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Program Duration: Short-term
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Degree Type: Proficiency Certificate
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Total Credit Hours: 27
About This Certificate
Earn a Medical Assistant proficiency certificate in as little as two semesters and begin a career in a variety of medical settings. Upon successful completion, you will be eligible to take a national certification exam for a medical assistant and a phlebotomy certification exam. You also have the option of continuing your education. Your course credits will count toward an associate degree in Health Care Studies. The Medical Assistant program will provide you with the knowledge to complete a variety of tasks: prepare patients for examinations and assist the physician with examinations and treatments, take patients’ vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration and blood pressure), perform electrocardiography and spirometry testing, instruct patients about medication, administer injections, sterilize instruments and treatment rooms, obtain blood specimens, and perform collection and processing techniques on blood specimens for testing blood sugar, cholesterol and hemoglobin. Skilled and personable medical assistants are in high demand and have many employment opportunities in health clinics, physician practices and other health care environments.
Course Sequence
| Course Number and Name | Credits | Advisory Notes | Course Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AH 103 - Medical Terminology | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| ENGL 101 - English Composition or ENGL 101H - English Composition I (Honors) | 3 Cfredits | ||
| AH 116 - Therapeutic Communication | 3 credits | Major Course | |
| BIOL 108 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology* | 4 credits | BIOL 108, a one semester course in Anatomy and Physiology is the minimum requirement for this Certificate. However, students who have completed the two semester anatomy and physiology sequence (BIOL 109-BIOL 110) may substitute BIOL 109-110 in place of BIOL 108, provided that they have completed both BIOL 109 and BIOL 110. Prerequisite: FNMT 118, or placement in MATH 161 or higher | Major Course |
| AH 112 - Medical Administrative Procedures | 3 credits | Must earn a grade of "C" or better | Major Course |
| AH 113 - Exam Room Procedures I | 3 credits | Prerequisites: AH 103 and BIOL 108 | Major Course |
| AH 115 - Exam Room Procedures II | 3 credits | Prerequisites: AH 103, AH 113 and BIOL 108, all of which may be taken concurrently. | Major Course |
| MLT 102 - Phlebotomy | 4 credits | It is recommended that MA Program Certificate students complete AH 113 and AH 115 prior to taking MLT 102 | Major Course |
| AH 118 - Professional Skills/Employment Seminar | 2 credit | Prerequisites: AH 113 and AH 115, all of which may be taken concurrently | Major Course |
| AH 204 - Medical Law and Ethics | 3 credits | Prerequisite: ENGL 101 | Major Course |
Launch Your Career in Medical Assisting
- Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants – est. salary $41,641*
- Medical Assistant – est. salary $37,728
Career Outlook
Median Salary of Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Number of Jobs in the Region
10-year Job Outlook in the Region for Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants
Perform secretarial duties using specific knowledge of medical terminology and hospital, clinic, or laboratory procedures. Duties may include scheduling appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports.
Starting Pay: $28,939
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