Adult Career Pathways Resources

This is a four-week introductory course on healthcare careers that teaches the occupational and employability skills required for students to take and successfully pass the Minnesota Individual Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) test. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to practice their English listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as digital literacy skills. || AUTHOR: Reneé Kostner, Lakeville Area Schools

This course will prepare adult students for the Personal Care Assistant (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) certification exams and/or a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification course.  In addition, this course will prepare students to become a resident care assistant at a memory care/assisted living facility.  Students will gain the academic skills, medical terminology, and specific content knowledge and skills needed to pass the PCA/CFSS certification exam, to succeed in a CNA certification course, and/or become a resident care assistant. The course supports learning about the career pathway to become a PCA/CFSS worker, CNA, resident care assistant, and similar careers. || AUTHOR: Mary Grady-Elsenheimer, Rosemount-Apple Valley/Eagan ABE

This course is intended for revenue cycle staff with responsibilities in patient access, billing, account resolution, denial management, collections, cash posting, customer service, and self-pay collections. The course focuses on knowledge required in revenue cycle functional areas including registration (front desk), billing, and credit and collections. || AUTHOR: Dr. Heather Rickgarn, for SW ABE

Provides basic skills instruction to students enrolled in an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) training course. This is part of an Integrated Education & Training (IET) program. Seven lessons include roles and responsibilities of an EMT, note-taking skills, study skills, time management skills, care for the caregiver, reading charts and graphs, and word parts as basis for medical terminology. || AUTHOR: Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy, Penn State College of Education

Students learn vocabulary, writing, reading, speaking and listening skills necessary for work in the healthcare industry. Transition skills and digital literacy necessary for workplace success are integrated. || AUTHOR: Carlene Lyons, Minneapolis Adult Education

A foundational training designed to inform participants about the healthcare sector.  A job fair with healthcare providers is held as a culminating event. Participants earn First Aid and CPR certification.  The course provides basic skills necessary to obtain a position in the healthcare sector and increases knowledge of medical terminology and healthcare-related skills. || AUTHOR: Institute for the Study of Adult Literacy, Penn State College of Education

Students improve their basic reading and writing skills using materials related to the healthcare field. Learning is interactive, and students gain experience using computers and develop key employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, dependability, problem-solving, and technology skills. Exploration of healthcare career options is incorporated into personalized career plans.  Test-taking skills are emphasized to prepare for TABE tests, HSE tests, and the college entrance exam. || AUTHOR: Stephanie Sommers, for Women Employed

Students improve their reading and writing skills using materials related to the healthcare field. Learning is interactive, including group activities, giving and getting peer feedback, and utilizing evaluation and editing processes to turn rough drafts into improved rewritten drafts. Students gain experience using computers and develop key employability skills, such as communication, teamwork, dependability, problem-solving, and technology skills. || AUTHOR: Stephanie Sommers, for Women Employed

For students interested in exploring healthcare careers (inc. CNA, health unit coordinator, phlebologist, emergency medical technician).  Students develop vocabulary and pragmatic awareness for appropriate communications with various people within a healthcare setting. Focus also includes reading, language, digital literacy and numeracy skills. || AUTHOR: William D.  Crozier, Winona Adult Basic Education

First unit introduces learners to medical terminology. It explains word parts like suffixes and prefixes, and how to combine them to make common medical words. Second unit covers 12 body systems. || AUTHOR: Saint Paul ABE / Saint Paul College FastTrac partnership

Introduces learners to many and varied entry-level and higher-level healthcare positions and builds basic knowledge and skills relevant to any healthcare work.  Topics include hand washing, infection control, basic living needs for humans, and vital signs.  Also covers body systems.  General job-seeking skills are also developed.  Mymncareers.org is used to develop individualized career plans. || AUTHOR: Steve Gernbacher, Adult Options in Education

The course provides an overview of human body systems.  Learning activities include reading passages, grammar and writing, and core healthcare vocabulary.  Students engage in additional hands-on activities and work in teams.  Topics include human body systems overview; circulatory, respiratory, and digestive systems; and healthcare career exploration. || AUTHOR: Heather Turngren, Minneapolis Adult Education

Introduces students to a variety of healthcare careers, including nursing assistant, nurse, medical interpreter, emergency medical technician, home health aide/PCA and medical receptionist. Students learn about different healthcare settings and career paths, as well as basic health vocabulary specific to each career. Students practice cooperative learning, professional communication, writing for work, and technology skills. || AUTHOR: Sarah Northrup and Carlynn Miller-Gore, St. Paul ABE

