Kankakee Area Career Center

Medical Terminology-Introduction to Health Occupations Program Information

KACC's Medical Terminology-Introduction to Health Occupations program is a college-level program for students interested in a career in the healthcare industry. Students who complete this course will acquire the knowledge and skills to pursue an education and career in their choice of healthcare occupation.

The primary focus is developing verbal and written skills in medical terminology. Students will be taught to identify medical terms by analyzing their components. Emphasis will be placed on defining medical prefixes, root words, suffixes, and abbreviations.

This course exposes students to the healthcare industry by surveying the wide spectrum of healthcare occupations and equipping them with the entry-level knowledge and skills that apply to various health occupations. Students will be trained in hands-on skills such as taking vitals, donning PPE, etc. They will learn life-saving procedures, including CPR, and will become First Aid certified through the American Heart Association.

Students will have opportunities to earn volunteer service hours. They may qualify to participate in internship and job shadowing programs which are highly desirable for college scholarships and entry-level job applications.

Review the Medical Terminology sections below:

College Credits

Industry Certifications

Requirements & Costs

Career Opportunities

Personal Qualities

Schoolwide KACC Training

Questions on Medical Terminology? Contact KACC Today!

Medical Terminology College Credits*

KACC's Medical Terminology curriculum has been designed to include college-level material each year. Students completing two years in this program can earn credits at either Kankakee Community College or Prairie State College.

* Dual College Credits are subject to change (last reviewed Sep 2023). Please email KACC for more information.

Kankakee Community College
HLTH1312-7D0: Medical Terminology Course - 2 Credit Hours
Prairie State College
HLTH105: Medical Terminology Course - 3 Credit Hours
HLTH100: Orientation to Health Careers - 3 Credit Hours

Medical Terminology Industry Certifications*

* Industry certifications are subject to change (last reviewed Sep 2023). Please email KACC for more information.

American Heart Association Basic Life Support CPR Certification

Medical Terminology Requirements & Costs*

* Requirements & Costs are subject to change (last reviewed Sep 2023). Please email KACC for more information.

Class fee is $50, covering the cost of First Aid Heart saver certification

Three-ring binder with pocket dividers

Notebook paper

Five packs of 3x5 index cards

Pens, pencils, highlighters

Headphones/buds

If approved for the Internship Program, students will need a watch (must have secondhand), uniform, appropriate shoes, pens, and pocket notebook. Also, depending internship site, TB tests, Drug Screen, and proof of vaccinations may be required at the student’s expense.

Medical Terminology Career Opportunities

Several career opportunities exist for students who complete the Medical Terminology program. Here are a few examples.

Nursing

Medical Technologist

EMT - Basic

Therapist: Occupational, Physical, Respiratory

Radiologist

Medical Terminology Personal Qualities

Students can enhance their experience in the Medical Terminology program by possessing the following key personal qualities.

Genuinely care for the well-being of others and empathize with patient's experiences

Quick thinking and effective problem-solving skills

Communicate effectively

Coping skills to manage high-stress situations, remaining calm and resilient

High level of attention to detail and ability to identify foreseeable obstacles

Empathic, understanding, and cultural sensitivity to effectively interact with individuals

Schoolwide KACC Training

Significant benefits are available to students who remain focused and diligent at KACC. The staff at KACC enjoys supporting our youth in achieving their dreams beyond high school. We have established the following to assist our community to flourish post-high school years. Please review our Workplace Excellence Badges, Career Coaching, and Specific Benefits Gained Through KACC sections below.

Workplace Excellence Soft/Essential Skill Badges Earned

ADAPTability	COMMUNICATIONability
DEPENDability	REASONability
PRESENTability	WORKability
SUITability	TRANSITIONability
RESPECTability	WRITEability

Super Badge: Solidifying collective competency in all of the above areas

Career Coaching

Online Portfolio

Cover Letter

Introduction Letter

Resume

Reference Letters

LinkedIn Profile

Interviewing Skills

Career Exploration

Financial Planning

Scholarship Essay Writing

Specific Benefits Gained Through KACC

2 Year CTE Diploma - Recognizing students who attended KACC for 2 consecutive years
- Received an Attendance of 90% or higher
- Received a "B" Average or better (1st year entirety, and at least the first 3 semesters of the 2nd year)
- Received competency (90% or higher) in employability skills, and
- Received a Workplace Excellence Super Badge

KACC Student Advisory Committee

SkillsUSA participation and recognition on state and national levels & scholarships offered

National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) qualification & scholarships offered

KACC Scholarships are offered to all KACC Seniors who apply

Hands-on experiences through KACC class and internship opportunities through established connections to business and industry through KACC

Classes taught by those who have succeeded in the jobs they represent

Positive referrals and evaluations from KACC teachers about work students have completed while at KACC further student engagement to showcase their skills.