Atlanta Technical College Creates Health Certificate to Boost Students’ Job Prospects
An Atlanta college wants to give students a competitive edge in getting entry-level health care jobs. The answer: a new certificate program that covers the basics.
Learning CPR. Taking blood pressure. Understanding patients’ privacy.
It seems obvious, but students aren’t always exposed to these things before being accepted to a vocational school.
That’s why Atlanta Technical College created a new certificate program in health care science for its associate-degree students.
Queenston Thorpe, who helped create the program, says it gives students a head start.
“Radiology technology, surgical technology, dental hygiene, physical therapy assisting,” Thorpe says. “This is a certificate program that gives them an opportunity to prepare to go into these professions.”
The certificate program will cost the college around $200,000 a year.
Thorpe says there’s a growing demand for health care technicians and assistants. The Georgia Department of Labor continues to expect strong growth from health care and social assistance jobs.