMA) and others.
  • Certain national certification organizations suggest 6 months to 2 years of practical work experience before pursuing certain national certification exams.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • Intro to International Classification of Diseases, Clinical Modifications & Coding Guidelines
  • Introduction to the organization and use of the ICD-9-CM, ICD-10-CM, and CPT manuals
  • Basics of diagnostic and procedural coding
  • The Health Insurance Claim Form (CMS 1500)
  • HIPAA and Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)
  • Review and practice coding Evaluation and Management (E&M) services
  • Review and practice coding from anesthesia, surgery, radiology, medicine, and the pathology/laboratory sections of the CPT
  • CPT Modifiers, E and V Codes, and Late Effects
  • Coding surgical procedure and medical procedures for the cardiovascular, integumentary, male/female reproductive systems, maternity care and delivery
  • Coding for general surgery, radiology, pathology, diagnostic, therapeutic and laboratory services and the Level II National Codes
  • Tracing delinquent claims & insurance issues
  • Third-party reimbursement issues
  • Development of and Improvements to the ICD-10-CM Coding Manual
  • Examination of the ICD-10-PCS system

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

To learn about this program call Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu 

The phlebotomist is a vital member of the clinical laboratory team, whose main function is to obtain patient’s blood specimens by venipuncture and micro-collection for testing purposes. Phlebotomists are employed throughout the healthcare system including in hospitals, neighborhood health centers, medical group practices, HMOs, public health facilities, veterans' hospitals and insurance carriers. The demand for phlebotomy technicians has increased substantially with the overall complexity of healthcare services and the risks of infectious disease. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for phlebotomy technicians is anticipated to grow by 25% until 2026, which is fast compared to the average in most occupations. This implies the creation of 30,000 jobs.

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $1,599 (90 hours of instruction)
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Phlebotomy Technician Program

The Phlebotomy Technician Program prepares professionals to collect blood and other specimens from clients for the purpose of laboratory analysis. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Process and procedures for collecting blood specimens for laboratory analysis
  • All aspects of blood collection and related procedures
  • The order of draw
  • Universal precautions
  • Skills to perform venipunctures completely and safely
  • Terminology and related anatomy and physiology

Educational Requirements

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • Several state and national certification exams exist to test the competency of aspiring phlebotomy technicians.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • The history of phlebotomy and the healthcare setting
  • Quality assurance and legal issues
  • Infection control, safety, first aid and personal wellness
  • Universal precautions including safety protocols and infection control
  • Laboratory operations (e.g. safety, quality control)
  • Blood banks and blood typing, lab departments and personnel
  • Medical terminology and laboratory theory
  • Human anatomy and physiology of the circulatory system
  • Specimen collection, processing and handling
  • Blood collection equipment, additives and order of draw
  • Venipuncture specimen collection procedures
  • Capillary puncture equipment and procedures
  • Special collections and point-of-care testing
  • Arterial puncture procedures
  • Non-blood specimens and tests
  • Pediatric and geriatric blood collection
  • Blood and blood composition, blood tubes, coagulation, venipuncture protocols, etc.
  • Heel puncture, protocol, practice and syringe draws
  • Respiratory, pneumonia and TB isolation protocol
  • Laboratory skills and simulated/animated labs

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

To learn about this program, contact Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu 

As kidney failure continues to be a growing national health problem, kidney disease is driving the growing demand for well-trained dialysis technicians. Dialysis technicians are employed in hospitals, outpatient clinics and other medical facilities. While most technician training has historically been done “on-the-job,” today’s healthcare employers are seeking well-trained technicians who possess the necessary knowledge and skills to fill this growing number of positions quickly.

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $1,299 (50 hours of instruction)
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Dialysis Technician Program

This Dialysis Technician Program provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to perform the duties required of dialysis technicians. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Specific procedures to operate kidney dialysis machines
  • Preparation of the dialyzer, reprocessing and delivery systems
  • Equipment maintenance
  • Skills to monitor and record a patient’s vital signs
  • The process for a dialysis teams’ administration of local anesthetics and drugs as needed
  • Assessment of patients for any complications that occur during a procedure
  • Patient training for at-home dialysis treatment and techniques to provide emotional support patients need for self-care

Educational Requirements

  • Dialysis technicians should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • This program is designed to cover the key objectives of the leading dialysis technician certification exams. Although some students do immediately pursue certain certifications, most national exams require job experience for formal dialysis technician certification.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • Knowledge and use of aseptic techniques and standard precautions
  • Renal physiology and the pathology of renal failure
  • How to perform and record physical measurements including weight and vital signs
  • Principles of hemodialysis and hematological aspects
  • Dialyzer reuse preparation, dialysate and delivery systems
  • Basic body chemistry including fluid and electrolyte balance
  • Clinical manifestations of end-stage renal disease
  • Routine aspects of hemodialysis
  • Dietary regulation and medication problems relating to dialysis
  • Acute renal failure and dialysis
  • Kidney transplantation
  • Peritoneal dialysis
  • Diabetes and hemodialysis
  • Pediatric hemodialysis
  • End-stage renal disease in the elderly
  • Composition of dialysate solution
  • Anticoagulation and heparin administration
  • Handling of hazardous materials

Click to enroll

Contact

Call Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu

The need for Pharmacy Technicians continues to grow with demand expected to increase substantially. Technicians work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in hospitals, home infusion pharmacies, community pharmacies and other healthcare settings. This high demand for pharmacy technicians is the result of a multitude of factors including the constant availability of new drugs, the national shortage of registered pharmacists, the establishment of certified pharmacy technicians, and the aging population.

