Preparing Students for Future Careers through Career & Technical Education - Medical Assisting
One of the main priorities for Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) is to prepare students for the lives they will lead outside of school, so they can achieve excellence in all their future pursuits. One way QCUSD does this is through the Career & Technical Education (CTE) program. These courses are designed to give students relevant learning experiences in a career field of their choice. The CTE program gives students a head start by teaching them viable work skills and providing them certifications so they can succeed in the competitive job market.
All three of the high schools in QCUSD offer CTE programming. Medical Assisting is one of the CTE programs offered at Crismon High School (CHS). This program prepares students to provide medical office administrative services and perform clinical duties including patient intake, care, routine diagnostic, and recording procedures.
"I think getting to know the basics and the history of medical assisting is fun,” says Acelyn V., a freshman at CHS.
Acelyn’s goal is to have a career in the realm of dentistry, either as a dental hygienist or in the field of orthodontics. She took this CTE class knowing it would help her better understand the medical field and its practices.
“It's going to help me prepare for the future. This class will help me prepare for the future by reinforcing the basics, no matter which field I pursue," Acelyn added.
Mattingly W., another student who chose the Medical Assisting class, had clear intentions when signing up for the class. "I chose to take this class because I want to work in this field when I'm older," she explained.
"The most interesting thing I have learned is the history of medical assisting and how long this career has been around," she shared. Knowing the history of medical assisting has helped enrich Mattingly’s understanding and appreciation for the field.
In terms of her future, Mattingly has found the medical assistant course beneficial. At the end of her sophomore year, she will already have the credits needed to attain a certificate in Basic Life Support (BLS). This certification will help her as she applies for colleges, giving her a jump start into her career path. "I think it's important that the colleges I want to go to can see that I want to do this and that I'm committed," Mattingly emphasized.
Both students are happy they enrolled in the course because of the practical skills and certifications it offers for those interested in healthcare. "It provides you with the background you need," Mattingly noted. She encourages other students to consider enrolling into a CTE program.