Health Sciences

Students will navigate the many career pathways within the healthcare system. The Nurse Aide courses will qualify students to work in a variety of health care environments, including long-term care, hospitals and home health. Students will also learn about Medical Assisting and will be trained to work in a variety of health care settings, including medical clinics, hospitals, medical offices and in research and development for private companies.

Pathway Topics Covered:

Certified Nursing Assistant

Medical Terminology

Basic Medical Science

Medical Office Administration

Medical Office Financial Administration

Medical Assisting Laboratory

Featured Partners:

The Thompson Career Campus values partnerships with industry, business and postsecondary leaders in NOCO. These partnerships create relevant opportunities for all students to gain a competitive advantage for in-demand jobs, by cultivating professional connections and gaining advanced technical skills.

 

This pathway is open to students in the 11th and 12th grade. Tenth graders are considered on a case by case basis and must be 16 years old by Oct. 1st.  Most local employers require applicants to be 18 years old.

Students must meet the FRCC prerequisites listed below:

• Received “C” or higher in Grade 10 Math. Students will need math skills in the following areas- measuring and understanding conversions; addition/ subtraction and multiplication/division, with “quick math” being an essential skill when making calculations during examinations, adding to medical chart data, etc.
• Received a “C” or higher in both semesters of Grade 10 or 11 English courses or qualifying Accuplacer scores.

2026 Preview Night Power Point with specific pathway information can be found here.

Additional Requirements for Health Science Pathway  

(updated February 2026- subject to change)    

REQUIRED VACCINES/TESTS: 

• Tuberculosis Tests:   

• Students must have a current negative TB test each year. 

• Tests are only valid for one year and should not expire before August 1st 

• Will need to submit documentation of negative test each year – November 1st (year 1 and year 2 of the pathway).  

• Tests options:  

• Skin test (requires 2 visits- 1 to administer test and another 48-72 hours later to read the results) OR  

• Blood test OR  

• Chest x-ray 

• Flu Vaccine (REQUIRED for Nurse Aide and Medical Assisting): 

• Must be for the current season (usually available starting in August).  

• Will need to submit documentation of vaccination each year – November 1st (year 1 and year 2 of the pathway).  

• EXEMPTION:  

• CNA - Only medical exemptions are accepted by FRCC clinical placement sites.  Students will need documentation from a medical provider, and the student will be required to wear a mask while in the facility for nurse aide clinicals. 

• Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)- 2 doses: 

• This vaccine is usually received as a child and requires 2 doses.  Doses can only be given at a minimum of 28 days apart. 

• Many medical providers are recommending a booster as an adult, as some people have shown they have not developed full immunity from the 2 childhood doses.  

• Will need to submit documentation of vaccination in year 2 of the pathway. 

• Hepatitis B (2 or 3 doses, depending on vaccine brand): 

• The series of doses takes 6 months to complete (plan ahead). 

• Will need to submit documentation of vaccination in year 2 of the pathway. 

• Varicella (Chicken Pox): 

• Proof of either 2 Varicella vaccines OR a negative titer (a titer requires blood work for proof).  

• Will need to submit documentation of vaccination or blood titer in year 2 of the pathway. 

• Tdap:  

• Must be current (within the last 10 years). 

• Will need to submit documentation of vaccination in year 2 of the pathway. 

• Recently, there have been many new cases of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in the U.S., so the CDC and Physicians are recommending adult boosters of the combination Tdap vaccine once as an adult. 

RECOMMENDED VACCINES: 

• COVID vaccine:   

• Currently NOT required but is highly recommended (subject to change depending on conditions).  

• IF student has had a COVID vaccination, documentation of COVID date and type will be requested by November 1st   

• Meningococcal Vaccine:   

• This vaccine is recommended to health care workers.  

• The vaccine protects against certain strains of Meningitis, particularly the more serious strains of the disease.  

• The spread of this virus can be airborne and therefore is easily transmitted. 

 

 REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION 

• Must have TWO forms of ID (names must match and not expire before testing) 

• ID #1: Government-issued ID with a photo and signature 

• Driver's License OR 

• Driver’s Permit OR 

• State Identification Card 

• ID #2: Must have same name and signature as ID #1  

• Passport (with signature) OR 

• Social Security card (with signature) OR 

• Credit card/Debit card (with signature) OR 

 

REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECKS/DRUG SCREENING 

• Cost and access/directions will be provided during the pathway; Students DO NOT need to purchase or complete on their own. 

