Health Unit Clerk - with Practicum (AKA Health Unit Clerk / Coordinator) Program
Key Information

Program Name

Health Unit Clerk - with Practicum (AKA Health Unit Clerk / Coordinator)

Credential

Diploma

Delivery Method

In Class / Blended / Online

Duration

6 Months

Domestic Fees

Application Fee

CAD$100.00

Tuition Fee

CAD$6600.00

Textbooks Fee

CAD$220.00

Materials Fee

CAD$30.00

International Fees

Application Fee

CAD$200.00

Tuition Fee

CAD$8200.00

Textbooks Fee

CAD$220.00

Materials Fee

CAD$30.00

Health Unit Clerks / Nursing Unit Clerk (HUCs) are the coordinators of a health care unit. They are responsible for a handful of clerical and non-clinical tasks, including coordinating patient appointments, setting up tests, performing reception duties, and interacting with the nursing staff and other departments. An ideal HUC should be able to work in a fast-paced environment and possess strong communication skills. 

 

Note: Health Unit Clerk / Coordinator was reviewed and approved by the registrar of the Private Training Institutions Branch (PTIB) of the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training.

Guildford College admission requirements for the Health Unit Clerk / Nursing Unit Clerk program:

  • Successful completion of a high school diploma or Adult Graduation Diploma; AND are or will reach the age of nineteen (19) years on or before the start of the Program; or if less than nineteen(19) years of age on or before the start of the desired Program, have parental or guardian consent.
  • To qualify as a Mature Student, an Applicant must satisfy the following criteria:
    • Be 21 years of age or older; AND
    • Have not attended high school for at least four (4) years; AND
    • Must submit a Resume showcasing using the English language in a workplace capacity.
  • A copy of the high school transcript is required in addition to the diploma.
  • Foreign applicant: All foreign credentials must be translated into English (or French if applying to a college where the instruction is in French) and equivalent to grade 12 level in Canada.
  • Interview – All potential students must complete an interview with the coordinator of the HUC program to ascertain their suitability to enroll to the program.
  • Prior to acceptance applicants must meet at least one of the following language proficiency requirements:
    • Completion of grades 9-11, including English 11 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher from a country where English is one of the principal languages, or
    • Completion of 2 years of full-time post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction, or

 

Assessment of prior education where English is the language of instruction

As an option for proof of English language proficiency, institutions may accept evidence that an applicant has successfully completed a specified minimum of full-time secondary or post-secondary education at an accredited institution where English is the language of instruction.

Documentation demonstrating this evidence must be provided in English.

The PTIRU considers education completed (in English) in the following countries as counting toward an assessment of prior education in English.

American Samoa Dominica Lesotho St. Kitts & Nevis
Anguilla Falkland Islands Liberia St. Lucia
Antigua and Barbuda Fiji Malta St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Australia Gambia Mauritius Tanzania
Bahamas Ghana Montserrat Trinidad & Tobago
Barbados Gibraltar New Zealand Turks & Caicos Islands
Belize Grenada Nigeria Uganda
Bermuda Guam Seychelles United Kingdom
Botswana Guyana Sierra Leone US Virgin Islands
British Virgin Islands Ireland Singapore USA
Canada Jamaica South Africa Zambia
Cayman slands Kenya St. Helena Zimbabwe

 

Students not meeting any of the above-mentioned English proficiency requirements will be required to meet any of the English Language tests requirements below:

The Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) considers the following standardized English language test/assessment scores to be at a level equivalent to IELTS 5.5 (academic).

PTIRU recognizes that there may be other comparable standardized tests/assessments than those listed below. This chart is not exhaustive and is intended to provide examples of common test scores for easy reference. The Registrar may consider proposals for testing alternatives on a case-by-case basis as part of the program review process.

Institutions are not permitted to use language tests/assessments that they developed (in-house language assessments) as part of an LPR.

Name of English language assessment/test Minimum score(s)/level(s)*
1. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Minimum overall score of 5.5
2. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) IBT Minimum overall score of 46
3. Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) Minimum overall score of 40
4. Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Listening 6, Speaking 6, Reading 5, and Writing 5.
5. Duolingo English Test (DET) Minimum overall score of 95
6. Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic Minimum overall score of 43
7. Cambridge English Qualifications: B2 First exam (FCE) Institutions may include other Cambridge Qualifications at a higher level (i.e., C2 Proficiency (CPE)). Minimum overall score of 160 or "C"
8. Cambridge Linguaskill Minimum overall B2 level
9. LANGUAGECERT Academic Minimum overall B2 level
10. The Michigan English Test (MET) Minimum overall B2 level
11. iTEP Academic Minimum overall score of 3.5
12. EIKEN Minimum placement of Grade Pre-1

 

Mature Students

Institutions may also propose a specific assessment option for mature students who demonstrate proficiency in the program’s language of instruction but face barriers or difficulties accessing educational records. A proposed LPR for mature students must include:

  • Clear and appropriate criteria for what the institution considers to be a mature student,
  • Procedures for assessing language proficiency that can be applied consistently to ensure fairness, and
  • A description of how the assessment will be documented in a student’s records.

