What Health Science Certifications Does HealthCenter21 Align With?

Is your CTE health science program changing this year?

Have your pathways or program goals changed recently?

Are you looking to redesign your health science program?

If so, you likely need to identify new health science certification opportunities for your students.

When speaking with teachers and administrators about how they plan to expand their offerings, they ask which certifications our HealthCenter21 curriculum aligns with.

While we are not a health science certification provider, health science programs use our system to help prepare students for dozens of certifications.

In this article, you’ll find an overview of each certification and an explanation of whether iCEV can be your primary curriculum or a supplemental resource for that certification.

You’ll also find resources to help you best use HealthCenter21 to prepare your health science students for certification success.

Table of Contents

In this article, you'll discover the most common certifications teachers use HealthCenter21 to prepare students for.

Use the links here to jump to the certification you want to learn more about:

• AMCA CMAC
• AMCA MAC
• AMCA PTC
• NCHSE NHSC
• NHA CBCS
• NHA CCMA
• NHA CEHRS
• NHA CET
• NHA CMAA
• NHA CPCT/A
• NHA CPhT
• NHA CPT
• NNAAP CNA
• NOCTI HA
• NOCTI MA
• NREMT EMR
• NREMT EMT

You may be wondering: What about health science certifications NOT on this list?

There are dozens of other health science certifications you can choose for your CTE program.

These include other national exams and state-specific certifications, such as the Ohio STNA program or the Florida CNA certification.

While we don’t provide documented alignments for every certification out there, you may find HealthCenter21 is a great fit.

To determine whether HealthCenter21 would be a good fit for your program’s offerings, use the information on this page as a starting point.

Though some of the details may differ, you’ll likely find one of the certifications listed here is similar to the one you offer.

Overall, after reviewing this article, you’ll have a clearer idea of which certification options could work best for your expanding health science program!

AMCA CMAC

Career Path: Medical Assisting

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The AMCA Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) exam includes four foundational areas clinical medical assistants must master to be successful:

1. Professionalism (10%)
2. Medical Law and Ethics (4%)
3. Clinical Medical Assisting (60%)
4. Administrative Medical Assisting (26%)

If you’re building a new clinical medical assistant program, the AMCA CMAC certification could be a good fit for you.

Not sure which medical assistant certification is right for your program? Review this article to help you decide: NHA CCMA vs. AMCA CMAC: Which Is Right for You?

Health science programs that focus on the AMCA CMAC exam can use HealthCenter21 as their core curriculum.

That’s because HealthCenter21 has nearly 100% coverage of the AMCA CMAC test plan.

See the full breakdown of how HealthCenter21 aligns to the AMCA CMAC certification:

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AMCA MAC

Career Path: Medical Assisting

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The AMCA Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) exam includes six areas related to careers in medical assisting:

1. Health Care System
2. Safety and Infection Control
3. Anatomy and Physiology
4. Medical Office Administration
5. Patient Care
6. Medical Law and Ethics

If you’re looking for a well-rounded medical assistant certification for your program, the AMCA MAC certification may be a good fit.

Health science programs that use the AMCA MAC exam often use HealthCenter21 as their core medical assisting curriculum.

When reviewing the crosswalk, you’ll see HealthCenter21 covers nearly 100% of the items on the AMCA MAC test plan:

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AMCA PTC

Career Path: Phlebotomy Technician

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The AMCA Phlebotomy Technician Certification (PTC) exam measures a student’s knowledge and skills across six areas:

1. Patient Care
2. Patient Identification and Site Preparation
3. Order and Equipment Selection
4. Specimen Collection
5. Specimen Processing and Handling
6. Safety and Infection Control

If your program is interested in expanding certifications beyond medical assisting, the AMCA PTC certification could be a good choice.

Teachers with students sitting for the AMCA PTC exam use HealthCenter21 to teach the basic skills and concepts needed for the exam.

When reviewing the crosswalk, you’ll find HealthCenter21 aligns with nearly every item on the AMCA PTC test plan:

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NCHSE NHSC

Career Path: Varies

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NCHSE National Health Science Certificate (NHSC) measures a student’s knowledge of foundational health science concepts and skills. 

The NCHSE NHSC is divided across 11 areas, called “foundation standards”:

1. Academic Foundation (18%)
2. Communications (9%)
3. Systems (5%)
4. Employability Skills (14%)
5. Legal Responsibilities (12%)
6. Ethics (4%)
7. Safety Practices (16%)
8. Teamwork (5%)
9. Health Maintenance Practices (9%)
10. Technical Skills (5%)
11. Information Technology in Healthcare (4%)

Upon passing, students will receive a certificate of proficiency that designates them as having the skills for a career in healthcare. While this certificate isn’t an accredited certification or right-to-work credential, it does serve to inspire students to pursue professional certifications down the line. 

