Medical Assisting Program Health & Safety Clinical Requirements
Programs in the Health Sciences Division prepare students for careers in healthcare. All of our programs include clinical experiences as an essential component of the program. In order to provide opportunities to adequately learn necessary skills and apply theory in an actual clinical setting, we partner with healthcare agencies in our community (acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long-term care facilities, clinics, and a variety of other specialty agencies) for clinical experiences within their organizations. These clinical sites have requirements for their employees and any persons in their facilities that are interacting with their patients or clients. Included in our partner clinical agreements are clinical requirements for our students. These clinical requirements are not imposed by Shasta College Health Sciences but by our clinical partners. While failure to meet these requirements does not disqualify a student from any of our healthcare programs, it will limit the opportunity to participate in the clinical experiences that are required; and therefore make it impossible to complete the program.
Prior to enrolling in the second semester of the Medical Assisting program, all program students must comply with the Health and Safety Requirements. Compliance must be continuously met through the remaining duration of the program. Students will be required to submit documentation of all completed clinical requirements by the deadline established in their communications from the Health Sciences Division. Students will not be allowed to register in the second semester of the program until all clinical requirements have been met.
Complete documentation of requirements must be filed with the Health Sciences Division office and kept current during enrollment. Please retain a copy of all files for your personal records.
Health Requirements
In the interest of your own personal safety, the safety of your patients, and other healthcare providers, there are specific health and physical requirements that must be met by prior to enrollment in the program. These include, but are not limited to: providing proof of immunity to several communicable disease, CPR certification, Tuberculosis screenings, and a physical exam. For more information and specific requirements, please visit the Health Sciences Programs Health & Safety Clinical Requirements page by clicking here.
Be sure to start the process early; if vaccination is needed, some vaccination series take up to 6 months to complete.
Upon selection for enrollment, students will be instructed to complete the background check and drug screening through a school-designated vendor. For specific procedures and instructions, visit the Background Check & Drug Screening Instructions page. If the background check or drug screening do not clear, the student will be unable to meet clinical requirements and the offer of enrollment will be withdrawn. Students are responsible for cost of criminal background check and drug screening unless exempt by statute.
- Drug Screening - All enrolled Health Sciences students are subject to drug screening through a school-designated vendor prior to enrollment. Shasta College and Health Sciences programs maintain a no tolerance policy regarding substance abuse when participating in Health Sciences programs.
- A student with a positive drug screen will be denied participation and placement at a clinical agency and will be required to withdraw from the program. Additionally, students must agree at time of admission into the program to be drug tested at any time while in the program. Any evidence of substance abuse will result in immediate administrative dismissal from the program. Students are responsible for the cost of all screenings.
- Criminal Background Check -The criminal background check for the Health Sciences programs is an online process that investigates the last seven years, meeting the requirements of the clinical facilities in which students do clinical experience. For licensure, applicants will be required to complete a criminal background check at the Department of Justice (DOJ) level that is all inclusive. Any convictions (even if dismissed or expunged) may prompt a further investigation from the Enforcement Unit and delay or prohibit licensure.