The NCCT’s goal is to help students become workforce ready and employed in their chosen career path.
To accomplish this, the NCCT provides eight certification options:
- Medical Assistant (NCMA)
- Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)
- ECG Technician (NCET)
- Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT)
- Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C)
- Insurance and Coding Specialist (NCICS)
- Patient Care Technician (NCPCT)
- Certified Postsecondary Instructor (CPI)
On this page you’ll learn the basics of each certification, why it’s important, and who would be a good fit for it.
We’ll start with one of the most popular options -- the Medical Assistant (NCMA) certification.
1. Medical Assistant (NCMA)
The National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) certification shows that an individual has proficiency in common clinical and administrative healthcare skills.
The NCMA exam tests students on their knowledge across eight categories:
- Pharmacology
- Medical Procedures
- Phlebotomy
- ECG and Other Diagnostic Tests
- General Office Procedures
- Medical Office General Management
- Office Financial Management, Billing, and Insurance
- Law and Ethics
Medical assistants have one of the most well-rounded roles in healthcare, and every day can present new needs that they have to meet.
This certification is an excellent career path for anyone just getting started in the medical field, especially because the job outlook for medical assistants is on the rise!
2. Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA)
The National Certified Medical Office Assistant (NCMOA) certification designates that someone can perform a variety of front-office functions in a healthcare facility.
This includes skills in five areas:
These skills ensure medical office assistants provide a great experience for every patient who walks in the door.
Overall, the NCMOA certification is a great choice for someone who wants to work in the medical field, but not in a clinical care setting.
3. ECG Technician (NCET)
The National Certified ECG Technician (NCET) certification shows an individual can perform diagnostic tests using an electrocardiogram machine.
The NCET exam tests students across four categories:
- Patient Comfort and Safety
- ECG Placement Techniques
- ECG Recording and Interpretation
- ECG Troubleshooting and Maintenance
Proficiency in these areas is crucial for any ECG technician to take accurate recordings so doctors can properly diagnose patients!
Overall, the NCET certification is a good choice for someone interested in both working with patients and analyzing data.
4. Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT)
The National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT) certification denotes someone can work as a phlebotomy technician to collect and process patient specimens.
Specifically, the exam measures knowledge and skills across six categories:
- Quality and Professional Issues
- Infection Control and Safety
- Orders and Equipment Selection
- Patient ID and Site Preparation
- Collections
- Problems and Correction
Phlebotomy technicians not only need to perform procedures, but also need to ensure their patients feel safe and comfortable.
That makes the NCPT certification a great option for anyone interested in performing detailed work while also interacting with patients on a daily basis.
5. Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C)
The Tech in Surgery - Certified (TS-C) designation shows a person’s ability to work as a surgical technologist to assist surgeons during procedures.
The TS-C exam measures these skills across two main areas:
- Surgical Care (including pre-, intra-, and post-operative)
- Additional Duties
Surgical technicians play a crucial role in both aiding a surgeon and maintaining a safe environment for the patient.
The TS-C certification is an excellent choice for someone who thrives in high-pressure situations and wants to support patients during stressful times.
6. Insurance and Coding Specialist (NCICS)
The National Certified Insurance and Coding Specialist (NCICS) certification denotes that a person complete common medical billing and coding duties.
The NCICS exam specifically tests skills across four categories:
These skills help insurance and coding specialists properly document the correct information for healthcare practices to process insurance.
The NCICS certification is a good option for someone interested in the procedural intricacies of the medical coding profession.
7. Patient Care Technician (NCPCT)
The National Certified Patient Care Technician (NCPCT) certification shows that a person has the knowledge and skills needed to work directly with patients.
Specifically, the NCPCT exam tests students’ abilities across five categories:
- Professional Responsibilities
- Safety and Infection Control
- Direct Patient Care
- Phlebotomy
- ECG
Proficiency in these areas ensures a patient care technician can provide the best possible care to any patient!
Overall, the NCPCT certification is a great choice for someone interested in a career where they feel rewarded by interacting with many people on a daily basis.
8. Certified Postsecondary Instructor (CPI)
The Certified Postsecondary Instructor (CPI) certification denotes that a medical professional is ready to make the switch to become a health science instructor.
For the CPI exam, you must be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of principles of instruction at the postsecondary level
- Design and plan instruction to meet learning objectives
- Create and maintain a functional learning environment
- Evaluate all aspects of learning to improve quality
Though the CPI certification won’t help your students obtain a job, it can help someone transitioning to health science education put their best foot forward!
Prepare Your Students for NCCT Certification Success!
No matter which NCCT certification your students earn, your role as an instructor is to prepare them with the knowledge and practice to succeed!
Health science teachers like you prepare their students for certification success in a number of ways, including NCCT test prep materials and homemade curriculum designed just for the exam.
The NCCT test prep materials are great ways for your students to review information and study for the exam.
But they don’t actually help you teach the information in your day to day classes.
Building a homemade curriculum from scratch is the perfect way to provide a custom learning experience and make sure you cover everything you need to teach.
Unfortunately, it can take an entire summer to plan and develop your perfect curriculum!
That’s why hundreds of health science instructors use the HealthCenter21 digital curriculum system to teach their classes and prepare their students for NCCT certifications!
HealthCenter21 can help take your students from zero to certified while making your life easier in the long run.
You get ready-to-use instructional materials, up-to-date lessons, scenario-based learning, engaging activities, automatically graded assessments, and more.
Want to learn more?
Click below to see if HealthCenter21 is the right fit for you and your students!