• Background tests must be coordinated with FRCC, Students SHOULD NOT purchase the background checks on their own; they will not be valid.  

• Students will need their social security number and use their full, legal name. 

• The Nurse Aide program requires passage of a background check prior to placement in clinicals. 

• The Medical Assistant program requires a current negative 10-panel drug screen and passage of a background check prior to placement in an internship. 

Students with high school IEPs or 504 Plans who are participating in this program, please read the information from FRCC Disability Support Services (DSS) about accommodations. Students who need accommodations will need to apply to FRCC DSS for accommodations, both academic and work based accommodations. 

FRCC DSS department determines all accommodations on a case-by-case basis. Students in this pathway are considered college students, and therefore fall under college accommodation policies.

Please contact TCC with questions about how to apply for accommodation with FRCC DSS department.

 

Specific certifications offered during the pathway:

1st year- CPR and *CNA**

*The State Board of Nursing requires all CNA candidates must meet the following in order to sit for the certification exam:

-Must be at least 16 years old

-Completed and passed FRCC courses NUA 101 & NUA 170 with a 77% or above. 

-Students must complete 30 hours of a clinical experience, which will be arranged for them, but occurs over a weekend. 

- Submit 2-3 secured and verifiable documents proving your identity, in accordance with HB 06S-1009. 

2nd year- Students have the option to complete their Medical Assisting certification. In order to earn the Medical Assisting certification students must complete 180 hours of shadowing in the medical field.  Students can start earning their shadowing hours in Year 1 of the program and can complete the hours during the two years they are enrolled in the program (including in the summer between) or with a 5 week summer internship at FRCC, immediately following high school graduation. The Thompson School District is currently able to pay tuition for that class. 

Student may also have the opportunity to work towards FRCC certificates: Medical Office Administrative Assistant (MOAA) Certificate.

**Industry Certification in BOLD meets Graduation Guidelines for College & Career-Readiness for English & Math.

Students earn 1.5 credits each semester. This pathway issues the following high school credits:

Please note none of the courses offered at TCC are currently approved by the NCAA.

All students who earn a grade of C- or better on their TCC courses meet the graduation guidelines for college & career-readiness for both English & Math.

1st Semester (Year one of pathway)	.5 Science, 1.0 CTE elective
2nd Semester (Year one of pathway)	.5 Science, 1.0 CTE elective
3rd Semester (Year two of pathway)	.5 English, 1.0 CTE elective
4th Semester (Year two of pathway)	.5 English, 1.0 CTE elective

All students in this pathway are required to register for the concurrent enrollment credit. The Health Science pathway allows students to earn FREE Tuition Community College credit for the work they complete at Thompson Career Campus.* This pathway features the following college credits:

1st Semester (Year one of pathway)	HPR 1011- CPR for Professionals (0.5 credit), MAP 1010- Medical Office Administration (4 credits), HPR 1038- Intro. to Med. Terms (1 credit),
2nd Semester (Year one of pathway)	NUA 1001- Nurse Aide Health Care Skills (4 credits), NUA 1070- Nurse Aide Clinical Experience (1 credit)
3rd Semester (Year two of pathway)	HPR 1032- Disease Process & Treatment (5 credits), MAP 1050- Pharmacology for MA’s (3 credits)
4th Semester (Year two of pathway)	MAP 2038- Med. Assist. Lab (4 credits), MAP 2040- Med. Assist. Skills (4 credits), MAP 2069- National Exam Review  (1 credit)

Are these classes considered Guarantee Transfer college credit? No. Students are encouraged to connect with their preferred college/university advisor to determine the transferability of college credit.

*If the student receives a grade of 'F', 'W' or 'Incomplete' on their college transcript, it could impact future eligibility for financial aid. Students are encouraged to connect with their preferred college/university to learn about the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP). 

What is SAP? Learn more here

Summer Internship Course- Students in their second year of the Medical Assisting who want to earn the FRCC certificate and take the national exam Medical Assistant exam will need to take the summer internship course. Details will be shared with students. Students MAY be responsible for the cost of tuition.

Learn more about all the FRCC Health Science degree and certificate programs.

Northern Colorado Health Sector Partnership- YouTube Channel- Watch videos about current in-demand health care careers.

 

Find college and career opportunities on your student Xello account.

