Genetic Counseling Assistant Training
BIOL-40375
Prepare for a Career as a Genetic Counseling Assistant with Practical Skills and Professional Insights
This class is designed to prepare those interested in becoming a Genetic Counseling Assistant (GCA) or to assist participants interested in graduate programs in genetic counseling. Students will learn practical skills used by GCAs in various settings including genetic laboratories and clinical settings. Hear from working GCAs about their scope of practice and day to day work. Explore critical aspects of professional development, fundamental business skills, and other best practices that support a successful career as a genetic counseling assistant. Students will be introduced to resume writing, interviewing skills, job searching tips, remote working best practices, principles of customer service, and other critical office skills.
Prerequisites
Participants must first complete Genetic Counseling - BIOL 40359. This course will build and expand on what was covered in this foundational class.
Format
This course is offered in an online asynchronous format. There are no set meeting times, however, students follow a weekly schedule and there will be deadlines and deliverables to meet in terms of course requirements. This course cannot be completed at an accelerated rate.
Course Objectives
- Students will learn about career opportunities as a Genetic Counseling Assistant (GCA)
- Gain the fundamental skills needed to utilize best practices within the GCA workplace setting
- Know how to apply communication skills in a culturally responsive and respectful manner
- Understand how to navigate genetic resources when researching diseases; including rare disease, hereditary disease, and other common adult onset diseases
- Learn the fundamentals and the workflow of genetic laboratory testing
- Develop skills to assist genetic counselors with pre and post genetic counseling sessions
- Gain an introduction to the fundamental principles of insurance, billing, and reimbursement as it pertains to genetics and genetic counseling clinical practice
- Learn specific concepts related to working in a reproductive genetics clinic or laboratory
- Students will learn foundational principles of medical terminology, disability awareness, of fundamental genetics terminology, and of working in clinical, hospital, and laboratory settings
