Education Programs | Whatcom Community College

Featured Educational Opportunities

Upcoming Webinars and Conferences

Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Weekly online meetings: Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience co-morbid medical illnesses as well as homelessness. This is a vulnerable population and their providers – ACT teams - are at elevated risk themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Northwest MHTTC is partnering with the UNC Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina to host and facilitate regular meetings for ACT teams and ACT stakeholders. Goals of the meetings are to connect with one another, share strategies and resources for adapting team practices and communications, and facilitate connection to the most up-to-date resources during the COVID-19 outbreak. Mondays, 12 - 1:30 pm (PDT). Find the registration link for the April 27 meeting HERE.

Youth Peer Support Series: What to Consider When Working with Youth - May 4, 2020, Important points to consider when hiring or contracting with youth peer support specialists. This includes the pros and cons of partnering with an outside agency, conducting internal hires, considering full or part-time positions, recommended policies and procedures, etc. Hosted by Northwest MHTTC's Maria Hermes-Kritz and Caitlin Baird, youth peer support specialists and supervisors.

Telehealth Tuesdays with MHTTC Join network specialists for a series of hour-long sessions addressing specific topics, and answering questions from participants. Topics include: Billing, Technology tools, Working with children, and troubleshooting. April 28, 2020 topic: Troubleshooting. Recordings of the presentations and registration are available at the MHTTC website.

Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid classes are planned for online, hybrid, or community-based sessions in western Washington. Contact AHECWW to collaborate on hosting a class in summer or autumn.

Join the movement to de-stigmatize mental health challenges, learn the action plan, and support community members--take a Mental Health First Aid course and become a Mental Health First Aider! Mental Health First Aid was developed by the National Council on Behavioral Health and trains First Aiders nationwide. AHECWW offers adult and youth Mental Health First Aid courses (for adults assisting young people). If you or your organization are interested in attending or hosting a training, email info@ahecww.org for more information.

HPV Vaccine: Cancer Prevention Education

The National AHEC Organization received funding to educate health professionals on the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. The HPV project offers three educational fliers for clinics, staff, and educators to use and distribute:

View the online seminar on HPV.

Stay in the know: Subscribe to AHECWW for news, events, and trainings about rural health from us or our NWRHC partners.

Education Programs by Health Profession

Degree and Certificate Health Programs in Western Washington

Find professional training in a wide variety of healthcare fields in the lists below. Download the complete 2019 list here: Health Training Programs in Western Washington.

Nursing Programs

The Department of Health provides a list of approved nursing programs in Washington state at www.doh.wa.gov.

Access the list of degree programs provided by the Washington State Nurses Association at www.wsna.org. The list includes Associate Degree Nursing programs, Baccalaureate Degree Nursing programs, RN-to-BSN programs, and Graduate Degree Programs.

Dental Training Programs

Dental Career Training Programs:

Bellingham Technical College: Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene – Transfer Degree,
Dental Expanded Function Dental Auxiliary Certificate
Clark College: Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene,
Associate in Arts in Dental Hygiene – Transfer Degree
Columbia Basin College: Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Eastern Washington University: Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Expanded Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene, Master of Science in Dental Hygiene
Pierce College at Fort Steilacoom: Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Seattle Central College: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene – Transfer Degree, Bachelor of Applied, Science in Allied Health with an emphasis in Dental Hygiene, Career Pathway for Dental Assistant Certificate
Shoreline Community College: Associate of Applied Arts and Sciences in Dental Hygiene
Yakima Valley Community College: Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Pima Medical Institute Seattle: Associate of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene
Lake Washington Institute of Technology: Bachelor of Applied Science in Dental Hygiene, Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene

Medical Assistant Programs

Medical Assistant Certificate Programs:

Clover Park Technical College: Medical Assistant Associate Technician (AAT)
Everett Community College: Medical Assistant Certificate
Highline College: Medical Assistant Certificate
MA-R to MA-C Accelerated program for experienced medical workers to become certified, Accelerated program for Medical Assistant Certificate
North Seattle Community College: Medical Assisting Certificate
Renton Technical College: Medical Assisting Certificate
South Puget Sound Community College: Medical Assisting Certificate
Whatcom Community College: Medical Assisting Certificate
Yakima Valley College: Medical Assisting Certificate

