Applicant Eligibility
To be eligible for the applicant pool, you must first:
- Attend a
Health Careers Orientation Session or complete it online
- Pay a one time Health Occupations admissions fee
- Complete a
TSI test with a score at or above the program’s cut-off score.
- Complete mandatory courses and other program requirements
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.
Background Checks and Substance Abuse Screening
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. EPCC uses Complio, a comprehensive tool from American DataBank for student screening, immunizations and compliance.
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 1 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 2 requires:
- All of Level I elements License verification
- Certification Verification Employment
- Verification (Include reason for separation and eligibility for re-hire for each employer)
Substance abuse screening should be completed no more than 90 days prior to beginning clinical. Students who withdraw from health related coursework for one semester or longer, are required to repeat substance abuse screening and/or background checks testing upon re-enrolling in health related courses.
- If you do not have a Social Security Card, use all zeros when prompted. You will need to bring a photo ID to finalize your background clearance.
Health Requirements - Immunizations & Compliance
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.
A tracking system, Complio, will assist students and coordinators alike to be compliant with immunizations, CPR, First Aid, physical, etc. All students participating in health programs must be part of the American Databank, in order to keep their clinical data in compliance and updated.
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.