South

Certificate        

This certificate program prepares students for entry-level positions as a medical assistant in a physician’s office, clinic or other healthcare setting. Medical assistants work with physicians of all specialties performing clinical and administrative duties. They assist with examinations and treatments, perform routine laboratory procedures, maintain medical records, complete insurance forms, arrange for diagnostic procedures, handle correspondence and perform bookkeeping.   Students graduating from this program will demonstrate critical thinking based on knowledge of academic subject matter required for competence in the profession. The program’s goal is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. The program includes a 160-hour, non-paid clinical externship.

Enrollment is limited by availability of clinical sites and other factors. Students must make separate application to the program. Students must be eligible for second-level developmental courses.

A felony conviction may affect a student’s eligibility to enroll in the clinical externship and the graduate’s ability to take the national examination which is required to practice as a Medical Assistant.

A student must maintain a 2.0 college-level cumulative GPA to enter and remain in the program.

The 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). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33763; Phone: 727-210-2350.

Graduates are eligible to apply for the national examination for the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) credential.

Upon successful completion of the program, the graduate will:

1. Perform clinical procedures related to patient examinations and assist the physician throughout the exam.
2. Prepare blood and body fluid specimens for analysis according to industry standards.
3. Communicate effectively orally and in writing according to professional standards.
4. Perform medical business administrative functions in accordance with applicable regulations, policies, laws and patient rights.   

See Medical Assistant Program for more information.