Watsonville Adult Education Programs: Pathways to Healthcare Careers and Academic Advancement
Watsonville/Aptos/Santa Cruz Adult Education (WASCAE) provides diverse programs designed to equip students with the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in the healthcare industry and for academic advancement. These programs cater to a wide range of interests and career goals, from entry-level positions to preparation for advanced studies, while adhering to the principles of equal opportunity and providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities. New students can register online or in person before meeting with a counselor to discuss their goals and choose the right path. Returning students who attended WASCAE in the last two semesters can register directly in class. High school students seeking to make up credits may also enroll in adult school on a space-available basis at the Green Valley Center.
Healthcare Career Programs
WASCAE offers a variety of programs designed to prepare students for in-demand healthcare roles. These programs combine theoretical knowledge with practical skills, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for the challenges of the healthcare environment. Most clinical facilities require students to accept the flu and COVID-19 vaccines before an internship or clinical. All courses require proof of a high school diploma or GED and a reading and math entrance exam to participate. The front office staff will administer these entrance exams before the course starts.
Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
This program trains students to provide essential patient care in long-term care facilities. Students will learn the theory and skills needed to pass the California Department of Public Health CNA exam. Key topics include body mechanics, infection control, patient rights, vital signs, and personal care. Students will participate in direct patient care at a long-term care facility. Theory must be completed before clinical instruction. Enrollment is limited to 8 students.
Medical Assistant
This program focuses on training students to assist healthcare professionals with clinical and administrative tasks in a medical office setting. Clinical instruction includes infection control, preparing patients for examination and treatment, point of care testing, phlebotomy, and EKG. Administrative instruction includes patient education and an introduction to medical law and ethics. Students will participate in laboratory exercises to enhance their ability to perform in a medical office.
Medical Administrative Assistant
This 50-hour course is designed to prepare students for administrative and clerical positions within the healthcare industry. The program covers essential background information on the medical assisting profession, interpersonal skills, medical ethics and law, medical terminology, basics of insurance billing and coding, telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, medical records management, and management of practice finances. This program is intended to provide students with a well-rounded introduction to medical administration so that a student can gain the necessary skills required to obtain a medical administrative assistant position in the health care field. This program meets the necessary requirements to take the National Workforce Career Association (NWCA) Medical Administrative Assistant (MAAC) Exam and the National Health Career Association Certified Medical Assistant (CMAA) exam. Medical Administrative Assistants, Medical Secretary, and Medical Records Clerks are all positions in great demand.
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Introduction to Health Careers
This foundational course provides essential information applicable to any health career program. Students will learn about body systems, diseases, medications, treatments, and word pronunciation. This course will benefit anyone interested in enrolling in a health career program. NOTE: A certificate of completion is provided after this course.
Personal Care Assistant
This course prepares students to assist individuals with disabilities who live at home. Students will learn how to help clients with bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, and moving around the home. In addition, students will learn how to provide emotional support and accompany clients to medical appointments.
Pre-Clinical Dental Assisting
This course aims to familiarize students with pre-clinical dental assisting and provide training in the skills required to function as an assistant in the dental practice. This course covers the following key areas and topics: the history of dentistry and dental assisting, introduction to the dental office, the legal aspects of dentistry, policies and guidelines, introduction to oral anatomy, dental operatory, dental equipment, introduction to the tooth structure, primary and permanent teeth, the oral cavity and related structures, proper patient positioning, dental hand-pieces, sterilization, and other areas. This course is ideal for students pursuing a future Dental Hygienist program.
EKG Technician
This course prepares students to function as EKG Technicians and to take the National Health Career CET Exam. It will include the anatomy and physiology of the heart, medical ethics, legal aspects of patient contact, electrocardiography, and stress testing.
Pharmacy Technician
This program prepares students to work as pharmacy technicians in retail or other pharmacies and take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board’s PTCB exam. Course content includes pharmacy medical terminology, the history of pharmacy, the pharmacy practice in multiple environments, pharmacy calculations and measurements, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Through classroom lectures and hands-on labs, students will review dosage calculations, drug classifications, the “top 200 drugs”, I.V.
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Academic Advancement Programs
WASCAE also offers programs designed to help students complete their high school diploma or prepare for college and career training. These programs provide individualized instruction and support to meet the unique needs of each student.
High School Diploma Program
This fully accredited program is designed for students wishing to complete a high school diploma. Graduates must be within 30 credits of finishing. Classes offered include: Applied Art, English, Health, Social Studies, Math, Science.
Transitions…Pathways to Employment or College
This program is offered to students near completion of their GED/HiSET or HSD who are ready to transition to college or a specific career technical skill based program.
WorkKeys Curriculum
This program is designed to teach students what they need to know to pass the WorkKeys exam. An individualized course of study based on assessment, schedule, and goals will be designed for each student enabling students to earn their high school diploma or pass the High School Equivalency exams while improving their skills for college or career training. Courses are offered in teacher-directed classrooms with a blend of online, direct and individualized instruction.
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