 

Essential Functions/Technical Standards

Front Range Community College has adopted the following standards for admission, progression and graduation of Nurse Aide Program students in clinical courses involving direct client care. These standards are required of all Nurse Aide students to be successful in the program. Candidates for this certificate must be able to meet these minimum standards with or without reasonable accommodations for successful completion of certificate requirements.

These essential functions are typically standard in C.N.A. job descriptions.

Technical Standards:

A. Observation

The student must be able to observe lectures, demonstrations, videos and practice situations in the program. She/he must be able to determine a client’s/resident’s condition, to observe health changes in a client’s condition, and be observant for safety risks and necessary interventions. Observation necessitates the functional use of vision, hearing, tactile and somatic senses to function adequately.

B. Communication

A student must be able to speak and communicate effectively in English with clients and family members, faculty and all members of the health care team. This includes both social and therapeutic communication, both verbal and non-verbal. A student will be required to exhibit effective communication as the sender of information, and the receiver of information. A student must communicate adequately with clients to elicit information regarding pain, safety precautions, resident needs, desires, choices, mood and activity, and to perceive nonverbal communication. A student must be able to report accurate and appropriate information to members of the health care team and to clients, and receive accurate information from the client and the health care team. The student must be able to teach, explain, direct, counsel and provide emotional support to a wide variety of individuals, but especially people of advanced age in the clinical setting. Students must be able to follow directions adequately in routines of care, and in emergency situations. Effective therapeutic communication includes the functional use of speech, hearing, reading, writing and computer literacy.

C. Motor

A student must have sufficient gross and fine motor skills, physical endurance, physical strength, mobility, vision, tactile abilities and sense of smell to carry out nurse aide skills and basic nursing procedures safely, and to operate equipment accurately and safely. A student must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from clients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other manipulation or maneuvers. A student should be able to perform patient care procedures as assigned, including any basic nursing skills, physical and personal care skills of a resident, assisting with mobility, nutrition/hydration, elimination assistance, or any other therapeutic procedures. He/she must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required in a prompt, timely fashion to provide routine and emergency care and treatment, including Heimlich maneuver, application of pressure to stop bleeding, first aid care, seizure care, falls and any other injuries to residents’. Students must be able to respond promptly and appropriately to call bells and safety alarms used in resident care. The student should be able to lift and/or support at least 50 pounds in order to reposition, transfer, and ambulate clients safely. Students must be able to stand and/or walk for up to four hours at a time. Students must be able to distinguish smells, tastes and temperatures, have a high degree of manual dexterity, and be able to squat, bend, sit and lift using good body mechanics. Students should have the motor skills necessary to accurately follow infection control procedures.

D. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities. 

The student must be able to read and understand written documents in English and to solve problems involving measurement and recording accurate information, calculation, reasoning, memory, and critical thinking in a timely manner. He/she must be able to synthesize knowledge and integrate the relevant aspects of a client’s history, physical findings, diagnoses and care plan. The student must be able to use this information to follow care plans and aid in reaching resident goals, establish a routine of care and priorities of care, and monitor treatment plans and modalities, reporting changes and resident needs to the nurse. The student must be able to demonstrate the ability to focus on relevant information in noisy and/or stimulating environments. A student must be able to demonstrate and utilize knowledge of the aging process, residents with dementia and disabilities, or cognitively impaired individuals. A student will need to be able to follow regulations on resident rights, like the right to choice, privacy and dignity, and freedom from abuse. In addition, he/she must be able to comprehend three-dimensional and spatial
relationships.

E. Behavioral and social attributes

A student must have the capacity to demonstrate full utilization of her/his intellectual abilities, emotional
stability, exercise good judgment under stressful crisis and non-crisis situations, and promptly complete all
responsibilities pertinent to the care of clients in a variety of settings. A student must have the capacity to develop mature, sensitive, and effective therapeutic relationships with clients. He/she must be able to tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. As a component of nurse aide education, the student must be able to demonstrate ethical behavior, including adherence to the professional Nurse Aide scope of practice, HIPAA laws and confidentiality, facility rules and regulations,
and FRCC Nurse Aide student code of conduct. A student must be able to meet emotional and psychosocial needs of each individual resident. A student must be able to demonstrate sensitivity to emotional states, dementia behaviors, confusion, inappropriate behaviors, end of life situations, and must be able to adequately modify own behaviors and responses to the needs of each individual.