Wallace State Ranked Top 20 Nationally in Health Care Programs
CONTACT: Gail Crutchfield, Communications and Marketing, Wallace State Community College, 256.352.8064, gail.crutchfield@wallacestate.edu
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s reputation as a leader in educating and training healthcare professionals continues to earn recognition. The college once again ranked among the “Top 50 Associate Degrees: Health Professions & Related Programs” as reported by Community College Week.
Community College Week is a bi-weekly publication of news, trends and issues regarding two-year colleges.
With 451 graduates in the reporting period, Wallace State is the only two-year college in Alabama to make the list, which also includes four-year institutions. Wallace State’s health programs finished 20th among two-year colleges and 33rd on the list overall, a rise of two places over last year.
Enrollment in health care programs is only expected to increase in the coming years as careers in the healthcare profession see a sharp rise in the need for qualified workers due to an aging population and retiring workers.
Wallace State’s health programs include: Child Development, Clinical Laboratory Technician, Dental Assisting, Dental Hygiene, Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology), Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Emergency Medical Services, Gerontology, Health Information Technology with additional certificates in Medical Coding and Medical Transcription, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Practical Nursing, Registered Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Pharmacy Technology, Physical Therapist Assistant, Polysomnography (Sleep Lab), Respiratory Therapy, and Human Services with certificates in Drug and Alcohol Associate, Mental Health Technician, and Social Work Associate.
Of the many careers that can be obtained by completing a degree or certificate in health care at WSCC, the Bureau of Labor and Statistics estimates growth of no less than a 15 percent in all of them, with most at more than 20 and 30 percent and a few topping the 40 percent mark. (see list below)
The WSCC health programs are dedicated to providing an affordable education of unsurpassed quality to produce highly-trained and qualified health care professionals. Wallace State’s nursing program recently earned the maximum eight-year affirmation of its Associate Degree program as well as voluntary accreditation of its practical nursing program by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission. The college’s other programs have also earned accreditation through their respective organizations.
As a mark of the excellent educational preparation students receive at Wallace State, all of the health programs have high pass rates for the required licensing exams their students must take to practice in their chosen field.
Convenience is also taken into account as many health programs offer the option of online and/or hybrid courses that allow students to do much of their course work online and only travel to campus for labs or to clinical sites for practical training. Part-time options are also available to cater to students’ schedules.
Recently, the chances of success personally and professionally have been further supplemented with the opportunity students in health care and other qualified programs have to utilize the free services of a life-coach for their first year at WSCC.
The PAVES (Partnership for Accelerated Learning through Visualization, Engagement, and Simulation) coaching program is an initiative aimed at keeping students in school, thereby improving their academic and employment outcomes. The Allied Health programs for which PAVES is offered include: Registered Nursing, LPN, Pharmacy Tech, Medical Assistant, Dental Hygienist, Dental Assistant, EMT/Paramedic, Radiology, and Health Information Technology, as well as non-credit Certified Nursing Assistant training. Some manufacturing and transportation programs are also participating in the PAVES program.
Students this fall can look forward to the opening of the School of Nursing and Center for Science. The four-winged, 114,765 square-foot building includes state-of-the art simulation centers modeled as a functional hospital, classrooms, computer labs, lecture halls and common areas that will offer areas for students to plug in their laptops and study together. The building will be a haven for students enrolled in nursing programs and other health science courses.
For information on specific program requirements and health program application deadlines, visit www.wallacestate.edu/programs. Students may apply for admission to Wallace State at any time, and may begin classes prior to starting their chosen program of study.
Priority registration for fall semester is underway. Selected orientation classes begin Aug. 15, while all other regular term classes begin Aug. 19. For more information about Wallace State, including a complete list of college offerings, call 256-352-8040 (toll free 866-350-9722) or visit www.wallacestate.edu.
Job in Healthcare
The outlook for jobs in the healthcare field will continue to increase, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Below is a list of the health programs offered at Wallace State, their projected job outlook and the median annual wage:
Child Development: +25%, $25,700
Clinical Laboratory Technician: +15%, $36,950
Dental Assisting: +31%, $34,140
Dental Hygiene: +38%, $69,950
Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology): +28%, $55,120
Diagnostic Medical Sonography: +44%, $65,201
Emergency Medical Services: +33%, $30,710
Gerontology: +28%, $28,200
Health Information Technology: +21%, $33,310
Massage Therapy: +20%, $35,830
Medical Assistant: +31%, $29,100
Practical Nursing: +22%, $41,150
Registered Nursing: +26%, $65,950
Occupational Therapy Assistant: +43%, $52,040
Pharmacy Technology: +32%, $28,940
Physical Therapist Assistant: +46%, $51,040
Polysomnography (Sleep Lab): +15%*, $33,820
Respiratory Therapy: +28%, $55,250
Human Services: +28%, $28,740
*Numbers indicate percentage of medical and clinical lab technicians overall as specific numbers for sleep lab technicians are not available.
______________________________
Kristen Holmes
Director, Communications & Marketing
Wallace State Community College
P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077
1-866-350-9722 256-352-8118 direct
256-352-8314 fax 256-339-2519 cell
Visit us online at www.wallacestate.edu