Allied Health Assistant

Course Description

HSC0016C – Allied Health Assistant is a Postsecondary Adult Vocational (PSAV) clock-hour course that is part of the Florida Department of Education (FLDOE) Health Science Career Certificate program framework. The course is structured as an Occupational Completion Point (OCP) module — typically the third or later OCP within larger Patient Care Assistant, Patient Care Technician, or related Allied Health PSAV programs. Students who have completed the foundational Basic Healthcare Worker (HSC0003) Health Science Core and the Patient Care Assistant nursing-aide competencies progress to HSC0016C to add aide-level skills representative of one to three major allied health areas determined by local labor-market demand at each institution.

The course sits within the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) under Health Sciences > Patient Care and is offered at approximately 23 Florida public institutions — primarily Florida College System institutions, technical colleges, and adult-education centers. HSC0016C is governed by the FLDOE Health Science Curriculum Framework rather than by the academic-credit conventions of college-level courses; credits are 0 (clock-hour PSAV) and the meaningful measure is contact hours. Successful completion qualifies students for an institutional certificate of "Allied Health Assistant" with specific competencies listed by area, and supports articulation toward the broader Patient Care Technician credential and continued health-sciences pathways.

Major allied health areas defined by FLDOE for inclusion in HSC0016C are physical therapy, emergency, radiation, clinical laboratory, respiratory medicine, and occupational therapy. Other areas in health, medicine, dentistry, or veterinary work may be included with instructor-developed competencies. All HSC0016C competencies must remain at the aide level and not extend into the scope of practice of licensed personnel; invasive procedures within the nursing scope of practice are excluded. Students perform aide-level skills in the school laboratory before progressing to supervised clinical experience under the appropriate health professional.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of HSC0016C, students will be able to:

• Perform aide-level skills representative of 1 to 3 major allied health areas selected by the institution based on local labor-market demand, in both the school laboratory and the supervised clinical setting.
• Demonstrate professional behaviors and effective team skills appropriate to the allied health workplace: organizational skills; effective team membership; communication with patients, families, and team members; respect for cultural diversity; legal and ethical conduct.
• Apply principles of safe practice in the allied health setting: infection control and standard precautions; safe body mechanics for patient and equipment movement; emergency response procedures; HIPAA and confidentiality; recognition of one's own scope-of-practice limits.
• Successfully complete a clinical rotation in each selected major allied health area at the aide level, under the supervision of an appropriate health professional.
• Communicate effectively with patients, families, and the interdisciplinary healthcare team in the contexts encountered in the selected allied health areas.
• Maintain accurate documentation of patient-care activities at the aide level, consistent with institution policies and applicable laws.
• Demonstrate appropriate professional ethics, including patient privacy, confidentiality, and the boundaries of unlicensed assistive personnel.

Selected-Area Outcomes (Vary by Institution Selection)

If Physical Restorative Aide Skills Are Selected

• Describe the functions of bones and muscles as related to physical therapy practice; describe common conditions encountered in physical therapy.
• Identify and describe the use of physical-therapy modalities (ultrasound, heat and cold therapy, therapeutic massage, electrical stimulation, wound care, elastic stockings) at an awareness level.
• Identify, describe, and demonstrate the use of mobility devices (crutches, walkers, canes, wheelchairs); teach crutch and walker use and care.
• Demonstrate active and passive range-of-motion exercises; instruct patients in bed and wheelchair mobility; perform safe body mechanics and patient-transfer techniques.

If Occupational Restorative Aide Skills Are Selected

• Describe the pathways of occupational therapy practice; describe equipment used in occupational therapy.
• Educate clients in activities of daily living (clothing care, food preparation, money management); perform feeding and dressing skills using adaptive equipment and one-handed techniques.
• Identify augmented communication devices and their purposes; assist clients to eat using prompting; describe the splint-making process at an awareness level.
• Perform and instruct range-of-motion exercises specific to occupational therapy.

If Respiratory Restorative Aide Skills Are Selected

• Name and discuss the pathways of respiratory care practice; describe common respiratory diseases (asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, atelectasis).
• Differentiate between common oxygen-delivery devices (nasal cannulas, simple masks, partial and non-rebreathing masks, oxy-hoods) at an awareness level.

If Clinical Laboratory Aide Skills Are Selected

• Perform CLIA-waived testing on blood and urine; report urine specific gravity, color, and characteristics.
• Describe the process for preparing blood slides for differential blood count; identify and explain the use of common instruments and equipment in the clinical laboratory.

