We understand that enrolling in a certification program is a big commitment, so here’s a compilation of common questions that you might have about our programs:
Q: How long are the programs?
A:
Here’s a list of the programs and their lengths:
- Sterile Processing and Distribution (SPD) Technician: 135 hours, 8-12 weeks.
- Includes 2 weeks of GI Scope classes & labs + CBSPD exam eligibility.
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician: 100 hours, 5-10 weeks.
- Tech in Surgery (TS-C): 800 hours, 8 months of class (500 hours) + 3-6 months of externship (155 procedures).
- Externships: 240-400 hours (Duration & schedule varies depending on your availability).
Q: What is included in the program?
A:
We will provide you with a uniform, textbooks, a comprehensive exam review guide with practice questions, free CPR/Basic Life Support certification, and a career advancement workshop.
Q: How can I enroll in a certification program?
A:
You can apply for our programs through our online application. At the end of the application, you will need to pay your enrollment fees. When your application is accepted, we will send your student portal login along with your enrollment paperwork. If you submit the application without paying a fee, you will not receive a portal login or enrollment paperwork.
Q: How much does enrollment cost?
A:
Here are the pre-discount costs for our programs:
- Sterile Processing & Distribution (SPD) Technician: $6,110 (Fees $800.00, Tuition $5,310)
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician: $4,100.00 (Fees $650.00, Tuition $3,450)
- Tech in Surgery (TS-C): $23,850 (Fees $2,000, Tuition $21,850)
Here are the costs with the 15% Option 1 tuition discount (lowest available price):
- Sterile Processing & Distribution (SPD) Technician: $5,313.50 (Fees $800.00, Tuition $4,513.50)
- Electrocardiogram (EKG) Technician: $3,572.50 (Fees $650.00, Tuition $2,932.50)
- Tech in Surgery (TS-C): $20,572 (Fees $2,000, Tuition $18,572)
Q: Can I get information about my child or partner’s progress in the program or externship?
A:
No, educational and externship contracts are solely between the student and Altamont Healthcare. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects this information from being shared without the student’s explicit consent. Altamont Healthcare is not obligated to share financial or educational information with any party except for the contracted student.
Q: Does Altamont Healthcare help with job placement?
A:
Altamont Healthcare is not required to assist with job placement, but our Externship Team does weekly research to connect our graduates and completed externs with job openings. Externships can provide opportunities for you to network with hiring managers and secure jobs.
Q: How does financial aid work?
A:
Current & prospective students interested in loan options can fill out a loan application to see if they could be approved for a loan. The application alone is a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. Once you are formally enrolled, Altamont Healthcare will verify your loan and payments will either start immediately or 3 months after graduation, depending on the option you chose. If you are not approved for a loan, applying with a co-borrower with higher credit will boost your chances of approval.
Q: Are the classes online?
A:
We use a blended-learning approach; our classes are split 80/20 between online lectures delivered via Zoom and in-person labs. The lab component may be completed online upon approval for long-distance students.
Q: Is Altamont Healthcare accredited?
A:
This program meets the national and international credentialing industry standards for the development, implementation, and maintenance of certification programs set by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). We are not accredited by any accrediting agency recognized by the Department of Education.
Q: Does Altamont Healthcare provide or accept Financial Aid?
A:
We are partnered with Climb Credit to provide loan options for our current and prospective students. We do not accept FAFSA or GI Bill due to regulations that apply to Title IV educational institutions. You can apply for student loans here.
Q: Does Altamont Healthcare accept Worker’s Comp, Worknet, Dept. of Rehabilitation, or similar agencies/programs?
A:
Yes, we have accepted funding from Native American tribes, workforce development organizations (e.g., WorkNet), employers, government agencies, and other third parties. Please see our Financial Information page for more information about third-party payments. Ask your agency or department representative if Altamont Healthcare’s programs are eligible for funding.
Q: Where can I take the certification exam?
A:
SPD and ERT students will take the exam through the CBSPD. You can find test dates and sites on their website. EKG and Surgical Tech students will take the exam through the NCCT. You can take the certification exam through our partner, Zenith Career Services. You can click here to find test schedules and dates.
Q: What happens if I fail the class?
A:
You will be unable to take the CBSPD or NCCT certification exam, but you will be allowed to retake the course as many times as you need at no extra cost.
Q: Do you offer BLS or ACLS certification?
A:
Altamont Healthcare does not offer Basic Life Support (BLS) or Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) certification. Our partner, Zenith Career Services, offers both of these certifications, plus Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Click here to go to their website.
Q: Will I be certified to work when I complete the program?
A:
No, our programs prepare you for the CBSPD or NCCT certification exam. When you pass the certification exam, you will be certified to work as a technician or a technologist.
Q: What is the schedule for the externship program? How long does it last?
A:
Externships are 240-400 hours. Your schedule (which days of the week, how many hours per week) will depend on your own availability. How long it will take to complete your externship will depend on you.
Q: How do I get an externship?
A:
Our externship program is exclusive to Altamont Healthcare graduates that have passed their appropriate board exam. Externships are included in the SPD, EKG, and Surgical Tech program. ERT students cannot enroll into externships unless they co-enrolled into and graduated from our SPD Tech course.
Q: I’m worried that my child or partner is struggling, am I entitled to an update from the school?
A:
No. The educational and financial contract between the school and the student does not extend to family members, partners, or funders. Confidentiality of internal affairs maintained for the safety and well being of our students.
Q: How does blended learning work?
A:
For SPD, ERT, and EKG, our learning experience will have 80% online lectures and 20% in-person labs. This means for every 4 online lectures, you will have 1 in-person lab. For Surgical Tech, labs will be conducted once per week.
