Program Overview

Medical Assisting - Certificate of Completion

Medical assistants work alongside physicians primarily in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices, clinics, and urgent care centers. Medical assistants who earn their AAS in Medical Assisting are cross-trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, whereas medical assistants who earn their certificate in medical assisting will be trained for clinical duties only.

Clinical Duties

Clinical duties include but are not limited to:

• taking medical histories
• explaining treatments and procedures to patients
• collecting and preparing lab specimens
• preparing and administering medications
• performing electrocardiograms
• assisting physicians during examinations

Administrative Duties

Administrative duties include but are not limited to:

• answering telephones
• updating and filing patient medical records
• scheduling appointments
• billing and bookkeeping

Clinical Clearance Packet

Students registering for a course that has a clinical component (NA 109 Phlebotomist Basic, NA 110 Electrocardiogram Technician Basic, NA 214 Medical Assistant Practicum) are required to complete a clinical clearance packet and submit online to Castlebranch for the director's approval to register.

Mandatory Attendance

Students must attend all class meetings and lab sessions to be eligible for national certification testing. Clinical courses take place off-campus, students will need to have personal transportation.

Program Requirements

The program requires 38 credits. Students must earn a final grade of C or better in all required courses and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0.

Course List

The following courses are required:

• OEEM 101: CPR for the Health Care Professional (1 credit)
• AHS 120: Medical Terminology (3 credits)
• BIOL 1130G: Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) (or BIOL 2225) (4 credits)
• NA 114: Patient Care Fundamentals (4 credits)
• HIT 110: Electronic Health Records (3 credits)
• HIT 120: Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology (3 credits)
• NA 109: Phlebotomist Basic (4 credits)
• NA 110: Electrocardiogram Technician Basic (4 credits)
• NA 212: Medical Assistant Capstone Course (6 credits)
• NA 214: Medical Assistant Practicum (6 credits)

Plan of Study Grid

The program can be completed in three semesters:

Semester 1

• OEEM 101: CPR for the Health Care Professional (1 credit)
• AHS 120: Medical Terminology (3 credits)
• BIOL 1130G: Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) (or BIOL 2225) (4 credits)
• NA 109: Phlebotomist Basic (4 credits)
• NA 114: Patient Care Fundamentals (4 credits) Total Credits: 16

Semester 2

• HIT 110: Electronic Health Records (3 credits)
• NA 110: Electrocardiogram Technician Basic (4 credits)
• NA 212: Medical Assistant Capstone Course (6 credits)
• HIT 120: Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology (3 credits) Total Credits: 16

Semester 3

• NA 214: Medical Assistant Practicum (6 credits) Total Credits: 6 Total Program Credits: 38