If Medical Administrative Assisting Skills Are Selected

• Demonstrate understanding of basic medical terminology (prefixes, suffixes, abbreviations, root words); apply medical terminology to documentation tasks.
• Demonstrate understanding of medical-records filing systems (numerical, alphabetical, terminal-digit); demonstrate computer literacy, keyboarding, and retrieval skills.
• List procedures for scheduling and referring patients; handling walk-in emergency patients; telephone etiquette.
• Define release of medical information, explanation of benefits, assignment of benefits, electronic remittance advice; develop understanding of healthcare coverage and patient insurance documentation.
• Discuss types of medical records: electronic health records (EHR), digital records, and paper records.

Major Topics

Required Topics (All Students)

• Allied Health Workplace Orientation: The structure of the allied health workforce; roles and scopes of unlicensed assistive personnel; the relationship between aides and licensed clinicians; legal and ethical responsibilities of unlicensed assistive personnel.
• Professional Behaviors and Team Skills: Punctuality and reliability; appearance and dress code; communication with patients and team members; cultural sensitivity in healthcare; conflict resolution; team-based care.
• Safe Practice in the Allied Health Setting: Infection control and standard precautions (specific to the selected allied health areas); safe body mechanics; equipment safety; emergency response (CPR review, fire/disaster procedures); HIPAA and confidentiality.
• Documentation: Accurate and timely documentation; the role of documentation in continuity of care, billing, and legal protection; institution-specific documentation systems.
• Selected Major Allied Health Areas: One to three of the following are selected by the institution based on local labor-market demand: Physical Restorative (PT-aide skills), Occupational Restorative (OT-aide skills), Respiratory Restorative (respiratory-aide skills), Clinical Laboratory (CLIA-waived lab-aide skills), Medical Administrative (front-office and EHR skills), Emergency or Radiation (where institutional capacity allows).
• Laboratory Skill Practice: Hands-on practice of selected allied health area skills in the school laboratory before clinical assignment.
• Clinical Rotation: Supervised practice in healthcare facilities for each selected major allied health area, under the direction of the appropriate licensed health professional.

Optional Topics

• Veterinary or Dental Aide Skills: Where institutional capacity supports these areas, with instructor-developed competencies remaining at the aide level.
• Career Planning: Articulation pathways from Allied Health Assistant credential to advanced PSAV credentials, AS programs, and BS programs in healthcare.
• HOSA Participation: Career and Technical Student Organization activities for healthcare students.

Resources & Tools

• FLDOE Curriculum Framework: The authoritative reference for HSC0016C content is the Florida Department of Education Health Science Curriculum Framework, available at fldoe.org/academics/career-adult-edu/career-tech-edu/curriculum-frameworks. The framework specifies competencies for the "Allied Health Assistant" OCP module within the Patient Care Assistant and Patient Care Technician PSAV programs.
• Required clinical-skills supplies: Personal protective equipment (gloves, face masks, gowns); patient-care equipment specific to selected areas (e.g., gait belts and transfer devices for PT; adaptive eating utensils for OT; oxygen-delivery devices for respiratory; CLIA-waived test kits for laboratory; standard medical-office software for administrative).
• Required reference texts: Vary by institution and area selection. Common references include: Mosby's Textbook for Nursing Assistants by Sorrentino and Remmert (Mosby/Elsevier) — building on the foundational PCA training; area-specific texts for each selected allied health area; the institution's medical-terminology reference if medical administrative is selected.
• Industry credential information: Florida CNA credential through the Florida Department of Health (where applicable to the broader PCT/PCA program); Patient Care Technician (PCT) certification options; specialty area certifications (e.g., EKG, phlebotomy, medical office) that may follow Allied Health Assistant completion.
• Clinical sites: Each institution maintains contractual relationships with local hospitals, long-term-care facilities, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and physician practices for student clinical rotations. Common Florida partners include AdventHealth, Orlando Health, BayCare, HCA Healthcare, Lee Health, Memorial Healthcare, and various long-term-care facilities and rehabilitation centers across the state.
• Career and Technical Student Organization: HOSA – Future Health Professionals (formerly Health Occupations Students of America) is the affiliated CTSO for HSC0016C and broader health-science programs. HOSA offers competitive events, leadership development, and networking opportunities. Florida HOSA is among the strongest state HOSA chapters in the nation.
• Tutoring and support: Institution health-science learning labs and skills labs; faculty mentors and clinical instructors; peer mentoring with advanced students in the program.