Health science teachers who use HealthCenter21 as a core curriculum find it works well to help students pass this exam: 

“Since using HealthCenter21 all of my students have passed the NCHSE core test. I believe this is due to this awesome delivery of instruction.”

Marilyn Turvey, Health Science Instructor

Kiamichi Technology Centers, OK

Discover which standards of the NCHSE NHSC HealthCenter21 can help you cover:

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NHA CBCS

Career Path: Medical Billing and Coding

HealthCenter21 Use: Supplemental Resource

The NHA Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS) certification measures’ a students skills and knowledge in five areas of medical coding and billing:

1. Regulatory Compliance (19%)
2. Claims Processing (28%)
3. Front-End Duties (10%)
4. Payment Adjudication (23%)
5. Apply Knowledge of Coding (20%)

If you’re looking to expand your program, the NHA CBCS can provide students with many opportunities in non-clinical-focused careers.

Health science programs focused on the NHA CBCS certification use HealthCenter21 as a supplement to teach the foundations of what a billing and coding specialist needs to know.

Discover what portions of the NHA CBCS exam HealthCenter21 can help you teach:

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NHA CCMA

Career Path: Medical Assisting

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification designates an individual as a multi-skilled healthcare professional mainly focused on clinical procedures.

The NHA CCMA exam requires students to be well-versed in seven areas of medical assisting:

1. Foundational Knowledge and Basic Science (10%)
2. Anatomy and Physiology (8%)
3. Clinical Patient Care (54%)
4. Patient Care Coordination and Education (5%)
5. Administrative Assisting (13%)
6. Communication and Customer Service (5%)
7. Medical Law and Ethics (5%)

If your students are interested in the more clinical aspects of a medical assisting career, the NHA CCMA certification is an excellent choice.

Not sure which medical assistant certification is right for your program? Dive into these comparisons:

• NHA CCMA vs. NHA CMAA: What’s the Difference?
• NHA CCMA vs. AMCA CMAC: Which Is Right for You?

Teachers that prepare students for the NHA CCMA exam use HealthCenter21 as their core curriculum throughout their medical assisting program.

You’ll find HealthCenter21 covers nearly 100% of the items on the NHA CCMA exam.

Dive into the details of which modules align with the NHA CCMA test plan:

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NHA CEHRS

Career Path: EHR Specialist

HealthCenter21 Use: Supplemental Resource

The NHA Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS) certification measures a students’ knowledge in five areas related to working with electronic medical records:

1. Non-Clinical Operations (28%)
2. Clinical Operations (32%)
3. Revenue Cycle/Finance (15%)
4. Regulatory Compliance (15%)
5. Reporting (10%)

For programs interested in non-clinical certifications for their students, the NHA CEHRS certification is a good option.

Teachers who add the CEHRS certification to their program use HealthCenter21 to introduce and reinforce critical concepts crucial for healthcare careers.

Discover which aspects of the CEHRS test plan HealthCenter21 can help you cover:

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NHA CET

Career Path: EKG Technician

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NHA Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam prepares students for careers in administering and reading EKGs.

Due to the focused role of an EKG technician, the exam includes three topics:

1. Safety, Compliance, & Coordinated Patient Care (32%)
2. EKG Acquisition (44%)
3. EKG Analysis & Interpretation (24%)

The NHA CET certification is a great way to expand your students’ opportunities, especially if you’re interested in providing “stackable” credentials for medical assisting programs.

Teachers use HealthCenter21 as a core resource to teach the foundational knowledge that coincides with the hands-on skills necessary to be an EKG technician.

See the full breakdown of how HealthCenter21 aligns to the NHA CET exam:

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NHA CMAA

Career Path: Medical Assisting

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NHA Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam measures the knowledge and skills required to become a medical administrative assistant.

The NHA CMAA exam includes seven areas of medical assisting duties, with a heavy focus on front-office responsibilities:

1. Scheduling (17%)
2. Patient Intake (16%)
3. Office Logistics (11%)
4. Compliance (15%)
5. Patient Education (10%)
6. General Office Policies & Procedures (14%)
7. Basic Medical Terminology (17%)

If your program wants to provide specialized medical office assistance options, the NHA CMAA exam is an excellent route to take.

Not sure which medical assistant certification is right for your program? Review this article to help you decide: NHA CMAA vs. NHA CCMA: What’s the Difference?

