Health Careers

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Are you ready to begin a new career in the growing field of healthcare?

Health Careers at Odessa College offers a variety of certificate programs that will get you started!

Programs are: Certified Nursing Assistant, Coding, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Office Skills, Medication Aide, Pharmacy Technician, and Phlebotomy Technician. Other offerings include CPR training, EMT training, and medication aide renewal classes. Please click on the links above for additional information about each program.

Certified Nursing Aide

A fast growing medical career, with emphasis on rehabilitation and long-term care needs of an increasing elderly population.  This course will deliver the curriculum of Department of Aging and Disability services (DADs), and as with all our healthcare program emphasis will be placed on compassionate care.

Are there any requirements before I can start?

To protect our student’s health and the health of patients, Odessa College (OC) Continuing Education has contracted with an outside vendor to support and secure your background and immunization information. This verification includes a system of required background checks, immunization verifications, and drug testing for all healthcare students.  Health Career students must meet industry standards in these areas to assure that, upon successful completion of the program, students will be employable in the highly regulated healthcare industry. 

Details regarding the requirements will be provided to students at the time of registration.  The fee for this product only (Verified Credentials Health checks) will be assessed as a course fee at the time of registration and will range from $28.40 to $117.80 based on whether the student has already participated in this process at an earlier date.

Health Sciences Courses Admission Checklist

Dental Assistant

Dental Assistants aid dentists during patient examinations and treatment. Duties may include preparing the patient for treatment, providing the dentist with proper instruments during treatment procedures, exposing radiographs, making sure all instruments are sterilized and disinfected and helping in the day-to-day management of the office. The Dental Assistant program is a total of 166, with 66 hours of in-classroom instructions and 100 clinical hours. Program cost is $3,200.  Payment Plan and Scholarships Available.

Admission Requirements:

Massage Therapy

Massage Therapists can work out of the home, in health care organizations (physician’s office, hospital, clinics, etc.), nursing homes, health clubs and fitness centers, spas and resorts, beauty and hair salons, cruise ships, and for sports teams and special events. The Massage Therapy program is 614 total hours and is offered in the evening and on weekends. Program cost is $2,599.  Payment Plan and Scholarships Available.

Admission Requirements:
  • Drivers license or Identification card
  • Social Security card (name must match ID)
  • Copy of High School Diploma/GED or College Transcript
  • Reading requirements 70% or better
  • Bacterial Meningitis vaccine
  • Pass criminal background check

Phlebotomy Technician

Phlebotomists draw blood samples by venipuncture, skin puncture or arterial collection for medical tests and blood donations. This program is a total of 210 hours, with 90 hours in the classroom and 120 hours of clinical. This program is available during the day and in the evening. Program cost is $697.  Payment Plan and Scholarships Available.

Admission Requirements:
  • Drivers license or Identification card
  • Social Security card (name must match ID)
  • Reading requirements 70% or better
  • Copy of High School Diploma/ GED or College Transcript
  • Proof of personal health insurance
  • Pass criminal background check
  • Provide an updated Immunization record 
    (Please click here for list of required immunizations)
  • Two (2) weeks before class ends students must pass a basic drug test to be able to do clinical

Coming Soon!

Coding

The Coding program teaches students medical office skills, anatomy and physiology, the fundamentals of coding rules, conventions, and guidelines using the clinical classification systems, and advanced coding techniques with emphasis on case studies, health records, and federal regulations regarding prospective payment systems and methods of reimbursement. Students will also become CPR and HIPAA certified. The program is 266 hours.  Program cost is $1,500.  Payment Plan and Scholarships Available.

Admission Requirements:
  • Medical Office Skills program
  • High School Diploma or GED
  • Drivers license or Identification card
  • Social Security card (name must match ID)
  • Reading test results 70 or better
  • Pass criminal background check

Medical Office Skills

The Medical Office Skills program provides students with the skills necessary to enter the high-demand clerical healthcare profession. Students will learn about medical terminology, medical office procedures, medical coding and billing, as well as HIPAA and CPR.The program is 128 hours. Program cost is $745.  Payment Plan and Scholarships Available.

Admission Requirements:
  • Drivers license or Identification card
  • Social Security card (name must match ID)
  • Reading requirements 70% or better
  • Pass criminal background check

Medication Aide

Medication Aides assists in the care of the ill or injured by assisting in distributing medication in a nursing home facility. The Medication aide class is 140 hours, which includes 10 hours of clinical. Program cost is $430.  Scholarships Available.

Admission Requirements:

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Contact

Belinda Glover, M.Ed 
Health Careers Director
432-335-6539
bglover@odessa.edu