Virginia's Health Support Services pathway develops expertise in patient care support, health services administration, patient interaction, and healthcare operations—preparing students for roles supporting healthcare delivery.
Students study patient care fundamentals, health services operations, patient communication, health safety standards, and healthcare environments. They practice patient support skills and learn healthcare operations through clinical partnerships.
Graduates work as patient care technicians, healthcare administrative support, hospital environmental services, or patient navigators. Every healthcare facility requires support staff. Advanced students pursue nursing and healthcare management programs.
Support Services at a Glance
4
Courses
8
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
Virginia's health support services standards address patient care basics, health safety, patient communication, and healthcare operations. Standards emphasize patient safety and compassionate care.
Students demonstrate competency through patient care demonstrations, healthcare safety certifications, and healthcare operations knowledge. The state integrates patient safety and HIPAA.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course |
|---|
| Healthcare Foundations and Patient Care |
| Patient Communication and Support |
| Health Safety and Infection Control |
| Healthcare Operations and Environment |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
- ✓Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
- ✓EKG Technician
- ✓Pharmacy Technician (PTCB)
- ✓NOCTI Emergency and Medical Services
- ✓NOCTI Health Assistant
- ✓Medical Terminology Certification
- ✓Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)
- ✓CPR/AED for Healthcare Providers (BLS)
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
Patient Care Technician
Entry LevelSalary range: $35,830 - $45,640
Healthcare Administrative Support
Entry LevelSalary range: $98,050 - $159,370
Hospital Services Supervisor
ExperiencedSalary range: $77,790 - $174,120
Patient Services Manager
ExperiencedSalary range: $77,790 - $174,120
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students intern at hospitals, clinics, health centers, and healthcare facilities throughout Virginia.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in HOSA-Future Health Professionals, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps Virginia CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Virginia Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Virginia's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Virginia standards and industry needs evolve
Ready to Build Support Services Programs at Scale?
See how Sage can help you create standards-aligned curriculum for Support Services in Virginia.