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Medical assisting student checking another student's ear

Allied Health ProfessionalCertificates

Earning a certificate is an affordable way to gain skills so you can quickly enter the workforce. Aims offers certificate programs for three allied health professional career paths.

For a limited time, the Care Forward Colorado program may cover your tuition for these certificates.

Medical Clinical Assistant Certificate

Gain the skills to become a medical clinical assistant. Learn to perform blood draws, injections, EKGs and urinalysis, electronic medical records (EHR) and get practice in providing direct patient care.

Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Introduces students to customer service theory and techniques specifically in the healthcare arena. This course will discuss therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and negotiation, as well as employee/employer relations. Exploration of diverse populations and cultural sensitivity will be addressed. Course is not repeatable for credit.

2
required

Provides an in-depth study of the structure of medical terms with emphasis on using and combining common prefixes, roots and suffixes. This course includes terms related to major body systems, oncology, and psychiatry as well as clinical laboratory and diagnostic procedures, and imaging, and provides accepted pronunciation of terms and relative use in the healthcare setting. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Introduces the administrative duties specifically used in medical offices. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at  for contact information. Co-Requisite: MAP 1020. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Corequisites
MAP 1020
4
required

Provides an overview of pharmacology language, abbreviations, systems of measurement and conversions. The Controlled Substances Act, prescriptions, forms of medications, patient care applications, drug classifications/interactions, and safety in drug therapy and patient care are presented. Information regarding the measurement of medications, dosage calculations, routes of administration, and commonly prescribed drugs in the medical office is provided. Course is not repeatable for credit.

3
required

Introduces basic, routine laboratory skills and techniques for collection, handling, and examination of laboratory specimens often encountered in the ambulatory care setting. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Co-Requisite: MAP 2040. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Corequisites
MAP 2040
4
required

Provides hands on experience with clinical skills required in medical offices. Delivers theory and skills presentations allowing for students to properly demonstrate techniques for a variety of medical needs. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Co-Requisite: MAP 2080. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional.C_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Corequisites
MAP 2080
4
required

Provides the opportunity to supplement coursework with practical work experience related to their educational program, working under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required

*
0 to 12
* *MAP 2080 must be taken for 5.5 credits. 
Total Credits 25.5

Medical Front Office Certificate

Gain the skills to become a medical administrative assistant. Learn medical business-related tasks including insurance billing and coding, electronic health records (EHR), medical office financial management and patient scheduling.

Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Introduces students to customer service theory and techniques specifically in the healthcare arena. This course will discuss therapeutic communication, conflict resolution and negotiation, as well as employee/employer relations. Exploration of diverse populations and cultural sensitivity will be addressed. Course is not repeatable for credit.

2
required

Introduces the administrative duties specifically used in medical offices. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at  for contact information. Co-Requisite: MAP 1020. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Corequisites
MAP 1020
4
required

Covers the practical uses of accounts and records with emphasis on accounting principles and analysis for use in a medical office. This course introduces outpatient coding with an ultimate goal to present a clear picture of medical procedures and services performed, such as Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes, correlating the diagnosis, symptom, complaint or condition, and International Classifications of Diseases (ICD) codes, thus establishing the medical necessity required for third-party reimbursement. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Co-Requisite: MAP 1010. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Corequisites
MAP 1010
4
required

Provides supervised placement in contracted facility for guided experience in the psychomotor, cognitive and affective learning domains acquired in an educational program. Positions are non-paid. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required

0 to 12
* * Students must complete 3 credits of MOT 1081
required

Focuses on bringing acquired knowledge to issues faced specifically by medical practice managers and is the culmination of knowledge the student has learned in the program. Includes management priorities, principles of practice management, financial, clinical, personnel, and service, financial management control, information management systems, marketing, managed care contracting and negotiations, basic business policies of medical office compliance, coding and documentation. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Medical Assisting department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required

4
Total Credits for Medical Assistant Front Office Certificate 17

Nurse Aide Certificate

This 5-to-6-week program gives you the knowledge and hands-on lab and clinical skills to prepare for a state exam and become a certified nurse aide. Learn basic care techniques including helping with personal hygiene and grooming, eating and drinking, taking vital signs and using assistive medical equipment. For more detailed information about this certificate, visit aims.edu/degrees-certificates/nurse-aide.

Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Prepares the student to perform the fundamental skills of the nurse aide. Basic nursing skills, communication skills, restorative services, personal care skills, safety and emergency care issues are covered. Includes knowledge and/or principles of asepsis, OSHA and HIPAA regulations. Ethical behaviors, cultural sensitivity and principles of mental health will be addressed, as well as patient/resident rights. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the nurse aide department for more information. See the department web page at  for contact information. Co-Requisite: NUA 1070. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/nurse-aide_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/nurse-aide

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor

Course Corequisites
NUA 1070
4
required

Applies knowledge and skill gained in NUA 101 to patient care. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the nurse aide department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Co-Requisite: NUA 1001. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 6 credit hours.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/nurse-aide_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/nurse-aide

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor

Course Corequisites
NUA 1001
0.25 to 6
Total Credits for Certificate 5

Phlebotomy Certificate

Gain the skills to become a phlebotomist at a hospital, clinic, lab or medical practice. Study and practice venipuncture, capillary puncture and special collection procedures, and learn quality control, infection prevention and laboratory computer systems.

Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Covers the duties associated with the practice of venipuncture, capillary puncture, and special collection procedures. This course provides experience with quality control, infection control, safety procedures, as well as laboratory computer systems. Successful completion of this course, with an adequate number of blood draws, will constitute eligibility for application for a National Phlebotomy Registry Examination. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Phlebotomy department for more information. See the department web page at  for contact information. Course is not repeatable for credit.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required

4
required

Provides students with the opportunity to supplement coursework with practical work experience related to their educational program. Students work under the immediate supervision of experienced personnel at the business location and with the direct guidance of the instructor. Department approval is required. This course has admission requirements.  Please call or email the Phlebotomy department for more information. See the department web page at for contact information. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours.https://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional_blankhttps://www.aims.edu/degrees-certificates/allied-health-professional

Course Prerequisites

Permission of instructor is required

0 to 12
HPR 1080 Credits  Students must take 4 credits of HPR 1080 (Phlebotomy Internship)
Total Credits for Certificate 8

Sterile Instrument Processing Certificate

Gain skills to work in healthcare materials management. Learn how to care for, handle and sterilize surgical instruments.

Row Groupings Prerequisites:
Prerequisites:
  • Current CPR card prior to clinical entry, criminal background check with no disqualifying offenses, and drug screen.
  • Must meet current minimum reading assessment.
Row Groupings Certificate Requirements: Credits
required

Reviews the job skills needed for the sterile processing technician. Includes the fundamentals of the central services department, instrument processing and important regulatory protocols. Includes a comprehensive review of medical terminology, anatomy and microbiology. Infection prevention and important environmental control and safety factors are included. The importance of professionalism, clinical advancement and workplace communication is presented. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Sterile Processing Technician majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
SPI 1001
4
required

Reviews hands on knowledge and job skills needed by the sterile processing technician. Includes a comprehensive review of surgical instrumentation, including instrument categories, design and construction, assembly, care and maintenance. Tools and equipment utilized for instrument processing is presented. Instrument decontamination, cleaning, processing and various methods of sterilization is discussed. Differential tuition rates apply. Restricted to Sterile Processing Technician majors only. Course is not repeatable for credit.

Course Corequisites
SPI 1000
4
required

Complete 400 hours of clinical internship in the sterile processing department. Restricted to Sterile Processing Technician majors only. Course is repeatable with a maximum of 12 credit hours.

Course Prerequisites

SPI 1000 and SPI 1001 with grades of "C" or better

0 to 12
Note: *Students must complete 9 credits of SPI 1081
Total Credits for Certificate 17