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $1,299 (50 hours of instruction)
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Pharmacy Technician Program

This program will prepare students to enter the pharmacy field and to pursue certification including the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam. This course covers the following key areas and topics:  

  • Pharmacy calculations
  • Medical terminology specific to the pharmacy
  • Skills to read and interpret prescriptions
  • Review of the top 200 drugs
  • Skills to identify drugs by generic and brand names
  • Dosage calculations, I.V. flow rates, drug compounding, and dose conversions
  • Dispensing of prescriptions, inventory control, and billing and reimbursement

Educational Requirements

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • The Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s (PTCB) is the national certification exam.
  • Numerous states now require PTCB certification to work as a pharmacy technician.
  • Certain national and state pharmacy technician certification exams are available.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • The history of pharmacy and healthcare
  • Pharmacy technician role and responsibilities
  • Pharmacy technician certification and registration process
  • Types of pharmacies including the hospital pharmacy, retail practice, long-term care practice, mail order pharmacy, home care pharmacies and others
  • Drug regulation and control
  • Pharmaceutical terminology and related anatomy
  • Parts of the prescription and labeling
  • Pharmacy calculations and math review
  • Pharmacy measures and abbreviations
  • Routes and formulations
  • Parenterals and compounding
  • Basic biopharmaceutics
  • Aseptic technique and the handling of sterile products
  • Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)
  • Basics of IV solutions and calculating 24-hour supply of IV solutions
  • Factors affecting drug activity
  • Information and pharmacy resources
  • Inventory management and financial issues
  • Brand names and generic drugs
  • Drug names and drug classes

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

To learn about this program, contact Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu

The Dental Assisting Program prepares students for entry-level positions in one of the fastest growing healthcare professions. With the national increase in healthcare-related services and the national shortage of healthcare professionals, the need for dental assistants is growing substantially. With a growing workforce over 300,000 strong, a career in dental assisting ranks as the fourth fastest growing occupation in the healthcare technician field. 

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $1,299 (60 hours of instruction)
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Dental Assistant Program

The purpose of this program is to familiarize students with all areas of administrative and clinical dental assisting focusing on the responsibilities required to function as an assistant in a dental practice. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Introduction to the dental office and history of dentistry and dental assisting
  • Legal aspects of dentistry including policies and guidelines
  • Introductory oral anatomy, dental operatory and dental equipment
  • Introductory tooth structure including primary and permanent teeth
  • The oral cavity and related structures
  • Dental hand-pieces, sterilization and other areas

Educational Requirements

  • Dental assistants and aides should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • Students who complete this comprehensive course would be prepared to sit for the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB) – Radiation Health and Safety (RHS) exam, and the DANB – Infection Control Exam (ICE).
  • In many states, DANB-RHS certification is required to work in dental radiography.
  • In addition to facilitating entry-level administrative positions, this course is ideal for students interested in pursuing a future formal dental hygienist program.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • The dental assisting profession and history of dentistry
  • Dental anatomy and physiology
  • Tooth charting, tooth surfaces and classification of restorations on a tooth
  • Parts of the jaw and areas of the mouth
  • Oral health and preventions of dental disease
  • Infection control in dentistry and occupational health and safety
  • Patient information and assessment
  • Foundation of clinical dentistry
  • Dental radiology
  • Single crown restoration, bridge, implant, partial denture and full denture
  • Dental equipment, accessories and treatment room
  • Dental hand pieces and accessories
  • Dental cements and impression materials
  • Coding of radiology services and using ICD-10-CM codes
  • Assisting in comprehensive dental care
  • Dental administration and communication skills

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

To learn about this program, contact Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu

Medical administrative assistants primarily work in doctor’s offices, clinics, outpatient settings, hospitals and other healthcare settings. Medical administrative assistants, medical secretaries and medical records clerks are all positions in great demand. The growth and the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system have resulted in a substantial increase in the need for qualified medical administrative assistants. 

Quick Facts

  • Tuition: $1,299 (50 hours of instruction)
  • Register now
  • Contact: Call 336-334-7810 for more information

The Medical Administrative Assistant Program

This program prepares students to function effectively in many of the administrative and clerical positions in the healthcare industry. It provides students a well-rounded introduction to medical administration that delivers the skills students require to obtain an administrative medical assistant position or advance within their current healthcare career. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • History and background of the medical assisting profession
  • Interpersonal skills, medical ethics and basic medical law
  • Telephone techniques and skills for scheduling appointments
  • Medical terminology
  • Basics of insurance billing and coding
  • Medical records management and management of practice finances

Educational Requirements

  • Medical administrative assistants should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • Several national certification options are available to student who complete this course.

Detailed Course Topics Covered

  • An overview of the healthcare industry and expectations for a healthcare professional
  • Role of the medical administrative assistant
  • History of medicine, medicine and the law, medical malpractice, medical ethics, and medical practice specialties
  • Ethical and legal issues, fraud abuse and compliance
  • Office and patient communication techniques, appointment scheduling and general office duties
  • Technology in the healthcare environment
  • Basic terminology used in the medical office
  • Medical records management, confidentiality of the medical record, initiating a medical record for a new client and filing reports in the medical record
  • HIPAA review and patient bill of rights and confidentiality
  • Financial and practice management
  • Health insurance coverage, and billing and coding procedures
  • Professional fees, billing and collecting procedures, accounting systems and credit arrangements
  • Medical accounting, financial statements, cost analysis and budgets for the medical practice
  • Specimen collection, laboratory safety, and federal and state regulations
  • Assisting with medical emergencies
  • Career development

Tuition includes all textbooks, workbooks and related course material.

Click to enroll

Contact

To learn about this program, contact Pat White at 336-334-7810 or email whitep@ncat.edu

Extended Campus
North Carolina A&T State University
1020 E. Wendover Ave., Suite 101
Greensboro, NC 27405
336-334-7810
ExtendedCampus@ncat.edu