Medical Assistant
The Certified Medical Assistant is one of the most sought after careers in the healthcare field as a result of the diversity in the skill preparation. The Medical Assistant’s skills are utilized in both the administrative and clinical aspects of the medical office. Phlebotomy, medication administration and surgical assisting are among the many clinical skills acquired in the Medical Assisting Program. Some of the administrative skills a Medical Assistant may perform are: health insurance coding and billing, insurance processing, patient scheduling and the entering of data into the Electronic Medical Record. The Glen Oaks Community College Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). The Commission on Accreditation of the Allied Health Programs is located at:
9355 113th St. North 7709
Seminole, FL 33772
Phone: 727-210-2350
Graduates of the accredited program are eligible to sit for the national certification examination. Passing the examination allows the graduate to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA-AAMA). The Medical Assistant can further his or her education by earning an Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health. The Medical Assistant Certificate is a competency-based program of study.
Note: Placement Evaluation required prior to admission into the Medical Assistant program
Medical Assistant Information and Accreditation
Medical assistants help physicians and other health care professionals examine and treat patients, as well as perform routine tasks needed to keep a medical office running efficiently. They measure vital signs, help patients feel comfortable in the doctor’s office, document patient history, and often explain the doctor’s instructions. Jobs are available in physician offices, hospitals, outpatient or health care facilities, such as specialty offices and clinics. Work ranges from answering phones, greeting patients and scheduling appointments to taking medical histories, performing basic laboratory tests and administering medications, assisting the physician with minor surgical procedures, and removing sutures and changing dressings. Requirements of the role include knowledge of medical terminology, communication skills, technical skills and office management skills. The ability to maintain confidentiality is a must, as medical assistants deal with sensitive patient data.
Program Outcomes
- Demonstrate cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning skills.
- Demonstrate competent professional communication skills.
- Think critically in solving problems and applying knowledge in practicing medical assisting.
- Apply and improve upon classroom and lab experiences in the clinical setting.
Program Information
The goal of this program is to prepare entry-level medical assistants who are competent in both administrative and clinical duties. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). The Medical Assistant Certificate is diverse and flexible. Graduates are eligible for national certification and can become certified medical assistants (CMA-AAMA).
Is this for me?
Consider a career in medical assisting if you enjoy helping people during stressful times in their lives and can move seamlessly between being hands-on with patients and handling phones and paperwork.
Employment Outlook
Apply your certificate toward a degree This certificate can be applied toward the Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health degree, for those seeking increased responsibilities, supervisory roles and health care office management in physician offices, health care clinics, hospital-based clinics, hospitals and small health care businesses.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, the 2023 median salary for medical assistants was $42,000 per year or $20.19 per hour. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a growth in employment of medical assistants of 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. The projected numeric change in employment from 2022-2032 is expected to be about 105,900 openings for medical assistants. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As their practices expand, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients. Medical assistants who earn certification and have familiarity with electronic health records (EHRs) may have better job prospects.
Medical Assistant Accreditation
The Glen Oaks Community College Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is located at 29355 113th St. North #7709, Seminole, FL 33772, Phone: 727-210-2350. www.caahep.org
"The goal of the Glen Oaks Community College Medical Assistant Program is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession."
- Register for admission to the college
- Declare Medical Assistant Program interest and register for ALL required Fall semester courses
- Meet placement criteria in basic Math and English criteria:
- If course placement criteria not met, student may enroll in appropriate remedial course(s) to bring skill level up to criteria
- No course may be transferred into the Medical Assistant program that contains MAERB core competencies. No experiential credit is awarded.
- Meet with Director of Allied Health to discuss the guided pathway for successful completion of the program.
The Medical Assistant Program may be completed in two semesters beginning in the fall.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Coursework | 31.00 | |
| EMERGENCY RESPONSE/PATIENT INTERVIEWING 1 | ||
| ADMIN I COM & BUS PRACTICES IN MED OFF 1 | ||
| ADMIN II FINANCIAL BUS PRAC IN MEDICAL 1 | ||
| TOPICS IN PHARMACOLOGY & APPLIED MATH 1 | ||
| MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | ||
| SURVEY OF BODY SYSTEMS & DISEASE COND | ||
| MEDICAL ASSISTANT PRACTICUM 1 | ||
| LABORATORY PROCEDURES & PHLEBOTOMY 1 | ||
| FUNDAMENTAL CLINICAL OFFICE SKILLS 1 | ||
| ETHICAL & LEGAL PRAC IN ALLIED HEALTH | ||
| Total Credits | 31.00 | |
- 1
Course has prerequisite(s)
- The student will apply for the Medical Assistant Certificate program after meeting with the Director of Allied Health where program requirements and the guided pathway are discussed with the student for successful completion of the program.
- The student must maintain a GPA of 2.0 in all ALH courses.
- Qualification for the practicum requires the student to have completed with an overall 2.0 GPA or above.
- Glen Oaks will pay for the student to sit for the CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT) credentialing exam. This is only for the first attempt at a credentialing exam and if a student fails their first attempt, they will be responsible to pay for subsequent attempts.
Tuition is calculated by contact hours per semester.
Current/Updated: 07/22/2022
| Fall 1 | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ALH-120 | ADMIN I COM & BUS PRACTICES IN MED OFF | 3.00 |
| ALH-218 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | 3.00 |
| ALH-225 | SURVEY OF BODY SYSTEMS & DISEASE COND | 3.00 |
| ALH-130 | ADMIN II FINANCIAL BUS PRAC IN MEDICAL | 3.00 |
| ALH-245 | FUNDAMENTAL CLINICAL OFFICE SKILLS | 4.00 |
| ALH-252 | ETHICAL & LEGAL PRAC IN ALLIED HEALTH | 2.00 |
| Credits | 18.00 | |
| Winter 1 | ||
| ALH-112 | EMERGENCY RESPONSE/PATIENT INTERVIEWING | 3.00 |
| ALH-140 | TOPICS IN PHARMACOLOGY & APPLIED MATH | 3.00 |
| ALH-241 | LABORATORY PROCEDURES & PHLEBOTOMY | 4.00 |
| ALH-238 | MEDICAL ASSISTANT PRACTICUM | 3.00 |
| Credits | 13.00 | |
| Total Credits | 31.00 | |