Program Tips

Academic Advising & Student Success

Academic advisors assist students with developing academic plans based on their degree evaluations. Their goal is to plan the right pathway to graduation by maximizing students' potential and ensuring success based on the student's previous academic experience, career path, and responsibilities outside of being a student. Student success specialists assist students in overcoming barriers that many students encounter over their academic career. Their goal is to help students become academically successful by assisting with goal setting, interpersonal issues, success plans, and community-based referrals. More information can be found on Commons (Student Services & Support).

Academic Support

Free academic help including drop-in tutoring, test preparation, and technology support available online and face-to-face. More information is available on Commons (Student Services & Support).

Credit for Prior Learning (CPL)

CPL offers CVTC students and opportunity to earn college credit toward and associate degree or technical diploma for previous knowledge and mastered skills directly related to program curriculum. Previous knowledge and skills may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military experience, and courses at other institutions. If a student wishes to attempt CPL for a course in progress, it is imperative that CPL is attempted within the first week of class (or sooner) to be eligible for a tuition refund. More information can be found at cvtc.edu/CPL.

Successful completion means the student received a "B-" or better as a final grade.

For the Clinical Assistant program, common CPL courses would include:

Related MA Course:	Requirement(s)	CPL new learning module
509-302 Human Body in Health and Disease (3 credits)	·     10-806-177 General Anatomy & Physiology (CVTC) OR full body anatomy and physiology college course(s)  AND ·     Medical Terminology course	New Learning Module for 509-302 Human Body in Health and Disease

Financial Aid Consideration

Courses must be part of the student’s program to be eligible although some specific courses may not be eligible for financial aid. Students must follow their program requirements to be eligible for financial aid. To be eligible for financial aid, students must maintain Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress of a 2.0 Term GPA, 2.0 Cumulative GPA, complete 67% of attempted credits each semester, and complete their program by the time 150% of the published credits have been attempted.

Students with Disabilities

CVTC welcomes individuals with disabilities. We will provide and coordinate reasonable accommodations for all individuals with documented disabilities. Students that might benefit from accommodations during their college experience at CVTC can contact Diversity Resources at 715-833-6234 or diversity@cvtc.edu to determine what accommodations they may be eligible for and what documentation may be required.

Title IX Pregnancy and Postpartum

CVTC does not discriminate against any student on the basis of pregnancy or related conditions and will fully comply with Title IX regulations. Absences due to medical conditions relating to pregnancy and maternity leave will be excused for as long as deemed medically necessary by a student’s medical provider, and students will be given the opportunity to make up missed work. Students are encouraged to contact Diversity Resources at 715-833-6234 or diversity@cvtc.edu to set up an appointment as soon as the pregnancy is known.

Criminal Background Check

This is an admission requirement. Students will be provided direction on how to request a criminal background check from a third party vendor. Upon receipt of the criminal background check results, if a student has a criminal history, they will be advised of the possibility of being denied clinical placement. This denial will result in not being able to attend clinical(s) or graduate from the program. Additional background checks may be required during the student's enrollment in the program based on clinical site requirements. Students will be informed by CVTC if they need a criminal background check renewal.

Technology Requirements

Students must have regular access to a computer with an internet connection. Additionally, students will be required to have a web cam and headset with a microphone and speakers. Students may purchase a webcam and headset from anywhere they choose. The following items meet the recommendations: Logitech USB Headset Mono 650 and the Logitech Webcam C310 HD.

Having access to a laptop/computer with reliable Wi-Fi will be necessary. Please check your laptop/computer to make sure that it meets the minimum recommended specifications below:

Windows/PC	Mac
Operating System: Windows 10 64-bit (preferred) Windows 8.1 (32 or 64-bit) RAM: 8GB Hard Drive: 256GB SSD Processor: 2.4+ GHz	Operating System: Mojave v10.14 or later (preferred) High Sierra v10.13 or later RAM: 8GB Hard Drive: 256GB SSD Processor: Intel Core Duo 2 GHz or faster

Pre-Entrance Health History and Physical Exam

A pre-entrance health history and physical examination must be completed and on file three weeks prior to entering the core courses of this program. The Admissions Office will notify students at the appropriate time with a specified deadline.

Healthcare Prep Seminar

This program requires attendance at a two-day in-person Healthcare Prep Seminar the week before the fall semester begins. Students will be sent invitations to these sessions via mail and email. Students will get to meet their cohort and faculty, learn more about the program and resources, and how to be successful in the program.

Practicum Requirements (current through practicum)

• Successful completion or standing in all other program courses
• CPR-BLS Certification
  • Course options at CVTC - To see course offerings and register go to: Login to COMMONS at www.cvtc.edu. Hover over RECORDS & REGISTRATION and select Search Course Offerings. Scroll down and in the “Looking for more courses” box, click CPR Certification. When the page loads, all of the CPR courses appear. Course options you can take:
    • CPR-BLS PROVIDER: About a 4.5-hour class that provides both the theory and skills in one course. Held at one of the CVTC campuses.
    • BLS PROVIDER SKILLS SESSION: This is a two-part course – online portion through AHA and then the skill session at CVTC. Please read the note under the Class Detail header, which provides information on how to register for the first half of the course with AHA. Students also then need to register for the CVTC portion.
    • CPR RENEWAL – BLS PROVIDER: This 2.5-hour class is only for those that have a BLS Provider certification that is expiring.
  • Red Cross “CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers” class and your card would indicate “Basic Life Support” online + classroom option is acceptable
  • American Heart Association “BLS (Basic Life Support) for Healthcare Providers” 
  • An active instructor card for either of the above mentioned BLS courses
• TB Test and current influenza vaccine
• Approval of program faculty
• Compliance with WI Caregiver Law
• Program Health Requirements are met

Clinical Compliance

To be in compliance with CVTC's partnering clinical agencies and the agencies' regulating bodies, for example the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), students must be prepared to abide by vaccination and health and safety guidelines as dictated by those bodies.

Certification

Completion of the Clinical Assistant program enables students to take the National Healthcareer Association’s national certification exam and upon successful completion of this exam, the title Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) may be used.

Pathway to the Medical Assistant Program

All the Clinical Assistant program courses, with the exception of the practicum course, transfers into the Medical Assistant program. Graduates from the Clinical Assistant program, who are admitted to the Medical Assistant program will be granted advance standing. Credit for Prior Learning options are available for some of the remaining Medical Assistant program courses. Contact the program director or academic advisor for more information.

Last Updated: April 5, 2024 @ 3:34 p.m.