Medical Programs

Medical schools in the western Washington region include:

University of Washington School of Medicine (UWSOM)
Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA) Region X campus in Portland, Oregon
Bastyr College of Naturopathic Medicine

Physician Assistant Programs

Physician Assistant Degrees:

MEDEX Northwest: Master of Clinical Health Services (MCHS)
Heritage University: Master’s of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA)

Health Information Technology Programs

The following universities offer Health Information Technology (HIT) programs:

Biomedical Informatics Programs:

University of Washington: Biomedical Informatics Programs, MS and PhD

Medical Billing and Coding Training Programs

The following colleges offer Medical Billing and Coding training:

Bellingham Technical College: Certificate
Clark College: Certificate, AAT
Edmonds Community College: Certificate, ATA
Everett Community College: Certificate
Grays Harbor College: Certificate
Highline College: Certificate
Olympic College: Certificate
Peirce College: Certificate, AAS
Renton Technical College: Certificate, AAS
Shoreline Community College: Certificate
Skagit Valley College: Certificate
South Puget Sound Community College: Certificate, AAS
South Seattle College: Certificate
Spokane Community College: Certificate, AAS
Tacoma Community College: Certificate
Walla Walla Community College: Certificate, AAAS
Yakima Valley Community College: Certificate, AAS, Certificate; On-line Rural Health, Coding and Billing Certificate course
Association for Rural Health Professional Coding: Offered in partnership with the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health

Mental Health Provider Training Programs

The following colleges offer Mental Health Provider training:

Social Work Programs

Eastern Washington University: BASW, MSW
Heritage University: BSW
Pacific Lutheran University: BSW
Saint Martin’s University: BSW
Seattle University: BSW, MSW
University of Washington: BSW, MSW
Walla Walla University: BSW, MSW

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Programs

Mental Health Counseling Programs

Eastern Washington University: MS

Marriage, Couple and Family Counseling Programs

City University of Seattle: MA
Gonzaga University: MA

School Counseling Programs

Community Counseling Program

Seattle University: MA

Associate and Undergraduate Psychology Programs

Bastyr University: BA
Argosy University: AA, BA
Bellevue College: AA Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling, Certificate
Central Washington University: BS
City University of Seattle: BA Applied Psychology
Clark College: AA Substance Abuse/Addiction Counseling, Certificate
Eastern Washington University: BA, BS
Gonzaga University: BA
Gray’s Harbor College: AA
Lower Columbia College: AA-DTA
Northwest Indian College: ATA-CDP
Olympic College: AA
Pacific Lutheran University: BA
Pierce College: AA
Saint Martin’s University: BA
Seattle Central College: AA/AS
Seattle Pacific University: BA, BS
Seattle University: BA, BS
Skagit Valley College: AA-DTA
Spokane Falls Community College: AA-DTA
University of Puget Sound: BA
University of Washington: BA, BS
University of Washington – Bothell: BA Community Psychology
University of Washington – Tacoma: BA
Walla Walla University: BA, BS
Washington State University: BA, BS
Western Washington University: BS
Whitman College: BS
Whitworth College: BA

Master’s Level Psychology Programs

Argosy University: MA
Bastyr University: MA
Central Washington University: MS
City University of Seattle: MA Counseling
Gonzaga University: MA
Eastern Washington University: MS
Pacific Lutheran University: MFT
Seattle University: MA, Post-BA Ed.S.
The Seattle School: MACP
University of Washington: MA
Western Washington University: MS. M.Ed.

Doctorate Level Psychology Programs

Antioch University: PsyD
Argosy University: Ed.D, DMFT, PsyD
Central Washington University: EdS School Psychology
Eastern Washington University: EdS
Seattle University: Post-MA EdS
Eastern Washington University: MS
Pacific Lutheran University: MFT
Seattle University: MA, Post-BA Ed.S.
Seattle Pacific University: Ph.D. Clinical Psychology
Washington State University: Ph.D.
University of Washington: Ph. D. Clinical Psychology

Psychiatry Programs

UW School of Medicine – Psychiatry: Residency/fellowship program

Psychiatric Nursing Programs

A useful guide to earning a Psychology Degree on-line can be found at: psychologydegree411.com.