Health science programs focused on the NHA CMAA certification find using HealthCenter21 as their core curriculum makes a significant impact:

“Our teachers prepare students for the NHA CMAA certification, and they use mostly HealthCenter21. With HealthCenter21, Harmony High School has a 100% pass rate.”

Griselle Figueroa-Martorell
School District of Osceola County, FL

That’s because HealthCenter21 covers nearly 100% of the NHA CMAA test plan.

Discover which modules align with the NHA CMAA exam:

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NHA CPCT/A

Career Path: Patient Care Technician

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NHA Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) exam measures students’ knowledge and skills in five areas:

1. Patient Care (45%)
2. Compliance, Safety, and Professional Responsibility (20%)
3. Infection Control (11%)
4. Phlebotomy (14%)
5. EKG (10%)

The NHA CPCT/A certification is more well-rounded than others on this list, making it an excellent option for a new health science program.

Teachers preparing students to become patient care technicians often use HealthCenter21 as a core piece of their instruction.

For example, the health science program at A.R. Johnson Health Science & Engineering Magnet reached 100% pass rates on the NHA CPCT/A exam by using HealthCenter21.

Dive into the details to see which modules can help you prepare students for the NHA CPCT/A exam:

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NHA CPhT

Career Path: Pharmacy Technician

HealthCenter21 Use: Supplemental Resource

The NHA Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPhT) certification focuses on four areas individuals must master to become pharmacy technicians:

1. Overview and Laws (25%)
2. Drugs and Drug Therapy (15%)
3. Dispensing Process (45%)
4. Medication Safety and Quality Assurance (15%)

If your program wants to provide more specialized healthcare career opportunities for students, the NHA CPhT is an excellent option.

While HealthCenter21 doesn’t provide a full pharmacy technician curriculum, teachers use it as a supplement to teach foundational skills and concepts needed for the CPhT exam.

Using HealthCenter21 as a supplement is especially useful for teachers who use the curriculum in other courses such as medical assisting.

See the full breakdown of how HealthCenter21 aligns with the NHA CPhT test plan:

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NHA CPT

Career Path: Phlebotomy Technician

HealthCenter21 Use: Supplemental Resource

The NHA Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) certification measures a student’s knowledge and skills related to five areas of phlebotomy:

1. Safety and Compliance
2. Patient Preparation
3. Routine Blood Collections
4. Special Collections
5. Processing

If your program wants to provide stackable certification options for students, the CPT exam is a great addition to medical assistant programs.

Teachers use HealthCenter21 to teach basic concepts and reinforce foundational knowledge needed for the NHA CPT exam, with impactful results and responses from their students:

“For my Medical Micro class, HealthCenter21 is a great asset for the Certified Phlebotomy Technician exam. In fact, my students told me that the materials for Phlebotomy helped more for passing their certification exam than the certification preparation materials.”

Regina Jackson, Health Science Instructor

DeBakey High School for Health Professions, TX

Discover which aspects of the NHA CPT certification HealthCenter21 can help you teach:

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NNAAP CNA

Career Path: Nurse Aide

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) exam is the CNA certification recognized in 20 states that determines whether an individual can be added to their state’s nurse aide registry.

The NNAAP CNA exam includes both a written assessment and clinical skills demonstration. To become certified, students must pass both portions of the certification program.

The NNAAP written exam focuses on nine areas CNAs must be proficient in:

1. Activities of Daily Living (14%)
2. Basic Nursing Skills (39%)
3. Restorative Skills (8%)
4. Emotional and Mental Health Needs (11%)
5. Spiritual and Cultural Needs (2%)
6. Communication (8%)
7. Client Rights (7%)
8. Legal and Ethical Behavior (3%)
9. Member of the Healthcare Team (8%)

The skills evaluation portion requires students to perform five procedures from a list of 23 potential skills, including hand washing and measurement.

Implementing the NNAAP CNA exam (or your state’s nurse aide certification) is a great first step for new health science programs.

Health science programs focused on the NNAAP certification often use HealthCenter21 as their core curriculum. Even teachers in other states use HealthCenter21 in their CNA courses to prepare students for certification success:

“HealthCenter21 has been an invaluable tool for students seeking CNA certifications. It has enhanced their learning and retention.”

Dawn Stewart, CNA Instructor

Oakland Schools Technical Campus Southwest, MI

See the full breakdown of how HealthCenter21 aligns to the NNAAP test plan:

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NOCTI HA

Career Path: Health Assisting

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NOCTI Health Assisting (HA) certification measures students’ knowledge and skills needed for a career in health assisting or nurse assisting.

