North Central Michigan College’s Fast Track program adds 44 healthcare workers to the workforce in its first year

Forty-four medical professionals have joined the local workforce in Michigan thanks to the expedited Fast Track career programming and Fast Track courses at North Central Michigan College. The programs have been available for just over a year, and have seen a 94% pass rate on the national certification exam.

Fourteen students have finished the Phlebotomy Technician program and 30 students have finished the Medical Assistant program since each began in May of 2022. Currently, there are an additional 23 students currently enrolled in summer Phlebotomy Technician and Medical Assistant courses.

Graduates of the program are fulfilling a critical role in the area, according to North Central Michigan College’s Dean of Corporate and Community Education Christy Lyons, who was quoted in an article posted on the college’s website.

“Area health care hiring managers cited a need for skilled employees with very specific certifications. Our close connection with regional employers allowed us to be nimble with our programming and responsive to workforce needs,” said Lyons.

The Fast Track Healthcare Bundle program at North Central is designed to prepare graduates with three different credentials that have been endorsed by the National Healthcareer Association, such as Phlebotomy Technician, EKG Technician, and Clinical Medical Assistant. There are also standalone classes offered at the college for Phlebotomy Technician and EKG Technician certifications. 

The bundled program takes 24 weeks and is largely conducted online with an additional two-week externship in a local medical office, a weeklong phlebotomy lab, and three in-person skills days. The combination of both hands-on and online training has been beneficial to the students taking part in the Fast Track program at North Central, as evidenced by the 94% pass rate on the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam, which is above Michigan’s state average pass rate of 62%.

Lyons talked about the Fast Track courses, saying, “These programs are ideal for our returning learners who want an expedited path to a specialized career. Because the programs are primarily online, students have easy, convenient access to course content, allowing them to work around their work and family schedules.”

Those taking part in the Fast Track programs have access to the Education Advancement Program and Michigan Learning Grants, which can cover some or all of the course’s tuition. More financial support is available to students, as well, through the North Central Michigan College Foundation. Students who take advantage of all of the available financial aid may be able to complete the Fast Track program without spending any money.

Students taking part in the Fast Track programming also have direct access to assistance and local instructors to aid their job placement once they graduate from the program.

The median base salary in the region for a certified phlebotomy technician is $36,874 and $40,043 for certified medical assistants. The median household income in Emmet County was $63,488 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

There are a number of Fast Track programs available at North Central Michigan College, such as health care, business, skilled trades, and manufacturing. A full list of the fast track programs on offer can be found on the school's website.

More information about North Central Michigan College can be found at the school’s website.