Many health professionals are now required to take suicide prevention continuing education (CE) trainings. The Department of Health website lists online and in-person approved trainings and programs.

Health Sciences Programs

The following colleges offer Health Sciences training:

Central Washington University: Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Nutrition
Washington State University: Bachelor of Science Nutrition and Exercise Physiology

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Programs

The AHECWW EMT for career training as a Emergency Medical Technician:

Bellingham Technical College: EMT Certificate
Clark College: AS, Certificate in EMT-Basic
Columbia Basin College: Paramedic Certificate, AS Paramedicine
Everett Community College: EMT Certificate
North Seattle Community College: EMT Certificate
Skagit Valley College: EMT Certificate – Basic
Tacoma Community College: EMT Basic Certificate, Paramedic Education Certificate, AAS in Emergency Medical

Acupuncture and Traditional Medicine

The AHECWW Traditional Medicine for degree programs in Nutrition, Acupuncture, and Midwifery:

Acupuncture

Seattle Institute of East Asian Medicine: M. Ac., DAHM
Bastyr University: MS Ac., DAc.

Midwifery

Bastyr University: MA Midwifery; MS Child and Maternal Health
University of Washington School of Nursing: Post-graduate Midwifery Certificate
Seattle University School of Nursing: Midwifery Certification CNM

Nutrition, Exercise Sciences

Bastyr University: BS Nutrition; BS Exercise Science

Featured Webinars

A selection of featured recorded webinars for healthcare professionals for self-paced learning. Continuing education credit is available for some courses.

COVID-19 Webinar Series Session 11 – Rural Health System Response
Recording of an April 22, 2020 webinar in which panelists discuss unique challenges facing rural health systems and the strategies being employed as part of the emergency response

HRSA Webinar Series: Workforce Grand Rounds
This series seeks to improve health professions training. The goal is to increase the number of high-quality health professionals, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

Washington Department of Health Nursing Commission
Suicide Prevention Training for Health Professionals: DOH-approved training list for required annual CE training.

Washington Department of Health Nursing Commission
Reversing the Opioid Epidemic in Washington State, Path Forward on Treating Pain – presentations (Sept. 2017)

Washington Department of Health Rural Palliative Care Initiative
Washington Department of Health presents a Conversation with Gregg VandeKieft, MD, and Steven Grossman, MD. (Aug. 2017)

Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
Webinar Recordings on expanding Telehealth. (Aug. 2017)

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Searchable list of trainings on strategies for substance misuse prevention and healthcare professionals

Rural Health Care Transformation series
National Rural Health Association Webinars: 3-part series designed to improve the care experience, value, and outcomes (2017)

National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health
Recorded webinar topics on policy, grant proposals, and more (2017)

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Current Issues in Immunization NetConference (CIINC) and Influenza Update (2017-2018); Archived NetConference Series

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
TeamSTEPPS module-based continuing education credits for health care providers in long-term, rapid response, and office settings

Washington Healthcare Access Alliance
Suicide prevention on-line course. Eligible for CME credits. DOH approved model (2017)

Medical Society of Virginia
Series of on-line trainings in best practices related to Opioid prescriptions to prevent addiction. (2016)

Continuing Medical Education at University of Colorado (CME University)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Safety training Continuing Education credits for healthcare professionals.(2017)

National AHEC
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Project Quality Improvement – Small-Scale Efforts for Practice Transformation (August 2017)

National AHEC
How to talk with teens about medical information resources to increase health information literacy. (2016)

Vaccines and Vaccine Decision-making
History, origins and effect of vaccine hesitancy. Information and time on how providers can help parents make healthy decisions.

Cultural Humility Training
View Slides from the on-line class in Cultural Humility for Healthcare Professionals co-hosted May 17, 2018, by AHECWW and Washington Healthcare Access Alliance (WHAA).

Stackable Certificates

Stackable Certificates Programs

Stackable certificate programs are comprised of a series of certificates that can be “stacked” together for a degree. This type of program is especially useful for healthcare professionals who wish to continue working while studying.Programs that offer stackable certificates include: