The purpose of the curriculum in Nursing and Allied Health is to prepare students with knowledge and skills to enter various specialty fields of employment in the Health Care industry. Students wanting to transfer to a university will be able to complete the necessary courses or be able to enter the workforce with either a degree or a certificate.
This certificate is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions as Medical Assistants in medical office businesses. The students will receive training in numerous areas, giving them an understanding of the varied responsibilities and skills necessary for employment. Students completing the certificate are eligible to take the American Medical Technologist (AMT) certification exam to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).
The MA Certificate is two semesters long, and students can begin either in the Spring or the Fall. The first 10 weeks of each semester includes lecture/lab. The last 6 weeks of the first semester contains a course called “Medical Assisting Essentials”, and the last 6 weeks of the second semester will be an externship at a local health facility.
Courses
CCC’s Medical Assistant Certificate Program consists of the following courses:
-
AHS 145- Medical Assisting Essentials (4 credits)
-
AHS 146- Medical Assistant A (10 credits)
-
AHS 147- Medical Assistant A Skills (2 credits)
-
AHS 148- Medical Assistant B (10 credits)
-
AHS 149- Medical Assistant B Skills (2 credits)
-
AHS 290- Medical Assisting Externship (4 credits)
Schedule
Non-CAVIAT students can expect the following schedule for both semesters:
- Mondays & Wednesdays: Lab 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Tuesdays & Thursdays: Lecture 1:30 pm – 5:00 pm
- Some Zoom meetings, some asynchronous coursework, and the last six weeks of the second semester’s externship will be full time Monday-Friday 9am-5pm.
Registration Process
Registration
The Medical Assistant Program uses a waitlist, and students from the waitlist are contacted first in the order that they expressed interest before other new students are enrolled in the program. To be added to the wait list, please contact James Clark.
Academic Requirements
Students are expected to have proficiency in English and Math to be successful in this course. Academic requirements will be met based on the instructor’s discretion.
Immunizations and Other Records
You do not need to provide any immunization records or other records to register. However, the following immunizations will need to be provided prior to your externship: Hep B, MMR, Varicella, Current Flu, TB test, and COVID. Additionally, an American Heart Association Basic Life Support training and card will also be required prior to the externship.
Computer Access
This is technically a hybrid course, so you must have computer access, however, there is no specifically online schedule and any online lectures are up to the instructor’s discretion. Therefore, please expect to be on campus for all of the above listed hours unless notified otherwise. Homework and the textbook will be online. Each student will need to bring a working computer to class with them for every class period, as you will need to access the textbook and quizzes or in-class assignments electronically (a phone will not work for many of these purposes).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students are enrolled every semester?
This number varies depending on the current classes, however, on average, six to seven students are enrolled in the first semester.
Is the externship required to complete the program?
Yes, we require an externship at a local health facility for 180 hours. Please be aware that the externship is very time intensive, and will require that you have a VERY flexible schedule. Most externships run Monday-Friday from 9:00am – 5:00 pm.
Do I need to wear a uniform?
Yes, uniforms are required to be worn to class. More information will be provided on the first day of class, and uniform sets cost about $50 each.