This certificate program is designed for the student interested in an entry-level position as a medical assistant in a medical office. The program provides lecture as well as competency-based training in both administrative and clinical procedures. There is also a non-compensated externship experience in which students work in an actual ambulatory care setting. Externship hours are scheduled during the day, Monday through Friday. Externship sites may have their own requirements that students must meet prior to their externship experience. Medical assistant certificate students must maintain a grade of “C” or better in all program courses. Students may be required to repeat MAP and/or PLB courses, based upon the time sequence when these program courses were completed. Prior to externships, students must provide appropriate health examination record(s) and all required tests and immunizations, along with a urine drug screen and criminal background checks. Prior criminal records may prohibit students from program externship and employment opportunities. Students must also have a current American Heart Association Healthcare Provider CPR certification. Students who do not academically pass their externship course or who are asked to leave their externship site, may be dismissed from the course and/or program.
Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists, Registered Medical Assistant, or the Registered Phlebotomy Technician national certification exams in medical assisting.*
Technical Standards
There are technical standards and skill requirements which students are expected to possess and demonstrate in order to be successful in this program. More information on these standards can be found on the Web page for this program.
Phlebotomy Pre-Externship Review
Students who do not complete the phlebotomy externship (PLB 106 ) in the semester immediately following completion of the Phlebotomy course (PLB 105 ), will be required to enroll in the phlebotomy pre-externship review course. This one-credit hybrid course will be a review of both didactic and clinical material to ensure that the student has not lost skills from lack of practice prior to being sent to an externship site.
Fact Sheet
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