Degrees and Programs

Community Health

College of Rural Alaska
Bristol Bay Campus (907) 842-5109
Chukchi Campus (907) 442-3400
Interior-Aleutians Campus (907) 474-5439
Kuskokwim Campus (907) 543-4500
Northwest Campus (907) 443-2201

CHA/P Training Centers:
Anchorage CHA Training Program, ANMC (907) 729-2427
Norton Sound Health Corporation, Nome (907) 443-3404
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Cons, Sitka (907) 966-8758
Tanana Chiefs Conference, Inc., Fairbanks (907) 452-8251, ext. 3410
Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp., Bethel (907) 543-6150

Certificate; Degree: A.A.S.

Minimum Requirements for Certificate: 34 credits; for Degree: 60 credits

Downloadable PDF (452K)

The Community Health Aide/Practitioner (CHA/P) Training Program prepares residents to provide primary health care services in villages, under the supervision of a referral physician. CHA/P employment by a regional health corporation is a prerequisite for entering this unique training program.

The educational program consists of four basic training sessions. Each training session is four weeks long and is followed by a field component in the CHA's village clinic. The curriculum includes the knowledge and skills necessary to provide acute care for common medical problems, emergency car, follow-up care for patients with chronic illnesses and preventive services including prenatal and well child care. The training also includes a state-approved emergency care courses, completion of a skills checklist, a supervised clinical preceptorship and passing the CHP statewide examination.

Upon successful completion of all certification requirements, a certificate as a Community Health Practitioner (CHP) is awarded by the training center.

Students completing the training program also meet the requirements for a university certificate, recognizing the credits earned. These credits may be used to satisfy requirements for the A.A.S. degree.

The curriculum and certification process is kept uniform throughout the state by a CHA/P Academic Review Committee (ARC). This review committee has representation from the regional health corporations, training centers and university. ARC reports to the Association of CHA/P Program Directors and serves in an advisory role to the dean of the College of Rural Alaska.

For more information about the CHA/P basic training program, contact one of the CHA/P training centers. For more information about the A.A.S. degree, contact the Kuskokwim Campus.

Undergraduate Program

Major

Community Health -- Certificate

1. Complete the certificate requirements.
2. Complete the following:*
   CHP 131 -- Community Health Aide, Session I (8 credits)
   CHP 132 -- Community Health Aide, Session II (8 credits)
   CHP 133 -- Community Health Aide, Session III (8 credits)
   CHP 134 -- Community Health Aide, Session IV (8 credits)
   CHP 135 -- Community Health Aide, Preceptorship (2 credits)
3. Minimum credits required (34 credits)

* This sequence replaces the CHP 120 series listed in the UAF 1992-93 catalog. The course designator changes represent the addition of CHP 134 and the integration of the field experience within each 8-credit session.
Note: The student may take CHP 082 prior to CHP 131 as an option when regionally available.

Community Health -- A.A.S. Degree

1. Complete the general university requirements.
2. Complete the A.A.S. degree requirements.
3. Complete the following program (major) requirements:*
   
   1. Complete the following:
      CHP 131 -- Community Health Aide, Session I (8 credits)
      CHP 132 -- Community Health Aide, Session II (8 credits)
      CHP 133 -- Community Health Aide, Session III (8 credits)
      CHP 134 -- Community Health Aide, Session IV (8 credits)
      CHP 135 -- Community Health Aide, Preceptorship (2 credits)
   2. Complete 5 or more credits from the following:
      CHP 203 -- Clinical Update for Community Health Practitioners (1-3 credits)
      CHP 206 -- Mental Health and Substance Abuse (1-3 credits)
      CHP 207 -- Maternal and Infant Health (1-3 credits)
      CHP 208 -- Communicable Diseases (1-3 credits)
      CHP 211 -- Health Education (1-3 credits)
      CHP 212 -- Diabetes: Primary Prevention and Village Medical Care (1-3 credits)
      CHP 214 -- Cancer: Risks, Diagnosis and Treatment (3 credits)
      CHP 215 -- Death and Dying (3 credits)
      CHP 220 -- Women's Health: Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening (2 credits)
      CHP 250 -- Current Issues in Rural Health Care** (1-3 credits)
      CHP 293 -- Special topic courses
      EMS -- any 200-level courses
      HLTH -- any 200-level courses
4. Complete electives (6 credits)
5. Minimum credits required (60 credits)

* Student must earn a C grade or better in each course.
** May repeat up to 3 credits toward A.A.S. degree.