Medical Assistant AAS
Medical Assisting is a meaningful career choice that can change lives and be a gateway to many career opportunities! As one of the nation’s fastest growing Allied Health careers, according to US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical Assisting employment is projected to grow 15% through 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Lewis-Clark State College Medical Assistant Program prepares students to become multi-skilled Allied Health Professionals specifically educated and cross-trained to perform a broad scope of BOTH administrative and clinical duties within a medical facility. Students will get hands-on skills training from highly involved instructors who know industry and 180 hours of clinical experience in a medical facility.
The Medical Assistant program at LCSC offers a 1+1 concept pathway* in which students complete an Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) with option for an AAS college degree. Students are always strongly encouraged to enroll simultaneously to achieve the AAS degree for employment growth and future educational pathways.
Upon successful completion of the CAAHEP accredited certificate (see statement below), graduates become eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam which is considered the gold standard of medical assisting professionalism. The CMA (AAMA) credential means a professional edge, increased prestige among peers and employers, better job security, and greater career advancement opportunities.
Program Emphases Include:
- 1+1 Pathway process: Intermediate Technical Certificate pathway + option for AAS degree
- Cross-trained in all aspects of BOTH administrative and clinical duties
- Measuring vital signs
- Assisting with patient exams
- Assisting with minor office surgeries and procedures
- Administering medications including injections
- Performing phlebotomy and routine lab tests
- Scheduling appointments and surgeries
- Preparing and maintaining electronic medical records
- Operating medical office software and equipment, including EKG’s
- 180 Hour hands-on Clinical Experience course in medical facility
Program Pathways*The Medical Assistant Program offers two educational pathways that offer separate college exit points, yet work together as a 1+1 process:
- An Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) - students complete a semester of pre-requisites plus two semesters of professional Medical Assistant courses. Successful completion of this certificate culminates in eligibility to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
- An Associate of Applied Science (AAS) Degree - students simultaneously complete the certificate portion of the program as above, plus two additional professional courses; this pathway also includes additional core and elective healthcare focused courses available online resulting in an associate degree.
This means that ALL students entering the Medical Assistant program will automatically complete the Intermediate Technical Certificate (ITC) portion, and upon successful completion, be eligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam.
Because the ITC is embedded within the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, this will allow students the option to seamlessly complete both pathways simultaneously.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the Medical Assistant Certificate Program, students will:
- Be prepared as Medical Assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
- Be prepared to successfully complete the Certified Medical Assistant Exam.
- Be cross trained and prepared as entry-level Medical Assistants able to work in BOTH back office- clinical and
front office-administrative Medical Assistant positions.
- Be prepared as capable entry-level Certified Medical Assistants to meet the needs of the regional health care industry.
- Complete complex body of knowledge and demonstrate specialized skills with 180 hours of hands-on practical experience in the field.
Completion of a Technical Skills Assessment, Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) Exam, is required.
Accreditation
The LCSC Medical Assistant Certificate 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
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
General Education Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | ||
| ENGL-101 | WRITING AND RHETORIC I | 3.00 |
| Oral Communication | ||
| COMM-101 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION | 3.00 |
| Mathematical Ways of Knowing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.00 | |
| FINITE MATHEMATICS | ||
| FINITE MATHEMATICS | ||
| Scientific Ways of Knowing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4.00 | |
| HUMAN BIOLOGY | ||
| HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I and HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II | ||
| Social & Behavioral Ways of Knowing | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3.00 | |
| HUMAN RELATIONS IN ORGANIZATIONS | ||
| INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | ||
| Total Credits | 16.00 | |
- 1
Advising Note: MTHPT 130 or equivalent curriculum content math course required for medical math computational purposes.
- 2
All Gen-Ed and Program courses require grade of C or higher.
- 3
All Students will be admitted provisionally as Pre-Medical Assistant until prerequisite course requirements are met.
- 4
Other electives related to health care and/or medical office w/ Advising Component.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MEDPT-170 | MEDICAL INSURANCE | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-173 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-175 | ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL ASSISTING I | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-185 | MED ASST PROFESSION & FOUNDATIONS | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-240 | PHARMACOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-245 | PHLEBOTOMY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS | 2.00 |
| MEDPT-251 | MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION I | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-252 | CLINICAL EXPERIENCE | 4.00 |
| MEDPT-255 | MEDICAL ASSISTING I | 5.00 |
| MEDPT-260 | MEDICAL ASSISTING II | 5.00 |
| MEDPT-275 | MEDICAL CODING | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-288 | MEDICAL ASSISTING EXAM REVIEW & PREP | 1.00 |
| Select 6 credits from the following: | 6.00 | |
| INTRODUCTION TO ALLIED HEALTH | ||
| BASIC ACCOUNTING | ||
| BUSINESS COMMUNICATION | ||
| PATIENT RECORD SYSTEMS | ||
| MEDICAL CODING II | ||
| Completion of a Technical Skills Assessment is required | ||
| Total Credits | 44.00 | |
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | |
| ENGL-101 | WRITING AND RHETORIC I | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-173 | MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY | 3.00 |
| PSYC-101 | INTRODUCTION TO GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY | 3.00 |
| COMM-101 | FUNDAMENTALS OF ORAL COMMUNICATION | 3.00 |
| Credits | 12.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL-175 | HUMAN BIOLOGY | 4.00 |
| MTHPT-130 | FINITE MATHEMATICS | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-185 | MED ASST PROFESSION & FOUNDATIONS | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-170 | MEDICAL INSURANCE | 3.00 |
| Take 3 elective credits | 3.00 | |
| Credits | 16.00 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| MEDPT-175 | ADMINISTRATIVE MEDICAL ASSISTING I | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-240 | PHARMACOLOGY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-255 | MEDICAL ASSISTING I | 5.00 |
| MEDPT-275 | MEDICAL CODING | 3.00 |
| MEDPT-251 | MEDICAL TRANSCRIPTION I | 3.00 |
| Credits | 17.00 | |
| Spring | ||
| MEDPT-245 | PHLEBOTOMY FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONS | 2.00 |
| MEDPT-260 | MEDICAL ASSISTING II | 5.00 |
| MEDPT-252 | CLINICAL EXPERIENCE | 1.00-6.00 |
| MEDPT-288 | MEDICAL ASSISTING EXAM REVIEW & PREP | 1.00 |
| Take 3 elective credits | 3.00 | |
| Credits | 12.00-17.00 | |
| Total Credits | 57.00-62.00 | |
As one of the fastest growing Allied Health Care careers, Medical Assisting offers terrific opportunities for advancement. Medical Assistants can advance to office manager, clinical supervisor, a variety of advanced administrative support occupations, and even teach Medical Assisting. Another great thing about earning your MA degree and because LCSC graduates are prepared to become CMA (AAMA) Certified, is that your new skill set opens a series of doors beyond medical assisting. our graduates are uniquely qualified to excel in both existing careers and emerging new Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) roles available like:
- EKG Technician
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Pharmacy Technician
- Electronic Health Records Specialist
- Patient Care Technician
- Health Unit Clerk
- Medical Office Assistant
- Medical Office Manager
- Billing and Coding Specialist
- Public Health Inspector
- Panel Manager
- Patient Navigator
- Wellness/Health Coach
- Patient Care Coordinator
Check out the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics website for more information about the potential careers above.