New SWOSU, Oklahoma CareerTech Agreements Create Health Care Degree Pathways

Joel Kendall, left, and Brent Haken at the Sept. 4 signing. The partnership will help students build on their CareerTech training as they prepare for health care careers needed across Oklahoma.

Students who complete health care programs through Oklahoma CareerTech will have new ways to apply their training and credentials toward degrees at Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU).

SWOSU and the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education signed four agreements Friday, Sept. 4, that connect CareerTech programs with degree opportunities in surgical technology, medical laboratory technology, health science and medical coding. The pathways will help students build on work they have already completed as they prepare for fields tied to Oklahoma's health care workforce.

"CareerTech students have already invested in their education and prepared for important work," said SWOSU President Joel Kendall. "At SWOSU, we want to help them build on that foundation. These agreements give students a more direct path to a degree while helping Oklahoma prepare the health care professionals our communities need."

SWOSU President Joel Kendall, left, and CareerTech State Director Brent Haken sign the agreements.

Three of the agreements allow eligible students to receive college credit for previous CareerTech preparation and professional credentials. Surgical Technology graduates who hold an approved national certification can receive credit toward SWOSU's Associate of Applied Science in Surgical Technology. Graduates of Emergency Medical Services programs can receive credit toward the Associate of Science in Health Science if they hold an emergency medical technician, advanced emergency medical technician or paramedic licenses. Medical Coding students with nationally recognized credentials can also receive credit toward SWOSU's Medical Coding program.

The fourth agreement creates a pathway into SWOSU's Associate of Applied Science in Medical Laboratory Technician program. SWOSU will guarantee admission for eight qualified graduates of CareerTech Phlebotomy or Lab Assistant programs. The agreement gives those students a defined next step as they continue their preparation for medical laboratory careers.

"Agreements like these provide more Oklahomans the opportunity to pursue careers that will benefit the state and its communities," said Oklahoma CareerTech State Director Brent Haken. "These educational partnerships highlight the value of a meaningful education, no matter the source."

Representatives from SWOSU and Oklahoma CareerTech gather following the signing of four agreements that create new pathways into SWOSU health care programs.

Back row, from left: SWOSU Health Information Management Director Amy Maynard, SWOSU Department of Allied Health Chair Sharon Lawrence, SWOSU Provost Jason Johnson, SWOSU Vice President for Strategic Partnerships Chad Kinder and CareerTech Credentialing Specialist Bryan Hall. Front row, from left: SWOSU President Joel Kendall and CareerTech State Director Brent Haken.

Department of Allied Health Chair Sharon Lawrence, Health Information Management Director Amy Maynard and Vice President for Strategic Partnerships Chad Kinder worked with Health Service Education Division Manager Lara Morris and Credentialing Specialist Bryan Hall from CareerTech to develop the pathways. The agreements create several entry points for students with different types of health care training. Each pathway connects their CareerTech preparation with a SWOSU degree program and gives them an opportunity to advance their education.

Medical Coding students may also continue their education through SWOSU's Bachelor of Science and Master of Science programs in Health Information Management. Both programs are available online, which makes advanced study more accessible to working professionals and students across Oklahoma.

For more information about the agreements, contact Allied Health Sciences Department Chair Dr. Sharon Lawrence at [email protected]. More information about SWOSU's Allied Health Sciences programs is available at https://www.swosu.edu/allied-health/index.php.

About Southwestern Oklahoma State University

Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) was founded in 1901 and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs across three locations in Weatherford, Sayre, and Yukon. The university serves more than 5,000 students and prides itself on affordability, small class sizes, and over 200 faculty and staff committed to helping students achieve their academic and personal goals.

For more information about Southwestern Oklahoma State University, visit www.swosu.edu.