Course Code: CSU-PCA

Course Duration: 6 months

Contact Hours: 750

Tuition: $3950

This comprehensive program prepares students for a position as a Personal Care Assistant. Emphasis is on giving personal care in a client's home, communications, working with ill persons, basic human needs, eldercare, nutrition, special diets, and home management. Many different types of individuals require assistance in daily tasks, assistance with minor medical tasks, and companionship because they are ill, elderly, or disabled in some way , may be of any age, and must live at home or in a home-like residential facility. Personal Care Assistants provide this assistance or provide some of the care to allow family caregivers a respite. This program will ensure students are prepared to provide a variety of essential services for their clients including health care management and monitoring, assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) ranging from bathing, dressing, eating, using the bathroom, housekeeping and laundry to medication reminders and/or management, recreational activities and companionship, security and transportation.

Education and Certifications

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • There are no state approval and/or state requirements associated with this program.
  • There are several National Certification exams that are available to students who successfully complete this program:
    • National Health career Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical assistant (CCMA) Exam
    • Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Certification Exam.

Program Objectives

At the conclusion of this program, students will be able to:

  • Describe long-term care in terms of the target populations, environment, care options
  • Describe the physiological, psychological, and sociological changes related to aging
  • Describe physical, cognitive, and social growth and development characteristics
  • Describe memory care needs and options
  • Explain proper procedures for infection control in a home or residential environment
  • Perform basic housekeeping procedures and safety for residents, staff, and visitors
  • Explain procedures and strategies for planning, purchasing, and serving food
  • Explain the proper procedures for safely assisting an individual in activities of daily living
  • Explain procedures for preventing fluid overload and dehydration
  • Explain proper procedures for applying a variety of warm and cold applications
  • Explain procedures involved in caring for individuals with special needs
  • Describe effective and appropriate care of an individual who is dying
  • Explain proper care for infants and children in the home or residential setting
  • Explain how to assist individuals in a home or residential environment
  • Explain common preoperative and postoperative care procedures
  • Use Microsoft Office

National Certification

Upon successful completion of this Columbia Southern University program, students would be eligible to sit for the National Health career Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam and the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exam. Although there are no state approval, state registration or other state requirements for this program, students who complete this program at Columbia Southern University will be prepared and are eligible to sit for the NHA CCMA certification exam and the MOS national certification exam and are qualified, eligible and prepared to do so. Columbia Southern University works with each student to complete the exam application and register the student to take their national certification exam.

Clinical Externship / Hands on Training / Practicum

Although not a requirement, once students complete the program, they have the ability to participate in a clinical externship and/or hands on practicum so as to practice the skills necessary to perform the job requirements of a professional in this field. Students will be assisted with completing a resume and/or other requirements necessary to work in this field. All students who complete this program are eligible to participate in an externship and placed with a participating organization near their location. Columbia Southern University works with national organizations and has the ability to place students in externship opportunities nationwide.