In demand medical training offered with tuition reimbursement

Central Penn College is offering medical assisting and phlebotomy training in conjunction with UPMC and UPMC Pinnacle Foundation. 

The programs will be added to the surgical technician program which started in February in which students who successfully complete the program are hired by UPMC and will receive payments equivalent to the full cost of the programs in addition to their salary. 

“Phlebotomists and medical assistants are much-needed members of the health care team, providing a wide range of crucial services to patients,” said Lou Baverso, COO, UPMC in Central Pa. “It is a need in our communities, and we hope this will help fill it. We’re very happy to partner with Central Penn College to support these programs and provide a high-quality education at potentially no final cost to the student.” 

 As part of this initiative, Central Penn College will offer a new 12-month, 30-credit, Medical Assisting Diploma Program that requires students to attend full-time, in-person classes on the college’s Summerdale campus. The Phlebotomy Technician Certificate is an existing 9-month, part-time program that includes a mix of online and in-person classes. 

Phlebotomy is a burgeoning health care field. Jobs for phlebotomists and phlebotomy technicians are expected to grow 22% through 2030, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.   

Jobs in medical assisting (MA) are expected to grow 19% through 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

 Like the surgical technician program, funding from UPMC, Central Penn College, and UPMC Pinnacle Foundation, program graduates who work at UPMC will receive payments in addition to their salaries equivalent to the cost of the programs. Students must complete at least two years of the work requirement at UPMC facilities in the Central Pa. region. 

 Students also can work in a variety of full- and part-time positions that can accommodate their studies. “We will help interested students find the right position for them to work in a health care setting,” added Baverso. 

Central Penn College is making the CPC Housing Scholarship––valued at $5,800 a year–– available to all qualifying medical assisting enrollees who attend full-time. Students in the part-time phlebotomy technician program are eligible to receive a partial housing scholarship. 

 “This initiative is an excellent opportunity for students looking to work in the growing health care field,” said Dr. Krista Wolfe, vice president of academic affairs and provost at the college. “Whether you’re a recent high school graduate or someone ready to make a career change, you could be employed as a medical assistant or phlebotomy technician within 12 months or less. And your tuition could be fully reimbursed, thanks to this innovative partnership.” 

Classes will start Tuesday, July 5. Due to the medical nature of these programs, students will receive hands-on, experiential learning as part of the required, in-person classes. The first term enrollment is limited to 20 students for each program. The deadline to apply is Thursday, June 30.