Health Sciences and Wellness Career Pathway

Careers in dental, nursing, physical therapy, radiography, and wellness fields await students who complete degrees in this Career Pathway. Students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to become successful healthcare professionals in occupations that serve their community.

Following are the available programs of study related to the Health and Wellness Career Pathway:

Associate in Arts

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Physical Education

This program prepares students for transfer to undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree programs in related areas of kinesiology, exercise science, sports medicine, health promotion, and wellness.

Program information

Associate in Applied Science Degree – Career Technical

 Dental hygiene student performing a supervised exam on a woman.

Dental Hygiene

This program teaches you how to look for signs of oral diseases (such as gingivitis), provide preventive care and oral hygiene, apply preventive treatments (such as fluoride or sealants), and assist dentists.

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Emergency Medical Science

Paramedics are credentialed healthcare professionals who evaluate illnesses and injuries, provide advanced life support, transport people to hospitals, and more.

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Health Information Technology

Students will learn skills to handle the technical aspects of patient health records such as coding, reimbursement, research, system design, and quality management within healthcare organizations.

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 Female medical assisting student

Medical Assisting

With this program, you can work in clerical and administrative positions in medical and dental offices, hospitals, insurance companies, and other healthcare-related businesses.

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 A female medical coding and billing student.

Medical Office Administration, including Billing and Coding

With this program, you can work in clerical and administrative positions in medical and dental offices, hospitals, insurance companies, and other healthcare-related businesses.

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Nursing

Registered nurses provide hands-on care for patients, as well as emotional comfort for patients' families. They work to help people achieve and maintain health, develop plans of nursing care, and coordinate plans of care with the healthcare team.

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Pharmacy Technology

Career options include retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, mail order, assisted living, home health, nuclear medicine, and medical insurance. Learn through hands-on experience and rotations through local pharmacies.

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Physical Therapist Assistant

For this option, you'll work in direct patient care, providing rehabilitation to patients and clients in a variety of healthcare settings, under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.

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Radiography

Learn to use radiation to produce images of the human body in hospitals, urgent care centers, clinics, physicians' offices, government agencies, imaging centers, and industry.

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Surgical Technology

In this program, learn how to prepare the operating room, including the sterile field; set up surgical equipment, supplies, and solutions; pass instruments, fluids, and supplies to the surgeon; and prepare and manage surgical equipment.

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Associate in Applied Science - Dual Enrollment

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Nursing – NCP-RIBN Dual Enrollment with N.C. A&T

This transfer program is four years of seamless nursing education leading to two degrees – an associate degree (from GTCC) and a bachelor’s degree (from UNCG or N.C. A&T).

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Diplomas

 Dental assisting student works on a model of teeth.

Dental Assisting

You'll learn about patient care, treatment preparation, dental X-rays, lab tasks, sterilizing instruments, and other duties at a dentist's office.

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 Nursing students stand around an electronic table that features the human skeletal system.

Practical Nursing

Assist with planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care under the supervision of a registered nurse or other approved licensed healthcare professional.

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Noncredit Training

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Central Sterile Processing and Distribution Technician

In this course, you will learn to properly disinfect, process, store, and issue both sterile and non-sterile supplies and equipment for patient care.

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Nursing Assistant I

Work in a variety of healthcare settings such as nursing homes, hospitals, private homes, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, hospice, and medical doctors' offices.

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Nursing Assistant II

Learn more nursing assistant skills, such as oxygen therapy, sterile dressing change, suction and tracheostomy care, and more.

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Nursing Assistant Refresher

This 48-hour course consists of a brief review of the NA I theory curriculum, selected NA I skills, and preparation for the state written and skill exams that can allow you to be listed on the North Carolina Nurse Aide I Registry.

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 Male therapeutic massage student performs a massage on a client.

Therapeutic Massage

Graduates find jobs and good salaries at spas and salons, massage clinics, chiropractic offices, hotels and resorts, cruise ships, gymnasiums, and self-employment.

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Medication Administration Aide

Certified Nurse Aides with an active listing on the nurse aide registry will be trained to administer medications to long-term care residents.

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Medical Receptionist

Responsibilities include greeting patients, providing clerical support to the admitting staff, answering phone calls, directing callers to the appropriate department or unit, and more.

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Pharmacy Technician Certification

Learn to label prescription bottles; help patients with insurance forms; help with prescriptions by counting pills, measuring medications, and labeling products; verify prescriptions from doctors.

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 A female phlebotomist sticks a prosthetic training arm in phlebotomy class.

Phlebotomy

You will learn to perform blood collection using proper techniques, including vacuum collection devices, syringes, capillary skin puncture, butterfly needles, and blood culture specimen collection.

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 A male technician monitors the readings on several cardiac measuring machines.

Cardiac Monitor Technician

These techs monitor patients' heart activity and interpret heart rhythms; know the anatomy and physiology of the heart and cardiovascular system; understand medical disease processes, terminology, and ethics; and can interpret ECG monitor strips.

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 A male personal fitness trainer in a gym.

Personal Fitness Trainer

Lectures focus on biomechanics, exercise physiology, fitness testing, equipment usage, and health assessments. Training includes role-play with clients, performing proper exercises, presentation skills, and more.

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 A female instructor writes medical terms in Spanish on a whiteboard.

Medical Interpreter — Spanish/English (CHI)

Help patients and their families communicate with doctors, nurses, and other medical staff by learning medical terminology and common words for medical terms in English and Spanish.

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ServSafe Manager

This course will help you keep your kitchen, staff, customers, and family protected with food safety methods, including the basics of handwashing, food-borne pathogens, and more.

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