Patient Care Technician/Assistant in board room

Case Study: Stacked Credentials

Stevens-Henager College prepares students for careers in multiple allied health specialties. Stacked credentials from NHA are helping students secure more competitive jobs as well as salary increases.

Stacked Credentials Drive Better Opportunities

Greg Stanfield could see the possibilities from the very beginning. The right certifications and credentials, in the right healthcare fields, could have a profound difference in student academic success, as well as job opportunities.

As the Dean of Education at Stevens-Henager, Stanfield is always looking for ways to give his students that extra advantage in the workforce. The more his students know, the better they are in their field, and the more likely they are to find better jobs that sustain them. Before joining Stevens-Henager three years ago, Stanfield spent 34 years as a high school educator, as a principal and coach. The competitive spirit he brought to coaching clearly comes through in his academic advising.

“Competition is fierce, especially in this economy, and the opportunities go to the best candidates – period – employers can be very selective right now,” said Stanfield. “We’re on a mission to graduate the best candidates in the workforce, and that’s why we recommend NHA certifications to all of our students in our healthcare programs.”

"We've seen remarkable results. Our students are getting great jobs in the public and private sector, and the certifications are helping them earn promotions and raises. These jobs mean a lot to our students and their families.." — Greg Stanfield Executive Director/Dean of Education, Stevens-Henager College

Stacked Credentials: A Winning Strategy

Stevens-Henager was founded in Ogden-West Haven, Utah, in September 1891 as the Intermountain Business College. The College offers degree programs in healthcare and modern business, and has nine locations throughout Idaho and Utah.

The healthcare programs at Stevens-Henager offer all NHA certifications, including Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), Pharmacy Technician (CPhT), EKG Technician (CET), Certified Patient Care Technician/Assistant (CPCT/A) and Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).

For those students interested in a more administrative focus, Stevens-Henager faculty recommend NHA’s Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Electronic Health Record Specialist Certification (CEHRS™) and Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

“We’ve seen remarkable results,” said Stanfield. “Our students are getting great jobs in the public and private sector, and the certifications are helping them earn promotions and raises. These jobs mean a lot to our students and their families.”

Best Practices for the Best Career

Once Stevens-Henager decided to offer NHA stacked credentials, NHA staffers got faculty, administrators and students at Stevens-Henager up to speed quickly on the benefits of credentialing.

“Employers see credentialed candidates as more committed to their career and to excellence,” said Stanfield. “It shows they are willing go the extra mile and put forth more effort.”

The sense of pride and accomplishment that comes from earning the credential is a powerful motivator as well. Stanfield has even created a “Wall of Fame” featuring those students who have earned an NHA healthcare credential.

“We make a big deal about it because it is a big deal,” said Stanfield.

“Now that we’ve seen the impact on students and their careers, our whole faculty highly recommends the NHA credentials,” said Stanfield. “NHA has delivered results as promised, and our students have a real edge in the job marketplace.”

Stacked Credentials Validate Multiple Competencies

To help students gain an edge, Stevens-Henager College partnered with NHA to implement a variety of healthcare certifications in pharmacy, phlebotomy, EKG and medical assisting.

Stacked credentials from NHA make students more attractive candidates in the marketplace and build student self-esteem.

Placements and opportunities are up among Stevens-Henager graduates, and faculty members recommend credentialing for all students that go through their healthcare programs.