Develop the skills you need to jump start your career in the healthcare field. The career outlook for health and wellness professionals is predicted to grow by 13 percent through 2029. Pine offers a wide variety of courses to help get you started.
Working as a nursing assistant is an excellent stand-alone career or an excellent way to launch a nursing career. This program will prepare students with the knowledge and clinical skills to work in a variety of settings including nursing homes, hospitals, adult day care centers, personal homes and assisted living facilities. Credit is earned toward PTCC’s Nursing/Healthcare programs.
Spring 2025 Dates Coming Soon!
Seating is on a first come first serve basis. A waitlist will be available once all seats are taken.
To determine eligibility requirements, potential students must complete a microsoft form to be considered for this class.
Once it is determined that you are eligible to register for the course, you will be sent step by step instructions on how to apply to the college. Your application will be reviewed and you will be notified once registration is complete.
Next Generation Nursing Assistant
Train. Test. Work.
Your healthcare career starts here! This Nursing Assistant course is approved by the Minnesota Department of Health. Learn basic nursing skills including how to take vital signs, provide personal care and mobility assistance. Become prepared to work in nursing homes, hospitals, assisted living facilities and home care agencies. Be guided by a team of registered nurses who care about your success! Students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate of completion and be eligible to take the Nursing Assistant Competency Evaluation to be placed on the Minnesota Nursing Assistant Registry. Space is limited and the course will be filled on a first come, first served basis. Students interested in this course should add the class to your cart and check out. You will be placed in an approval queue and college staff will reach out to you if there are still openings. Those who enroll in a course through this initiative will have the cost of their training, books, uniform and 1-time certification exam covered. In return, these individuals are expected to seek employment in a senior care or long-term care setting upon completion of the program.
Program Eligibility
Student Enrollment Options
For questions and more information, please contact Sarah Steinert at 320.629.4568 or sarah.steinert@pine.edu.
Class Requirements: Mandatory Survey: Distance MN will be reaching out to registrants to complete a brief survey. This survey will determine the eligibility of potential nursing students. Attendance is mandatory for class hours.
Required In-person Orientation (please bring your identification and laptop or tablet): 5/7/24/24 at Pine Technical & Community College 3pm-5pm, Customized Training Solutions Building 585 Hillside Ave, Pine City, MN 55063.
Required In-person Classroom Sessions: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays 5/14/24 – 6/27/24 4:30pm – 7:30pm at Pine Technical & Community College 900 Fourth Street SE, Pine City, MN 55063, Room 150
Required in-person Clinical Lab Sessions: Saturday & Sunday 6/15/24 & 6/16/24 8:00am – 4:30pm
Lab Location: Pine Technical & Community College, 900 Fourth Street SE, Pine City, MN 55063, Room 150.
Required Employer Engagement Sessions: Date & Location is TBD.
Testing Dates: 6/29/24 & 6/30/24 8am – 5pm. Students will be assigned a specific testing time within the 8am-5pm window. Testing Location & Instructions: Pine Technical & Community College, 900 Fourth Street SE Pine City, MN 55063 Room 150. Testing instructions will be relayed to students prior to testing.
This 6-hour skills refresher course will help participants fine tune skills needed to work as a nursing assistant and prepare them for successful completion of the MN State Competency Evaluation. Students spend the day with a nursing assistant instructor and state tester practicing the potential skills candidates may encounter during the state exam. This course is beneficial for those who desire more practice prior to the exam, who need more practice prior to a retest, or who plan to challenge the state exam. Cost: $149.00 Dates: Contact Sarah Steinert for date information at 320.629.4568 Register
Upon passing the state exam, individuals are placed on the MN Certified Nursing Assistant Registry.
The skills portion of the exam is conducted 8am-5pm on select Saturdays. You do not need to be present for the entire time. You will be assigned a specific time that is unique to you at the time of registration. You must arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled time. The Skills Exam will take place in room 150 at Pine Technical & Community College.
The knowledge portion of the exam is completed virtually from your home computer on select Sundays. You will be assigned a specific testing time that is unique to you. You have two hours to complete the Knowledge Exam. You will be given a link 24 hours prior to the exam from Headmaster (Testing Vendor). You must have the Zoom App on your phone so that you can take the exam on your computer or laptop. The test observer must be able to see you and your computer screen. No one is allowed in the same room you are testing. Your table/desk cannot contain any books, notes or papers during the exam.
Contact Sarah Spencer at 320.629.5176 or sarah.spencer@pine.edu to register.
This course will cover course organization, policies of AHA administration of a course, equipment, cleaning, changes in CPR and why they occur, skills testing and a written test.
Date: TBD
The American Heart Association (AHA) Basic Life Support Instructor Initial course is the core educational foundation for all AHA instructors to effectively deliver and provide consistent CPR training. This, plus discipline specific courses, allows instructors to achieve consistency and uniformity in their presentation of course material. This course provides instructor candidates with the knowledge and skills necessary to teach BLS provider courses and Heartsaver First Aid and CPR courses to lay rescuers.
Steps to becoming certified:
Part One: Must complete prior to class:
Part Two: Classroom Training
The AHA BLS instructor Renewal Course is designed to renew certification for current/past AHA BLS CPR Instructors. BLS Instructor candidates must have 5 years of Healthcare and/or EMS field experience to take this course.
Steps to becoming certified:
Part One: Must be completed prior to class:
Part Two: Classroom Training
For All Healthcare Providers PTCC teaches according to the latest 2020 guidelines. This course provides a wide variety of healthcare professionals the ability to recognize several life-threatening emergencies, provide adult and pediatric CPR, use an AED, and relieve choking in a safe, timely and effective manner. This course is best for BLS providers such as physicians, nurses, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, dentists and dental assistants, physicians’ assistants, medical or nursing assistants and students in training, aides, police officers, phlebotomists and other allied health personnel.
All students will receive a CPR Mask to take home. The mask acts as a barrier separating the rescuer and the patient.
Dates:
12/4/24 6pm – 10pm
1/8/25 6pm – 10pm
2/5/25 6pm – 10pm
3/5/25 6pm – 10pm
4/2/25 6pm – 10pm
5/7/25 6pm – 10pm
Cost: $100.00
This course teaches the basic techniques of adult/child/infant CPR and uses of an AED. Students will learn to use barrier devices in CPR and give first aid for choking victims.
Dates:
Sat 12/7/24 9am – 4pm
Sat 4/5/25 9am – 4pm
Cost: $110.00
All students will receive a CPR Mask to take home. The mask acts as a barrier separating the rescuer and the patient.
For all Childcare Providers This course is designed to meet the regulatory requirements for child-care workers in all 50 US states. It teaches child-care providers and others to respond to illnesses and injuries in a child or infant in the first few minutes until professional help arrives.
Dates:
Sat. 2/1/25 9am – 4pm
Sat 6/7/25 9am – 4pm
Cost: $110.00
All students will receive a CPR Mask to take home. The mask acts as a barrier separating the rescuer and the patient.
Students may participate in a blended CPR course which includes an online portion and a hands-on session. The online portion provides the flexibility of completing training at your own pace and wherever you have Internet access. Students may access and purchase the desired training through The American Heart Association links provided below. Once complete, students must contact the CTS Administrative Assistant at 320.629.5176 or sarah.spencer@pine.edu to schedule a skills exam.