The NOCTI HA exam focuses on six areas candidates must master:

1. First Aid and General Safety (19%)
2. Medical Terminology (12%)
3. Body Systems (19%)
4. Observation and Communication (12%)
5. Documentation and Legal/Ethical Issues (15%)
6. Health Assistant Skills (23%)

In addition to the written exam, students must perform four hands-on tasks as part of the performance assessment.

If your students are interested in a well-rounded healthcare career, the NOCTI Health Assisting certification could be a great fit.

Programs focused on the NOCTI HA exam often use HealthCenter21 as their core curriculum.

That’s because HealthCenter21 is 100% aligned with the NOCTI HA test plan.

Dive into the details to see which modules can help your students prepare:

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NOCTI MA

Career Path: Medical Assisting

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NOCTI Medical Assisting (MA) certification indicates someone’s mastery of the knowledge and skills needed to become a medical assistant.

The NOCTI MA certification includes both a written assessment and skills demonstration.

The written exam focuses on seven areas of medical assisting:

1. Medical Office Procedures (12%)
2. Foundations for Healthcare (10%)
3. General Laboratory Procedures and Diagnostic Testing (14%)
4. Clinical Practices and Patient Care (38%)
5. Medical Assisting Safety (8%)
6. Patient Instruction (9%)
7. Medical Law and Ethics for Healthcare (9%)

For the performance assessment, students are measured on completing six everyday tasks medical assistants perform.

If you’re building a new CTE medical assistant program, the NOCTI MA certification may be a good choice, depending on which credentials your local healthcare providers accept.

HealthCenter21 covers nearly 100% of the NOCTI MA test plan, which means teachers often use it as their core curriculum for medical assisting courses.

See the full breakdown of how HealthCenter21 aligns to the NOCTI MA certification:

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NREMT EMR

Career Path: Emergency Medical Services

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NREMT Emergency Medical Responder (EMR) certification evaluates a person’s proficiency in the skills and knowledge via a cognitive exam and psychomotor exam.

The cognitive exam measures a student’s knowledge of the National EMS Standards for emergency medical responders, across six areas:

1. Airway Management, Respiration, and Artificial Ventilation
2. Medicine
3. Shock and Resuscitation
4. Trauma
5. Special Patient Populations
6. EMS Operations

The NREMT EMR psychomotor exam requires students to perform hands-on skills for common incidents an emergency medical responder may encounter in the field.

The NREMT EMR certification is a great choice for a program with students interested in the emergency medical services field.

Health science programs across the US use HealthCenter21 as a core curriculum for their emergency medical responder courses.

You’ll find HealthCenter21 covers nearly 100% of what’s included on the NREMT EMR test plan because the curriculum was developed based on the National EMS standards.

Learn how HealthCenter21 aligns to the NREMT EMR certification:

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NREMT EMT

Career Path: Emergency Medical Services

HealthCenter21 Use: Core Curriculum

The NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification measures students’ knowledge and skills needed to be certified as an EMT.

To earn the NREMT EMT certification, students must complete a cognitive assessment on six content areas:

1. Airway Management, Respiration, and Artificial Ventilation
2. Medicine
3. Shock and Resuscitation
4. Trauma
5. Special Patient Populations
6. EMS Operations

While these topics are the same as the EMR exam, emergency medical technicians must have a further depth of knowledge and technical skills in each of these areas.

The NREMT EMT psychomotor exam requires candidates to perform skills assessments for common scenarios EMTs face in the field.

The NREMT EMT certification is a great way to expand a health science program focused on emergency medical services.

Because the HealthCenter21 EMT content was developed in alignment with the National EMS Standards, you’ll find the curriculum covers nearly 100% of the test plan.

See the full alignment of HealthCenter21 to the NREMT EMT certification:

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How Do Other Health Science Programs Use HealthCenter21?

After reading through this article, you should have a general idea of which certifications CTE programs like yours most commonly use HealthCenter21 for.

Now you’re probably wondering: How do health science teachers actually use HealthCenter21 in their courses?

We have a few resources to help you out, depending on your situation!

If you’re exploring HealthCenter21 as a potential resource for your program:

• Review the success stories of other CTE teachers
• Learn about the HealthCenter21 blended learning curriculum framework
• Discover how health science programs use HealthCenter21 across middle and high schools

If you’re looking to better implement HealthCenter21 in your classroom:

• Get a refresher on using the four-phase curriculum
• Dive into the details of leveraging the Explore and Learn & Practice phases
• Review best practices and ideas for the Reflect and Reinforce phases

Have additional questions about using HealthCenter21 to prepare students for certifications? Reach out to the iCEV team - we'd love to talk to you.