Medical Assisting Certificate

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Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP) / Lowell Campus - Day

Program Description:

The Medical Assisting Certificate program is designed for students who wish to enter the profession of Medical Assisting. The program prepares students to be multi-skilled allied health professionals trained to perform administrative and clinical procedures in ambulatory settings, such as physician’s offices, clinics, group practices, and hospital facilities. As a Medical Assistant, duties could include administering injections, taking blood pressure readings, rooming patients, drawing blood, performing commonly ordered laboratory tests and electrocardiograms (EKG), insurance coding, medical records and scheduling patients. After successful completion of the program students are eligible to sit for the national certification exam.

The Medical Assisting Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (www.caahep.org), on recommendation of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs is located at 1361 Park St., Clearwater, FL 33756, 727-210-2350. Graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam given by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Career and Transfer Outlook:

Graduates are ready for entry-level employment in various outpatient settings, including hospital clinics, group and individual physicians’ practices, chiropractor and podiatrist offices. After completing the certificate program, graduates may take additional courses at Middlesex to meet the requirement for the Associate in Science degree program in Medical Assisting. Students will not be accepted to the AS degree program until they have completed the Medical Assisting Certificate program.

Gainful Employment Disclosure Information:

In accordance with Federal regulations, Middlesex Community College discloses information about student costs, tuitions, fees and employment statistics to various governing bodies to ensure certification and oversight.

See: Gainful Employment Information

Helpful Hints:

Only general education courses such as English Composition, Introduction to Psychology, etc. can be expected to transfer to other colleges.

Clinical Standards: Students enrolled in the Medical Assisting program must demonstrate a satisfactory level of performance in clinical settings in order to remain in the program.

Program Outcomes:

Graduates of the Medical Assisting Certificate program are prepared to:

Function as competent entry-level medical assistants;
Perform medical assisting administrative and clinical procedures competently and safely within their scope of practice;
Demonstrate appropriate communication skills by effectively engaging in written and oral communication as demonstrated through charting and communication with patients from different age groups, cultures and other health professionals;
Perform within legal and ethical boundaries in the scope of practice for medical assistants.

Required Courses

Total Credits: 29

Standard/Technical Skills Notice: To view a list of standard and/or technical skills required for performing duties in various health career fields, visit the Middlesex Community College Health Division website (www.middlesex.mass.edu) or the Student Information Centers. These skills are not conditions for admission to MCC programs, but do indicate abilities and characteristics necessary for successful completion of college Health programs, and to perform the duties of the career upon graduation.

Special Requirements for Medical Assisting Certificate: In clinically related courses, students must receive a “C” or better to remain in the program.

Admission Information

Required Prerequisite Courses: Completion of Keyboarding (BUS 105) or a high school keyboarding class or equivalent. Completion of Microcomputer Applications (CAP 101) or a high school computer applications course or equivalent.

Required Testing: Current scores on the college placement test that show readiness of ENG 101, placement above or completion of Modules 1-4 in MAT 001 (Preparation for College Math), and a reading score of 68. Testing must be completed before admission and within one year of the application deadline.

Required Documents: Admission Application, Admission Requirement Certification Form

Deadline: Priority consideration is given to applications, including all requirements, received by March 30.

Admission Notes: Students applying to Medical Assisting are required to have a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA.

Requirements after Admission to Medical Assisting

Students must submit the Student Health Record form, provided by Middlesex Community College, to the Center for Health & Wellness. Required documentation of health status includes a completed physical examination, a Mantoux test for tuberculosis, and proof of immunization against Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Tetanus/Diphtheria (within last ten years) and one lifetime dose of Tdap (after 2006), Hepatitis B and Varicella. Students born in the United States before January 1, 1957 will be considered immune to Measles, Mumps and Rubella and exempt from the MMR vaccine requirement. Students born in the United States before January 1, 1980 and enrolled in a health care program will not be considered immune to Varicella (chicken pox) and are not exempt from the Varicella requirement.
Earn and submit a current certification in CPR at the Health Care Provider-level (offered monthly at MCC) which is valid for the entire academic year and renewed annually.
Note: In order for a student to be eligible to participate in an academic, community or clinical program that involves potential unsupervised contact with children, the disabled, the elderly, or other vulnerable populations, the student may be required to undergo a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check and/or a Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) check.