AHA Heartsaver First Aid/CPR/AED Online Portion – Approximately $25.00 In-Person Skills Exam – $85.00
This course is designed to prepare students to provide first aid, CPR, and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in a safe, timely and effective manner. Students may purchase the online portion at: https://shopcpr.heart.org/courses/heartsaver-first-aid-cpr-aed. Once complete, please contact CTS Administrative Assistant to schedule the in-person exam. Students must show proof of completion for the online portion. AHA Heartsaver Pediatric First Aid CPR/AED Online Portion – Approximately $25.00 In-Person Skills Exam – $85.00 This course is designed to teach students how to respond to and manage illnesses and injuries in a child or infant in the first few minutes until professional help arrives. Students may purchase the online portion at: https://shopcpr.heart.org/heartsaver-pediatric-first-aid-cpr-aed-online. Once complete, please contact CTS Administrative Assistant to schedule the in-person exam. Students must show proof of completion for the online portion. Heartcode BLS (for healthcare providers) Online Portion – Approximately $34.00 In-Person Skills Exam – $85.00 This course is for healthcare professionals seeking a non-classroom method for completing an initial or renewal BLS for healthcare providers course. This audience includes but is not limited to nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, students in a healthcare program, physical and occupational therapists. Students may purchase the online portion at: https://shopcpr.heart.org/heartcode-bls. Once complete, please contact CTS Administrative Assistant to schedule the in-person exam. Students must show proof of completion for the online portion.
All students will receive a CPR Mask to take home. The mask acts as a barrier separating the rescuer and the patient.
Minnesota State provides the required training to work as a Medication Aide in a skilled nursing facility. Students will develop an understanding of drug administration with this comprehensive training program. Available in two formats, classroom and hybrid, the Minnesota State curriculum offers consistency and customized training options to meet any needs. A wide variety of exercises and activities let students apply their knowledge to healthcare settings. The class includes a new textbook specifically designed for the medication aide. The training and supplemental resources will also prepare participants for written and skills exams by building knowledge and developing skills competency. This course requires a minimum of forty-eight hours of instruction. This class is a hybrid class which includes both online and in-person course work. More details on the schedule are below. Training Highlights:
Prerequisites: Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home. To work as a Medication Aide in a skilled nursing facility, students must have completed a nursing assistant training program approved by the Minnesota Department of Health before enrollment in a trained medication aide program. These employees are not required to take the nursing assistant exam, nor to have ever been on the nursing assistant registry. A person who challenges the Minnesota nursing assistant exam or transfers in from another state, for example, would not be eligible. It is the responsibility of the facility to document completion of an approved nursing assistant training program. Students will apply classroom learning in the laboratory setting promoting safe medication administration. To successfully complete the course, students must:
Minnesota law governs the qualifications required to work as a medication aide in a licensed nursing home. If you question your eligibility, please visit this website for more information:https://www.revisor.mn.gov/rules/4658.1360/. It is recommended that a person works as a certified nursing assistant for six months before taking this course and be at least 18 years of age.
Course Fee: This course is free of charge for students who meet the eligibility requirements. For those who are not eligible, the cost of the course is $775.00 (includes online materials, skills kit, and required textbook).
Participants will be responsible for purchasing their own drug reference guide if they do not meet the eligibility requirements. If students meet the eligibility requirements, the cost of the drug reference guide is included.
Tip: A drug reference will be useful for our entire career in healthcare. Check with your employer and/or college to see what they use daily.
Here are some suggestions for drug references from our course subject matter experts: • Pharm Phlash!: Pharmacology Flash Cards • Davis Drug Guide
ONLINE COURSE SCHEDULE: Students should expect to complete a minimum of 10 hours of online as indicated on the course schedule each week. This includes online self-paced work and a required 2-hour Zoom session per week. Zoom sessions are offered weekly on Sunday mornings and Monday evenings.
Dates coming Soon. Please contact Sarah Steinert for more information.
Contact Sarah Steinert at 320.629.4563 or Sarah.Steinert@pine.edu for additional information.
Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.
The course will teach you how to apply the ALGEE action plan:
Blended in-person learning model
After completing a 2-hour, self-paced online course, First Aiders will participate in a 6-hour, in-person, instructor-led class. Participants will receive a Mental Health First Aid certification after completing this class.
Class Offerings:
Cost: $195
To Register, click the green button. On the next scree, in the search field, type in Mental Health.
At PTCC, we make college possible for those starting out or starting over. Whether you seek a career program, new skills or general education transferable to another college or university, Pine is an excellent choice! Join us for an on-campus or virtual information session.
Start your educational journey at PTCC!