Healthcare Core Curriculum
Healthcare careers are varied and many. When pursuing health-related occupations, you will perform specific functions according to a chosen career. The Healthcare Core Curriculum is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU)-approved standardized curriculum. It serves as a pathway for health education, assisting you to explore areas of career interest and develop an awareness of workplace expectations. Possible areas may include direct client care, community health worker, blood drawing, central services technician, and dental office support personnel.
The Healthcare Core Curriculum provides knowledge that is applicable for employment in a wide range of healthcare and human service settings. The HCCC courses provide you with the skills and principles necessary for entry-level positions in healthcare. Coursework includes:
- An overview of career opportunities available
- Roles of healthcare workers
- Licensure or credentialing requirements
- Behaviors suitable for the workplace
- Employer expectations
- Effective communication skills
- Respect for the diversity of staff and clients
- Awareness of client needs
- Legal and ethical implications in healthcare settings
- Safety issues in the workplace
- Medical Terminology
In addition, you will learn a model for effective problem solving that may be applied to workplace-related issues.
Since it is vital to maintain high healthcare standards in all health-related facilities, you will need to pass a background check requirement, meet specific health requirements and show proof of immunity when you begin the Nursing Assistant skill set.
The Healthcare Core Curriculum is intended as a pathway in healthcare-related education. After completion of the Healthcare Core Curriculum, you will apply the skills and knowledge learned to a specific program of interest in healthcare.
Faculty/staff listing
Frequently asked questions
- I have no idea what career I’d like in healthcare. Is this a good place to start?
- This is an excellent way to learn about healthcare careers. The HCCC presents general information that is helpful in determining if a career in health is for you. Topics in the HCCC include information that is common to many health care jobs including working with diversity, safety and standard precautions, communication, ethics.
- What is the difference between Level I and Level II of the HCCC?
- The Level II courses build on information learned in Level I and specializes this into specific content. Level II courses include:
- 2 credits - Nursing Assistant Skills Set
- 1 credit - Medical Dosage Calculations
- 1 credit - Medical Terminology
You may take Level I without taking Level II.
- What careers can I go into if I complete the introductory Level I, HCCC 4 credits?
- HCCC is not geared toward a specific career choice in health care, but rather provides a basic foundation of information regarding health careers in general. It is an entry into several programs at MCTC including:
- Central Services Technician
- Community Health Worker
- Dental Office Support Personnel
- Nursing Assistant Skill Set
- Phlebotomy
- Will I get put on the Nursing Assistant Registry (NAR) after taking the entire HCCC & NATO?
- Yes, you will be placed onto the NAR; however, the Home Health Aide component of the registry will not be included. NAHA 1100 is a 1 credit course that prepares you to work as a Home Health Aide in the community.
- Do I need to take the HCCC in order?
- No, you may take one class or all classes in any order you wish.
- Do I need to take all of the classes to receive credit?
- No, each class is graded individually. Courses that are 0.5 credits are 8 hours long. Courses that are 1.0 credit are 16 hours long. The Nursing Assistant Skill Set is a 2 credit lab that is 64 hours long including a 24 hour clinical.
- Does the Level I, HCCC 4 credit block replace the NAHA 1819 course?
- The 4 credit HCCC does not replace the NAHA course. When the HCCC is taken in its entirety, including the 2 credit skill set (HCCC 1080), the Nursing Assistant Test Out (NATO) may be completed.
