Certificates Offer Career Options

If you are interested in starting—or advancing—your career in health care, wellness, fitness, or medical services, you’ll want to explore the range of certificate programs at Bellingham Technical College, a recognized leader in providing professional education.

Dental Assisting: Over three quarters, this certificate program helps you learn how to work alongside dentists to provide patient care, and perform office duties and lab work. You’ll prepare for employment opportunities with dental, orthodontic, and periodontal offices, as well as in hospitals, public health departments, or in clinics.

• 93% of Dental Assisting graduates are employed within nine months of graduation.
• The average annual wage is $42,682, with an earning potential of about $50,989 per year.

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT): For a career in a diverse, highly specialized medical field, consider the EMT program at BTC. In one quarter, you’ll learn to administer advanced life support protocols to patients in pre-hospital settings. Graduates find employment with municipal fire departments, ambulance services, hospitals, and certain industrial and manufacturing firms.

• The average annual wage in this field is $39,253, with an earning potential of about $66,082 per year.

Expanded Functions Dental Auxiliary (EFDA): Dental assistants and dental hygienists who wish to expand their skills and career options can complete the EFDA certificate in three quarters. The program offers classroom, laboratory, and clinical instruction, and prepares students for the Washington Restorative Examination (WARE), offered by the Dental Assisting National Board (DANB), plus the Restorative Section of the Western Regional National Board (WREB).

Hypnotherapy: BTC’s Hypnotherapy certificate program over three quarters trains you to use hypnosis techniques to support clients with pain management, behavior modification, and other concerns. Graduates go on to work in private practice, or in a variety of health care settings, assisting doctors, dentists, nurses, psychologists, and psychiatrists.

• The average annual wage in this field is $72,586, with an earning potential of about $83,283 per year.

Personal Fitness Trainer: If you wish to start—or advance—in the health and fitness industry, you can train for a career as a Personal Fitness Trainer over two quarters. Graduates are prepared to successfully pass the NFPT Personal Fitness Trainer Certification test. Job opportunities can be found in fitness centers, as a personal trainer or aerobics instructor, in the private personal training business, or as recreation worker, corporate staff trainer, or team trainer.

• The average annual wage in this field is $48,893, with an earning potential of about $62,795 per year.

Phlebotomy: This certificate, over two quarters, provides the background in basic anatomy/physiology, medical terminology, medical office procedures, and phlebotomy skills. You’ll complete an externship experience at a clinical facility where students must perform successful venipuncture and blood draws on at least 100 patients.

• Graduates are eligible to apply for state licensure as a Health Care Assistant, Level A.
• The average annual wage in this field is $33,259, with an earning potential of about $39,645 per year.

Why wait any longer? We're ready to help you to get started, get prepared, and get the career you want. Complete the form today to learn more!