Cochise County Community College District

The Medical Assistant Certificate provides training for entry-level employment in a medical practice setting, with emphasis on the routine administrative and clinical tasks required in the day-to-day operation of offices and clinics of health professionals. It introduces students to telephone techniques and other front office functions such as filing and coding insurance claims, scheduling patients, and keeping electronic medical records. It also introduces them to back office skills that include taking vital signs, assisting with electrocardiograms and other special procedures, using medical terminology, and administering medication. The certificate’s externship course offers practical experience in a medical office setting. Prior to certificate completion, students take the Medical Assistant certification examination to meet the national requirements as a Certified Medical Assistant.

The Practical Nursing Certificate prepares students to become Licensed Practical Nurses by enabling them to provide nursing care to clients of all ages across all cultures. Emphasis is on theory applied through laboratory and clinical experiences. Upon successful completion students are eligible to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) for licensing by the Arizona State Board of Nursing as practical nurses.

The Nursing Assistant Certificate, which requires one semester to complete, is approved by the Arizona State Board of Nursing to prepare students for nursing assistant certification. Emphasis is on communication, patient safety, anatomy and physiology, specific patient-care skills, and patient rights. Includes the nursing process and the legal and professional responsibilities of the nursing assistant. Also covers the basic physical, psychosocial, and cultural needs of all patients, with special emphasis on the geriatric population.