Allied Health
Certified Nursing Aide (CNA)
Please see counseling for an application.
Contact information by site:
- Ridgecrest/IWV: (760) 384-6219
- Bishop: (760) 872-1565
All students must complete a Background Check before participating in the program.
After passing the CNA course, students will need to pass the Nurse Assistant Competency Exam, and obtain a Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate. Keep your receipt, because some long term facilities reimburse your fees after working for them for a year.
This program is authorized by California Department of Public Health. To learn more about the agency or to submit a complaint about Cerro Coso Community College's program after trying to resolve the issue through the local Student Complaint Policy, contact the agency at www.cdph.ca.gov.
Medical Assisting
Cerro Coso Community College offers the following medical assisting options:
The first step is to take the core classes, which are offered online in the spring, summer, and fall. The next step is to take either the administrative and/or clinical medical assisting classes. You will need to contact counseling to take the administrative or clinical medical assisting classes, because they are listed as “restricted” on the schedule. The counseling team will verify that you are either currently enrolled in the core classes or that you have completed them.
Please note that you need to have a grade of “C” or better in all your medical assisting core classes to move on to the administrative or clinical medical assisting classes, and a grade of “C” or better in all your administrative and/or clinical medical assisting courses to earn the certificate(s) or degree.
If you have any questions, please contact your local counseling department.
Medical Assisting Resources
California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants: examination application, testing, and other resources.
This program is authorized by California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants. To learn more about the agency or to submit a complaint about Cerro Coso Community College's program after trying to resolve the issue through the local Student Complaint Policy, contact the agency at ccbma.org.
Medical Billing and Coding
Cerro Coso Community College offers the following certificates:
Home Health Aide (HHA)
The HHA class is offered at IWV/Ridgecrest. You MUST have current CNA certification before you can enroll in the class. Students must also complete a Certified Background Check (instructions in CNA Applications).
Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN)
The next LVN Program starts in August. Make your appointment with Counseling now!
2022-2023 LVN Program Applications
NOTICE: The application process for the Vocational Nursing program is now open through Cerro Coso Community College at the Ridgecrest campus and ESCC-Bishop campuses. Please read the entire packet and follow the instructions to ensure a fully complete packet is submitted.
Applicants MUST schedule an appointment with the counseling department at appropriate campus prior to the close of this application offering. The counselor will be evaluating and confirming applicant meets minimum requirements for entry into VN program. Once confirmed, applicant needs to schedule a time to take the Pre-Admission test (NLN PAX) that is REQUIRED for your application to be accepted. Testing can only be done at the Ridgecrest and ESCC-Bishop campuses.
The application process will close on May 13, 2022. Only those completed applications meeting minimum requirements will be accepted for the 2022-2023 cohort. All applications must be submitted to counseling department by May 13, 2022, to be eligible.
The Vocational Nursing program is being offered at the following campus (es) for 2022-2023:
- Indian Wells Valley (Ridgecrest) COHORT A
- Eastern Sierra College Center (Bishop) COHORT B
To schedule an appointment with the counseling department, applicant must call their campus at the numbers below. Counselor must receive completed application by May 13, 2022, to be eligible.
- Ridgecrest campus: (760) 384-6219
- Bishop campus: (760) 872-5300
- Mammoth students: (760) 934-2875
LVN Prerequisites
- HCRS C132 - Electronic Health Records (required beginning Fall 2023)
- HCRS C150 - Medical Terminology
- PSYC C101 - General Psychology
AND
- BIOL C125 - Survey of Human Anatomy & Physiology with a lab
(Recommended for those just pursuing LVN)
OR
BIOL C251 - Human Anatomy AND BIOL C255 - Human Physiology
(Recommended for those going on to RN afterwards)
- ENGL C101 - English Composition AND MATH C121 - Elementary Probability & Statistics
(Highly recommended, but not required at this time)
Nursing students must have a high school diploma or GED before applying to the program.
All prerequisites with a grade of "C" or better have to be done prior to the start of the LVN Program. It typically will take a student 2 years to complete both the prerequisites and the LVN Program. Completing the AS degree in Vocational Nursing is strongly encouraged.
All students must complete a Background Check before participating in the program.
Licensed Vocational Nursing (LVN) Pass Rates
- 2010: 86%
- 2011: 100%
- 2012: 90%
- 2013: 77%
- 2014: 77%
- 2015: 78%
- 2016: 100%
- 2017: 87%
- 2018: 93%
- 2019: 92%
- 2020: 83%
Programs Offered
Emergency Medical Technician
Human Services
Medical Assisting
Vocational Nursing
Faculty
