Medical Assistant - Associate of Applied Technology Degree
Medical Assistant Program (MAP) graduates may assume positions as multi-skilled allied health professionals who perform a wide range of duties in physicians’ offices, clinics, and other outpatient health care settings.
The MAP curriculum includes anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, medical law and ethics, oral and written communication, administrative procedures, financial record keeping, mathematics, insurance billing and medical coding, basic office diagnostic procedures, principles of pharmacology and medication administration, venipuncture, medical and surgical asepsis, and microbiology.
Students are trained in administrative and clinical procedures performed in physicians’ offices and/or clinics. Graduates from this program are eligible to take the national certification exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), which is one of the nation wide authorized exams for certification through Washington State. Training will include, but is not limited to, professional telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, interviewing and educating patients, scheduling hospital admissions for patients, maintaining financial records and files, completing insurance forms, preparing and maintaining employees’ payroll records, assisting patients in preparing for examinations and procedures, cleaning and sterilizing instruments and equipment, collecting specimens, performing electrocardiograms, and assisting physicians with examinations, treatments, procedures, and minor office surgeries.
Included in this program are general education courses in math, public speaking, and sociology. These courses broaden students’ foundation knowledge base and increase their success in the program. Students must earn a solid “C” (no C-) grade or better in these general education courses to graduate from the MAP.
Additional courses included in the MAP consist of the following: CAH 102 Medical Terminology, COLL 102 College Success for All and CAH 105 Computer Applications. Students must earn a “C” (no C-) grade or better in CAH 102, COLL 102, and CAH 105 courses to satisfy graduation requirements. No MAP course may be taken more than twice. All courses with the MAP prefix must be passed with a “B” (no B-) or better and pass .all program accredited psychomotor and affective competencies with at least 80%.
Students will receive HIV/AIDS and HIPAA certifications through the program but must obtain American Heart Association – CPR for Health Care Provider/Professional Card external to the program and prior to externship.
Externship hours will vary and will be completed during the day hours for both day and evening students. Although Clover Park Technical College cannot guarantee a specific site placement, students’ preferences and needs are taken into consideration. Additionally, with the assistance of the instructors and/or clinical placement coordinator, students will have the opportunity to choose and/or secure their own externship site if an affiliation agreement with that entity is approved and in place before the first day of externship. Upon completion of the MAP, students will graduate with an Associate of Applied Technology.
Program Accreditation
The Medical Assistant Program at Clover Park Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB):
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th Street North, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
Physical Activity Requirements
This occupation requires medium physical activity and lifting/handling objects weighing 10-25 lbs. (occasionally up to 50 lbs.) and handling body fluids. Medical Assistants are often standing for long periods of time. For safety and protection of patients, student medical assistants must be able to perform basic cardiac life support, including CPR, and function in stressful and/or emergency situations. Students must be able to safely assist a patient in moving between an exam room table, chair, wheelchair, and/or walker.
Employability Requirements
Graduates must meet the state application requirements for medical assistants, which include, but are not limited to: passing one of the authorized national certification exams, seven hours of AIDS education and training as required under WAC 246-824, current cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and no disqualifying crimes on a criminal background check.
Program Length
This program is approximately five quarters long, depending on the time students need to satisfactorily complete all graduation requirements.
Admission Dates
Day program: Summer quarter.
Evening program: Winter quarter.
Once a student begins in either the day or evening program section, they will be unable to change sections without authorization from an instructor. Changing program sections depends on available space.
Program Outcomes
• Apply law and ethics relating to the healthcare field focusing on components specific to medical assistants.
• Use medical terminology in order to communicate effectively with culturally diverse patients and team members.
• Use specialized software for the healthcare environment.
• Perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks safely and effectively according to program accreditation.
• Use the knowledge of the credentialing process to apply for an interim medical assistant certification.
• Create medical records that comply with state and federal laws.
Completion Requirements
Prerequisite(s)
Students are highly recommended to attend an information session/advising meeting with an instructor before or once they have registered for MAP 108.
Students are required to show proof of a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma upon entry into the MAP. All Medical Assistant Program required courses in quarters one through four and general education courses must be successfully completed before entering the final quarter of the program..
Requirements may vary based upon the requirements of the clinical site(s). To facilitate placements, all immunizations and other site-specific requirements must be completed and submitted at least three (3) months before clinicals are scheduled to start. Immunizations includes, but are not limited to: Tetanus/Diphtheria, Hepatitis B, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, Tuberculosis skin testing, Flu, and Varicella, as required by contracts with clinical facilities and CDC recommendations. Please note that these may change without notice as clinical facilities and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) change their requirements.
In order to participate in the externship, students must receive a “No Record On File” report related to crimes against persons from the Washington State Patrol and/or a Criminal Background Check. A non-refundable fee is charged to each student for the background check. Students must also meet the requirements for the facility that they are assigned to. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, a drug and/or smoking screening and/or policy(ies). Students are required to carry personal health/medical insurance throughout their clinical rotations.
Quarterly-based insurance for students may be purchased. Further information is available through the Advising and Counseling Office. No student will be allowed at a clinical site without proof of insurance.
Program Course List