Provides an overview of entry-level healthcare careers available in four categories – patient care, imaging and diagnostics, administrative and support services, and health information and records – plus an introduction to vocabulary and concepts that are explored more in-depth in higher level career pathways courses. || AUTHOR: Brigid A. Erickson, Ed.D., Metro South ABE

Introduces students to the study of the human body, the healthcare career field and providing first aid and CPR in a health emergency while integrating English, literacy and technology skills.  A licensed CPR trainer will co-teach with an ESL teacher to prepare students to become certified in American Health Association (AHA) CPR, AED & First Aid. || AUTHOR: Kali Pelham, Sauk Rapids Hillside ABE Program

Focuses primarily on the knowledge and skills needed to enter a CNA community-based training course. Content is based on sections of the CNA exam – hygiene, nutrition, bowel & bladder, infection control, data collection, restorative skills, psychosocial care, etc. || AUTHOR: Nikki Carson, Minnesota Literacy Council

This course will assist students in understanding the terminology used in healthcare careers, and the varied applications. || AUTHOR: Dara Oken, Minneapolis Adult Education

This course builds vocabulary, an understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a CNA, core medical knowledge and communication skills.  It is designed as a hybrid – some in-class time and some independent online study. Each unit includes vocabulary and content activities. Each unit ends with a multiple-choice quiz on the vocabulary and content. At the end of the course, the students are given a comprehensive multiple-choice final exam.

Course builds vocabulary and basic understanding of all aspects of the CNA role in a health-care setting. Primary textbook is Mosby’s Basic Skills for Nursing Assistants in Long-Term Care, which also includes videos. || AUTHOR: Stacy Bennig and Kathy Bjornson, St. Paul ABE

Prepares students to take a college-level certificate course. Students learn computer literacy skills, medical terms, reading skills for on the job, and career soft skills including communication, conflict resolution, problem solving skills, and reading a pay stub. || AUTHOR: Linnea Lebens, Duluth Adult Education

In this hybrid course, students master basic medical terminology, identify a medical career path, develop professional communication skills, strengthen academic reading/writing skills using technology, and prepare for the transition to college and work. || AUTHOR: Carlynn Miller-Gore, St. Paul ABE

This course will prepare learners to take the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Community First Supports and Services (CFSS) Test. Students will become familiar with the types of jobs that Personal Care Assistants get hired for and typical job duties. Students will have the opportunity to earn a CPR/First Aid certification. || AUTHOR: Brigid Tully, Ed.D, Metro South ABE

Students develop an understanding of the role of a PCA, etiquette and ethics within the PCA field, and a PCA’s role in medication management.  Students demonstrate safe, competent care steps and ability to recognize common medical conditions and behaviors in clients.  They practice communication strategies necessary for the job and identify basic body structure. They also learn to properly fill out forms and medical documentation for a PCA job. || AUTHOR: Mellisa Grosz and Kylie Kunkel, Moorhead Adult Basic Education

Provides a broad overview on a variety of skills and vocabulary needed to be a CNA. Students learn about various healthcare settings along with important workplace vocabulary, soft skills and potential career pathways. Students explore math necessary to be a CNA and gain knowledge of personal finance math. || AUTHOR: Linnea Lebens, Duluth ABE

This course helps prepare students to complete the calculations necessary in chemistry and laboratory courses. Topics include decimal numbers, fractions, ratios, proportions, dilutions, percent/percentage problems, Roman numerals, military time, English/metric conversion, calculating areas and volumes, and solving equations. || AUTHOR: Cindy Roos, Alexandria Area ABE

Covers all aspects of a Certified Nursing Assistant’s job responsibilities. Test prep section provides performance skills videos for all 21 skills required in CNA test and an interactive simulation game. A link to an “official” practice test is provided. || AUTHOR: Saint Paul ABE

Not designed as a course, but as a reading resource for a healthcare career pathway. Designed for online independent study, learners can choose from 175 2-page stories organized by reading level. Focus is on high utility academic vocabulary and healthcare content vocabulary. || AUTHOR: Kristine Kelly, for Southwest ABE – Marshall Region

A rigorous course that covers English, reading, math and science knowledge required for the TEAS Tests. Students also gain knowledge of the content and structure of the tests, develop critical thinking and reduce test-taking anxiety. Course content is based on topics in the TEAS Study Guide. Requires extensive study outside of class. || AUTHOR: Caroline Nerhus, Central MN-East ABE

A rigorous course that covers English/language, reading, math and science knowledge required for the TEAS VI Test. Students also gain knowledge of the content and structure of the tests, develop critical thinking and reduce test-taking anxiety. Course content is based on topics in the TEAS Study Manual, Version VI. Requires extensive study outside of class. || AUTHOR: Joyce Evenski and Arlyn DeBruyckere, Hutchinson ABE