A proposal may also include considerations of resumes, formal training, work experience, community service, and coursework which could include recognized adult upgrading language courses. The Registrar will consider these proposals on a case-by-case basis.

Question: Does the LPR apply to domestic students?

Answer: Yes. All applicants, regardless of their citizenship status or country of origin, must demonstrate an appropriate level of language proficiency.

 

Pre-Practicum Requirements:

  • CPR and First Aid Certificates [Only Required before practicum begins]
    • Students must complete Standard First Aid and Basic Rescuer CPR.
  • Police Check (Clearance) of Criminal Record [Only Required before practicum begins]
    • The Police Check must include a Vulnerable Sector Check.
    • Individuals who have a criminal record are not able to participate in the practicum placement and therefore are unable to graduate from the program.

 

*International Applicants: All International credentials must be translated into English (or French if applying to a college where the instruction is in French) and equivalent to grade 12 level in Canada.

Courses

Total Courses: 11

This course provides an overview of the program, skills required to work as a NUC and an overview of the health care system. Students will be made aware of the standards of conduct and ethics required as a health care professional. Students will also be familiarized with how a hospital is organized…
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Students will be introduced to the medical terminology necessary to allow for effective communication as a health care professional, specifically to their role as a NUC. Students will also learn the basics of anatomy, physiology, and pathology, as well as the body structure and functions. Medical t…
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This course allows students to examine the basic information which Nursing Unit Clerks need to know about Pharmacology. The focus is on the classification of the most common drugs and the ability to identify them by both generic and trade names. This course examines the principles of pharmacology a…
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Physician’s orders considered one of the most important tasks that the Health Unit Clerk/Coordinator are required to master in their jobs. Students need to experience as many as possible examples of physicians’ orders to analyze orders for appropriateness and errors. Students are introduced to seve…
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This course introduces students to physician medication orders and the NUC's role in transcribing and processing medication orders. Information is given about the use of abbreviations and acronyms, the components of a medication order, routs of administration and administration times. The Course al…
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Students are introduced to laboratory orders, to understand their purpose. Students will be introduced, but not limited to, hematology, chemistry, microbiology, virology, pathology, and blood products. The course places specific emphasis on how patients must be prepared for tests, how specimens sho…
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This course reviews a wide variety of diagnostic tests done by different departments which may be required for a patient’s treatment. Students will learn to interpret diagnostic orders, how to order and transcribe diagnostics and communicate with various departments to ensure that the tests take pl…
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This course builds on the theory and practice from Semester 1 and provides students with the skills to understand the foundations to process surgical orders, and orders from specialty units. Students will develop information literacy skills in class by creating and using their own resources to comp…
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The course provides students with the technical and reflective skills to work as a professional member of the health care team. Students will complete activities and assignments on and off campus in preparation for the practicum course. In addition to preparing the students for the practicum placem…
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The practicum course integrates knowledge and skills from all previous courses and provides students the practical setting to demonstrate effective professional communication behaviors, use operating systems and health forms accurately, to complete the beginning tasks of a health unit clerk / coord…
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After completion of practicum, students must complete a practicum report using the templates provided and hand their report to their instructor for final grading. After all reports have been submitted and graded, a feedback session will be held with the instructor.
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Upon completion of this program, the Health Unit Clerk / Nursing Unit Clerk graduate will be able to:

  • Apply the knowledge and skills to act safely, ethically, and responsibly as a health care team member.
  • Model professional behaviors in health care settings.
  • Demonstrate professional communication skills within the healthcare environment.
  • Integrate knowledge of cultural sensitivity and diversity into practice in a variety of settings.
  • Practice digital and information literacy skills to support safe client care.
  • Apply critical thinking when coordinating within the role and responsibilities of the Health Unit Coordinator.
  • Demonstrate initiative and responsibility to coordinate patient and unit activities.
  • Collaborate with health care professionals during their practicum to coordinate patient and unit activities.
  • Unit Clerk
  • Health Unit Clerk
  • Hospital Unit Clerk
  • Nursing Unit Clerk
  • Emergency Health Service Call Taker
  • Patient Transfer Network Coordinator
  • Scheduling Clerk

Have any questions? Contact us to get more information on our programs, admission process, and more.

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