PIMA MEDICAL INSTITUTE -
ALBUQUERQUE CAMPUS

A dental assistant has a variety of responsibilities, including helping patients feel comfortable and easing anxieties, assisting the dentist during treatment procedures and teaching patients the skills needed to maintain and improve oral health. This certificate can help you become a dental assistant, orthodontic assistant, oral surgery assistant or surgical dental assistant.

Health care administrative assistants are key members of the front-office medical staff. These assistants manage electronic health records, greet patients and ensure the office operates efficiently. With this training, you can become a medical administrative assistant, medical secretary, medical receptionist, medical office specialist, office manager or medical records clerk.

Medical assistants work closely with healthcare team members, including doctors and nurses. They treat patients from newborns to senior citizens. As a medical assistant, you may work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, clinics or outpatient medical facilities. You also may work in administrative support occupations, medical assisting education or office management.

A nurse aide or nursing assistant serves a vital role on the healthcare team, helping patients with daily activities and maintaining patient hygiene. With this certificate, you may work in clinics, hospitals, home healthcare agencies, long-term care facilities, retirement communities or assisted living facilities.

A pharmacy technician works alongside pharmacists to help provide medications and healthcare products to patients. With this training, you might work in hospitals, retail or mail order pharmacies, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, in-home health environments or other healthcare facilities.

The licensed practical nurse (LPN) has a variety of duties while working under the direction of registered nurses, nurse practitioners and doctors. As a licensed practical nurse, you will work in long-term care and rehabilitation facilities, assisted living centers, medical offices, clinics, and home healthcare agencies.

A veterinary assistant cares for animals in an animal hospital or clinic setting, under the supervision of a veterinarian or veterinary technician. With a veterinary assistant certificate, opportunities such as a laboratory animal caretaker or animal care and service worker will open up. You may work in private veterinary clinics, animal shelters, animal hospitals or even zoos.

Dental hygienists work directly with patients, helping them properly care for their oral health. They clean and polish teeth and take X-rays and molds. They also perform some administrative duties, such as recording patients’ dental histories and updating charts. They can find work in private dental offices, corporate dental practices, community health clinics, public health facilities and educational settings.

Physical therapist assistants help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses, helping them to gain better movement and function. As a physical therapist assistant, you’ll have opportunities in the offices of physical therapists, hospitals, nursing care facilities, home healthcare services, outpatient clinics and school systems.

A radiographer, or radiologic technologist, performs diagnostic medical imaging examinations. These technicians work in hospitals, physicians’ offices, clinics, diagnostic imaging centers and outpatient care centers.

Respiratory therapists are specialists in diagnosis, treatment, prevention, management and rehabilitation of patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. As a respiratory therapist, you could work in hospitals, specialty asthma or cystic fibrosis clinics, long-term care facilities, pulmonologists’ offices, sleep labs or air and ambulance transport companies.