Summary
Beginning in the fall of 2023, juniors and seniors at Branson and Hollister High Schools can start their education for a career in healthcare at the Ozarks Technical Community College Table Rock Campus. There is no cost for students who enroll in the OTC Career Center Health Sciences Program.
Beginning in the fall of 2023, juniors and seniors at Branson and Hollister High Schools can start their education for a career in healthcare at the Ozarks Technical Community College Table Rock Campus. There is no cost for students who enroll in the OTC Career Center Health Sciences Program.
Students who complete the health sciences program will graduate from high school as Certified Nursing Assistants. The college credits the students earned in high school will prepare them to begin one of OTC’s healthcare degree programs, such as nursing, respiratory therapy or dental hygiene.
“Our local hospitals, clinics and doctor’s offices need more healthcare workers,” said OTC Table Rock President Dr. Rob Griffith. “This high school program is a way to train our local talent and prepare them to work locally. The best part is, the program is free for students.”
A student who completes the OTC Career Center Health Sciences Program could graduate with an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) degree by the time they are 20 years old. OTC’s ASN program prepares students to become registered nurses.
According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, in 2021, the average wage for a registered nurse in Missouri was $67,790.
There is high demand for nurses in the region. The Missouri Hospital Association reports that the vacancy rate for registered nurses in the Ozark region is 18.2. The Ozark Region includes Taney and Stone counties.
Interested students and their parents may contact their high school counselors for more information or visit this website. At the OTC Table Rock Campus, contact Mica Farley at (417) 447-8929 or farleym@otc.edu.
