Community colleges that offer medical assistant programs

Program Description

Medical assistants are multi-skilled, allied health workers who work primarily in ambulatory care settings such as medical offices and clinics. Medical assistants function as members of the health care delivery team, performing routine clinical and administrative procedures to keep health care delivery settings functioning smoothly. As assistants in the clinical setting, medical assistants perform duties such as taking and recording vital signs, exam room preparation, patient data collection, simple dressing changes, lab tests, phlebotomy, medication instruction and EKGs. Medical assistants carry out administrative duties such as scheduling, reception, insurance monitoring, record maintenance and bookkeeping. Students develop knowledge of pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, and nutrition to assist the physician with patient education. The program includes 175 hours of unpaid, supervised clinical externship experience.

The Norwalk Community College Medical Assistant Certificate Program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), upon the recommendation of The Medical Assistant Education Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMA).

Graduates of the NCC Medical Assistant Certificate Program are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification examination administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Certifying Board and is recognized by the National Board of Medical Examiners.

The Medical Assistant coursework can be applied to an Associate Degree in Medical Office Management.

Employment Opportunities

Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2029 as the health services industry expands due to technological advances in medicine, and a growing and aging population.

Program Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the Norwalk Community College Medical Assistant program, graduates will be able to:

1. Function as competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains;
2. Function as multi-skilled health workers in ambulatory care settings such as medical offices and clinics;
3. Perform clinical office responsibilities such as taking and recording vital signs, exam room preparation, patient data collection, simple dressing changes, lab tests, phlebotomy and EKGs;
4. Perform administrative office responsibilities such as reception, insurance monitoring and record maintenance;
5. Utilize effective interpersonal skills to communicate with patients and colleagues using theories of psychology;
6. Demonstrate appropriate communication skills using both the written and spoken word;
7. Assist in patient education related to pharmacology, disease and nutrition; and
8. Function within the legal and ethical standards as a Medical Assistant within the medical profession.

General Information

1. Students must meet program admission requirements.
2. Students must achieve a minimum grade of C in all MED, CSA and BBG courses.
3. Additional costs such as travel, lab coats, uniforms, testing, stethoscopes and physical examinations are the responsibility of the student.
4. Students must follow the policies outlined in the Medical Assistant Student Handbook.

Prerequisites

1. High school graduate or equivalent
2. Accuplacer score eligible for MAT 094 or higher completed prior to application deadline.
3. Accuplacer score eligible for ENG 101 or higher completed prior to application deadline.
4. GPA 2.3 - Based on a minimum nine college credits and all college credits taken within the past five years; and any college courses taken prior to five years that are transferred in to meet the Medical Assistant curriculum requirements. High school GPA of 2.3 or higher will be accepted if student has not completed college-level courses and meets all other requirements.
5. ATI-TEAS test score. Applicants must achieve a total score or 39% or higher.
6. Passing grade in CSA 105 or tested out of CSA 105. More information.
7. One of the following:
   • HS Keyboarding with a C or better OR
   • a keyboarding class from another institution OR
   • A letter from an employer within the last 5 years indicating the student needed keyboarding skills to function at their job.
8. Acceptance into the Medical Assistant Program.

Student Outcomes

Accreditation Notice

The Norwalk Community College Medical Assistant Certificate Program is accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), upon the recommendation of The Medical Assistant Education Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMA).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program
25400 US Highway 19N., Suite 158
Clearwater, Fl 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org