Career Pathways

HSC0016C supports entry into and advancement within the unlicensed assistive personnel workforce in Florida's substantial healthcare sector. Specific Florida career pathways include:

• Allied Health Assistant — direct entry into aide-level allied health roles in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, and long-term-care facilities.
• Patient Care Technician (PCT) — combined nursing-assistant and allied-health-aide skills; among the most marketable Florida healthcare entry-level credentials.
• Physical Therapy Aide (where physical restorative is selected) — Florida outpatient and inpatient PT settings; supports career progression to Physical Therapist Assistant (AS) and PT (DPT).
• Occupational Therapy Aide (where occupational restorative is selected) — Florida OT settings; supports career progression to Occupational Therapy Assistant (AS) and OT (MS/OTD).
• Respiratory Therapy Aide (where respiratory restorative is selected) — Florida hospital respiratory-therapy departments; supports career progression to Respiratory Therapist (AS).
• Clinical Laboratory Aide / Phlebotomy Technician (where clinical laboratory is selected) — Florida hospital and reference labs; supports career progression to Medical Laboratory Technician (AS) and Medical Laboratory Scientist (BS).
• Medical Office Assistant / Medical Administrative Assistant (where medical administrative is selected) — Florida physician practices, clinics, and hospital administrative positions.
• Articulation to Practical Nursing — many Florida PSAV health-science programs articulate from PCA/Allied Health Assistant into Practical Nursing (LPN) programs.
• Articulation to Associate Degree (AS) Programs — pathway from PSAV credentials toward Florida AS-Nursing, AS-Respiratory Therapy, AS-Physical Therapist Assistant, AS-Occupational Therapy Assistant, AS-Medical Laboratory Technology, and similar healthcare AS programs.
• Healthcare Sector Employment in Florida: Florida's substantial healthcare sector includes major employers like AdventHealth (Central Florida), Orlando Health, BayCare (Tampa Bay), Lee Health (Southwest Florida), Memorial Healthcare (Broward), HCA Healthcare facilities statewide, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, Cleveland Clinic Florida (Weston), Mayo Clinic Florida (Jacksonville), and a substantial long-term-care, rehabilitation, and home-health sector.

Special Information

Program Position and Articulation

HSC0016C is one OCP within the broader Patient Care Assistant or Patient Care Technician PSAV program. Students typically enter through the Health Science Core (HSC0003 Basic Healthcare Worker), proceed through Patient Care Assistant nursing-aide competencies, and add HSC0016C Allied Health Assistant skills as one of the final OCPs in the broader credential. Students completing the full program earn an institutional Patient Care Technician (PCT) certificate.

FLDOE Curriculum Framework Compliance

HSC0016C must be delivered consistent with the FLDOE Health Science Curriculum Framework. Specific institutions select 1-3 major allied health areas based on local labor-market demand and institutional clinical-site capacity. The certificate of completion identifies "Allied Health Assistant" with the specific areas of competency listed.

Scope-of-Practice Limits

All HSC0016C competencies are at the aide level only and do not extend into the licensed scope of practice of physical therapists, occupational therapists, respiratory therapists, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, clinical laboratory scientists, or other licensed allied health professionals. Invasive procedures within the nursing scope of practice (medication administration, intravenous therapy, sterile procedures, etc.) are explicitly excluded. The course prepares unlicensed assistive personnel who work under licensed supervision.

Clinical Hours and Background Requirements

HSC0016C requires successful completion of clinical rotations in the selected allied health areas. Clinical placement requires:

• Negative Florida-mandated background check
• Current immunizations consistent with clinical-site requirements (typically including TB testing, MMR, Hepatitis B series, varicella, influenza, and COVID-19)
• Current CPR certification (typically Healthcare Provider level)
• Health insurance and clinical-site liability documentation as required

Specific requirements vary by institution and clinical site.

Course Format and Hours

HSC0016C is structured as a clock-hour PSAV course. Total contact hours typically range from 90–150 hours depending on the number of allied health areas selected (more areas = more hours). The course combines classroom instruction, school-laboratory skills practice, and supervised clinical rotation. Specific scheduling varies by institution; many programs offer day, evening, and accelerated formats to accommodate working students.

Credits

HSC0016C is a 0-credit PSAV clock-hour course. Per Florida convention, PSAV courses are measured in clock hours rather than college credits. The course does not transfer as college credit to AA or AS programs in the conventional sense; however, articulation agreements between Florida PSAV programs and AS-degree programs in nursing, respiratory therapy, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapy assistant, and other allied health fields recognize PSAV completion in defined ways. Students should consult their institution about specific articulation agreements.

Course Code Variations

Florida institutions consistently use HSC0016C for this PSAV module. The corresponding secondary-school course is "Allied Health Assisting" (FLDOE course code 8417130). Courses are aligned to the Health Science Curriculum Framework and consistent across Florida technical colleges, FCS technical centers, and adult-education centers.