Your imagination can turn possibilities into reality.
Only in one of many Health Career Opportunity Programs, and only on one of EPCC's campuses
General Information
Health Occupations Programs First, congratulations on choosing a career in healthcare!
At
El Paso Community College, you can choose from numerous healthcare majors such
as:
|
Biomedical Equipment Repair |
Medical Laboratory Technology |
|
Community Health Advocacy |
Medical Transcription |
|
Dental Assisting |
Nursing |
|
Dental Hygiene |
Ophthalmic Technology |
|
Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
Pharmacy Technology |
|
Dietetic Technology |
Physical Therapist Assistant |
|
Emergency Medical Services |
Radiation Therapy |
|
Health Information Technology |
Radiology Technology |
|
Medical Assisting |
Respiratory Care Technology |
|
Medical Coding |
Surgical Technology |
|
Vocational Nursing |
Many of these programs have special entrance requirements in addition to the College's
standard admissions requirements. Some of these requirements are mandated by state
or federal legislation. Others are based on the standards set by accrediting agencies.
You will need to attend a Health Careers Orientation and meet with your counselor
to review the requirements for the specific program you have selected.
If you have a disability that requires special assistance, your counselor will work
with our faculty and the Center for Students With Disabilities to meet your needs.
If you are still undecided about which health career would best suit your talents,
you might consider taking HPRS 1201: Introduction to Health Professions, which gives
you a broad perspective of career choices. Because healthcare is such a growing
field, there are many students applying each semester for a limited number of slots.
While you may declare a Health Occupations major, this is no guarantee that you
will enter the program you’ve chosen. To be eligible for the applicant pool, you
must first:
- Attend a Health Careers Orientation Session
- Pay a one time Health Occupations admissions fee
- Complete Accuplacer exam with a score at or above the program’s cut-off score
- Complete mandatory courses and other program requirements
Background Checks
Changes are taking place within healthcare facilities nationally. These changes
directly affect all health programs at EPCC. The Joint Commission of Accreditation
of Hospitals Organization (JCAHO), which accredits healthcare facilities across
the country, enforced background screening in September 2004 and has set requirements
mandating that students in a healthcare field must now complete the same background
check as hospital employees. A background investigation must be completed prior
to your acceptance into most health program or course at EPCC.
Students are responsible for the cost associated with the background investigation,
and the investigation must be conducted by an approved company. Your clearance will
be sent directly to the dean/director of your program at the college. There are
two levels of background screening. Level I includes all students, while Level II
is specifically for students already licensed or certified in any area.
Level I requires:
- Social Security Number Verification
- Criminal Search ( 7 years or up to 5 criminal searches )
- Violent Sexual Offender and Predator Registry Search
- OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities
- GSA List of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs
- US Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), List of Specially Designated
Nationals (SDN)
- State Exclusion List
www.hhsc.state.us
Level II requires:
- All of Level I elements License verification
- Certification Verification Employment \
- Verification (Include reason for separation and eligibility for re-hire for each
employer)
Deadlines
There are different ranking dates for each of the health programs. Please check
with the information in the catalog as well as with your health occupations counselor
to make sure you have completed all requirements by the deadlines. You will receive
a letter from the Specialized Admissions Office once you are accepted into the program.
Please make sure the college has your current mailing address at all times.
Health Requirements
Acceptance and enrollment in any Health Occupations program requires that you submit
a chest x ray or tine test for tuberculosis and proof of immunization against Hepatitis
B, Varicella, and Rubella. You must also have had booster shots for tetanus and
diphtheria within 10 years prior to enrollment. If you were born after January 1957
and have no history of measles and/or mumps, the college requires that you be immunized
against these diseases as well. All students are also required to have a physical
exam by a doctor or nurse practitioner licensed to practice in the United States.
These policies are mandated by OSHA and the Texas Department of Health to protect
both you and the patients you will encounter during clinical training.
Other Information
In addition to tuition, Health Occupations students enrolled in certain classes must budget for professional practice insurance. Check the FEES section of the class
schedule for the semester in which you'll be taking these courses for the cost insurance
premium. The premium you pay for one course will cover all other courses requiring
insurance for that semester. You will also pay an additional fee for each course
that requires lab.
Almost all our programs include a least one semester of clinical experience at a
local hospital or healthcare facility. Transportation to and from these sites is
your responsibility.
Some programs may require you to purchase a specific uniform and/or equipment. These
must be purchased at your own cost.
For more information please contact:
Souraya Hajjar, MPH
Health Grants Manager
Rio Grande Campus, Room A-118 100
W. Rio Grande
El Paso, Texas. 79901
Tel: (915)831-4143 Fax: (915)831-4125
shajjar@epcc.edu