Health & Medical Sciences
Nominations for 2016-2017 Career and Technical Education Curriculum Review Committees – School divisions may nominate a CTE teacher for each of the 36 committees. Approximately 12 applicants will be selected to serve on each committee. All nominees who wish to serve on a committee must complete the Web-based application using the CTE Application Processing System (CTEAPS). The Web-based application process requires a professional reference and division-level approval (division superintendent or designee). For more information, see Superintendent’s Memo 104-16.
Revised Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing – The Virginia Board of Nursing (VBON) released revised Commonwealth of Virginia Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing), 18VAC 90-20-10 et seq., Statutory Authority: §§54.1-2400 and Chapter 30 of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia on December 2, 2015. The changes will impact all Virginia Department of Education approved practical nursing programs. For more information, see Superintendent’s Memo 308-15.
Special Grants for Survey Fee Required for Practical Nursing Programs – Special grants will be offered to school divisions with practical nursing programs that are scheduled for survey visits by the Virginia Board of Nursing during 2016-2017. This grant is being provided with Perkins funds to school divisions on a reimbursement basis and will cover the $2,200 survey fee. The survey fee does not apply to high school nurse aide or other health and medical science programs. For more information, see Superintendent’s Memo 303-15.
Revised National Nurse Aide Assessment Program (NNAAP) Certification Examination Content Online – Effective January 1, 2016, Pearson Visual Understanding Environment (VUE) will begin administering the new knowledge (written) examination with slight changes based on the revised NNAAP content outline. The revised NNAAP exam content outline is available on the Pearson VUE nurse aide website
and in all online candidates’ handbooks. For more information, see Superintendent’s Memo 281-15.
Virginia Board of Nursing Criminal Background Check Requirements – As enacted by the 2015 Virginia Assembly, effective January 1, 2016, the Virginia Board of Nursing shall require each applicant for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) and Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) to submit a complete fingerprint-based criminal background check (CBC) to be processed at both the state and federal levels. For more information, see Superintendent’s Memo 242-15. For additional follow-up, see Career and Technical Education Memo 094-15 (PDF).
Revised Regulations for Nurse Aide Programs, Effective 2015-2016 School Year – The Virginia Board of Nursing recently released revised guidance documents for the Nurse Aide education programs in accordance with the Administrative Code 18 VAC90-26-30.(B)(D) and 18 VAC90-26-30.(C)(D), Requirements for Instructional Personnel. For more information, see Superintendent’s Memo 221-15.
Within each cluster, there are multiple career pathways that represent a common set of skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a full range of career opportunities within that pathway. Career Clusters that relate to instruction in health and medical sciences include:
Career Pathways
Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.
Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security prepares you for service in public safety and security. Responsibilities include prevention of and protection from harm such as crime or natural disasters. Career opportunities range from public safety to legal services to homeland security.
Career Pathways
Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.
Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics prepares you for careers using science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. Jobs within this career cluster conduct in-depth research to provide solutions to a variety of technical problems within many different fields. A postsecondary degree and relevant work experience are necessary to succeed in this field.
Career Pathways
Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.
- introduce secondary students to nursing, medical, dental, and other health occupations
- prepare students with basic skills for employment in nursing homes, clinics, medical and dental offices, hospitals, homes, and certain public health settings
- facilitate entry into advanced health occupations programs that require post-high school education leading to state licensure, certification, registration, or national credentialing
- enable students to become more knowledgeable consumers of health services.
The occupational preparation programs prepare students for entry-level positions in a particular health field or for advanced training in health occupations at the technical and professional levels.
- nursing – certified nurse's aide or licensed practical nurse
- medical – medical assistant, emergency medical technician or surgical technologist
- dental – dental assistant
- other health occupations – physical or occupational therapy aide, respiratory therapy assistant, rehabilitation aide, dietary aide, laboratory aide, geriatric aide, home health aide, housekeeping aide, sterile supply aide, transportation aide or veterinary assistant.
Local school divisions determine the structure of Health and Medical Sciences courses. Programs may be offered in two- or three-hour blocks or in a one-hour block the first year and a two-hour block the second year.
Virginia Board of Nursing Regulations
- Commonwealth of Virginia Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing (PDF)
- Regulations Governing the Practice of Nursing PowerPoint (PDF)
- Flowchart Identifying the Process for Preparing and Submitting an “Application for Initial Approval of Nursing Education Program” (PDF)
- Flowchart Identifying the Process for “Continued Approval of Nursing Education Programs” (PDF)
- Nurse Aide Education Program – Instructional Personnel Form (Word)
- Nurse Aide Education Program Skills Record (Word)
- Nurse Aide Education Program Curriculum (Word)
- Criminal History Background Checks
Instructional Resources
The following courses were revised for implementation during the 2016-2017 school year. All curriculum frameworks are available through VERSO from the CTE Resource Center:
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- Introductions to Nutrition for Health and Medical Sciences (8390)
- Sterile Processing Technician (8367)
- Medical Laboratory Technology I (8377)
- Medical Laboratory Technology II (8378)
- Dental Assistant I (8328) – will change to Dental Careers I
- Dental Assistant II (8329) – will change to Dental Careers II
- Medical Coding and Billing (New Course)
- Vision Care Technician I ( New Course)
- Vision Care Technician II ( New Course)
- Food Science and Dietetics (New Course)
- Health & Medical Sciences Course Listing (PDF)
- Essential Competency List for Health & Medical Sciences (Virginia's CTE Resource Center)
- Administrative Planning Guide for Health and Medical Sciences
- Industry Credentialing
- Equipment Resource Guide – See Equipment for CTE Programs
- Governor’s Health Sciences Academies
- Project Lead the Way
Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)
Virginia Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA)Promotes career opportunities in the health care industry to enhance the delivery of quality health care to all people. For more information, visit the CTSO web page.
WBL is a school-coordinated, coherent sequence of on-the-job experiences that are related to students’ career goals and/or interests, are based on instructional preparation and are performed in partnership with local businesses, industries or other organizations in the community. For more information on WBL methods of instruction, visit Work-Based Learning.
Revised EMT Guidelines – The High School Based Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Educational Program Guidelines (PDF) 
were developed jointly with the Office of Emergency Medical Services to unify state and national standards, establish consistent EMT program standards, to ensure high-quality programs are implemented in high schools and technical centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. Also see Superintendent’s Memo 119-16.
Additional Resources
- 2015-2016 Reference Sheet (PDF)
- 2015-2016 Calendar of Events (PDF)
- Heath and Medical Sciences Update, April 2014 (PPT)
- Health and Medical Sciences Licensure Endorsement Requirements
- Career Planning Guide
Outside Resources
- Virginia Health Regulatory Boards:
- Virginia Health and Medical Sciences Educators Association (VAHMASEA)
- Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)
- Virginia Association for Career and Technical Education (Virginia ACTE)
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