Mission Statement

The primary mission of the Patient Care Assisting program is to provide quality educational training designed to meet the current and future needs of the Health Science community. Toward this end the following guidelines are established: assist students to choose, prepare for, enter, and be gainfully employed in the health science career field; offer a program which emphasizes sound fundamentals while responding to the needs of this particular industry; and provide courses to meet current and specific needs of the student and this industry.

Occupational Outlook

O*NET Program Detail

Curriculum Framework

Program Outlook

This program is designed to prepare students for employment as advanced Cross Trained Nursing Assistants, the industry title is Patient Care Technician, or Health Care Technicians, Patient Care Assistants, Nursing Aides and Orderlies, Home Health Aides, Phlebotomists, Electrocardiograph Aides, or Allied Health Assistants; and to provide supplemental training for persons previously or currently employed in any of these occupations. The program offers a broad foundation of knowledge and skills, expanding the traditional role of the nursing assistant.

Program Content

• Planning
• Management
• Finance
• Technical and production skills
• Underlying principles of technology
• Labor issues
• Community and health issues
• Safety

Environmental issues

This program focuses on broad, transferable skills and stresses understanding and demonstration of the above listed elements of the health care industry.

Length of Program

This program is 600 hours in length, or approximately 8 months of full-time enrollment is necessary to complete this program. The program contains several occupational completion points designed to prepare students for various entry level jobs within this occupational area.

Entrance Requirements

• Application.
  • Interview by guidance counselor.
  • Assessment in math, language, and reading
  • Physical Examination.
• Fees:
  • ID $10.00
  • Application fee $15.00
  • Material fee $68.00
  • Tuition $1536.00
  • Books $200.00
  • Miscellaneous fees
    • Background $75.00
    • Physical exam $20+
    • Uniform $25.00
    • Shoes $20.00
    • Stethoscope $15.00
    • Approximate total: $1984.00

Entrance Dates

This program is offered three times a year. Call (305) 557-1100 and speak to a counselor about the next available class.

Career Opportunities

Patient Care Technicians can work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, private homes, clinics, doctor’s offices.

O*NET lists the following occupations that the Patient Care Technician program prepares students to enter:

29-1123.00 Physical Therapists

29-2041.00 Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics

29-9091.00 Athletic Trainers

31-1011.00 Home Health Aides

31-1013.00 Psychiatric Aides

31-9092.00 Medical Assistants

39-6031.00 Flight Attendants

53-3011.00 Ambulance Drivers and Attendants, Except Emergency Medical Technicians

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The United States Department of Education requires the following information be disclosed for all educational programs that are Title IV eligible.

The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) in reporting year 09/10, under Institutional Characteristics, indicates the following average program costs:

Tuition & Fees: $1290.00/program
Room and Board:
No on campus room or board provided
Off campus, not with family: Est. $ 10720/8 month program
Off campus, with family: Est. $ 6040/8 month program
Books and Supplies: $200/year
Other Cost: N/A