WHITTIER – Whittier Union Adult School (WUAS) will debut two new professional healthcare certification programs this fall, allowing students who are looking for careers in the medical field an opportunity to expand their skills, earn more money, and have more options as they move forward in the healthcare industry.

The two new classes – an EKG technician certification course and a phlebotomy technician certification course – are offered in partnership with CalRegional, a leading private, post-secondary healthcare education provider.

Registration for the certification programs – which can both be completed in less than a month – is still open, with both day and evening classes available.

“Whittier Union Adult School is proud to partner with CalRegional to provide these programs, which support students who already have certified nursing assistant or medical assistant experience,” WUAS principal Dr. Margie Moriarty said. “Students that can add these certifications to their resumes will increase their ability to be hired. For example, an emergency medical technician who currently works on an ambulance can be considered to work at a hospital emergency room if they have an EKG certification.”

The EKG technician course is held entirely online and is designed to help students assist physicians in diagnosing and treating various cardiovascular problems. Fifty-two hours of online instruction are provided, plus two days of live instructor-led learning and two days of self-paced assignments. A national exam is taken at the completion of the course.

To qualify for the EKG technician course, students must have completed a previous healthcare training program or have comparable healthcare experience.

The phlebotomy technician course prepares students to master the skill of blood and specimen collection. Seventy-two hours of classroom instruction and hands-on training are provided, as well as a guaranteed 40-hour externship.

Students also receive CPR certification and will take a national exam upon course completion. No previous medical experience is required to take this course.

WAUS introduced certification programs to help students keep pace with the rapidly expanding healthcare industry, where jobs for skilled workers such as EKG technicians and phlebotomists are in high demand.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in phlebotomy are expected to grow by 22% between now and 2030. EKG technician jobs are also expected to increase by 14% by 2028.

The classes will be administered by CalRegional, which also provides interest-free payment plans to students. Students who are interested in registering can call (562) 698-8121, ext. 1300 or find more information at was.wuhsd.org.

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WUHSD_ADULTSCHOOL1: Whittier Union Adult School is debuting two new professional healthcare certification programs this fall, including a phlebotomy technician certification course, offered in partnership with CalRegional.