Program Description

The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), 20 North Wacker Drive, STE 1575, Chicago, Illinois 60601, 1-800-228-2262, www.aama-ntl.org.

Certificates are offered in Medical Assistant, Medical Front Office Skills, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Assistant and Dialysis Technician. A two-year Medical Assistant Associate of Technical Arts Degree (ATA) is also available. Students may attend classes on a full-time or part-time basis.

Specific duties of the Medical Assistant, Medical Front Office Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Assistant, and Dialysis Technician may vary from office to office depending the facility's specialty, size and location

A Medical Assistant Certificate or ATA degree trains students to become multi-skilled professionals who perform routine clinical tasks, clerical tasks, and basic lab tests in the offices of healthcare providers.

A Medical Front Office Certificate trains students in clerical and reception skills that are needed in a medical, dental,and veterinary, settings.

A Pharmacy Technician Certificate prepares students to assist pharmacists in preparation and distribution of medications.

A Phlebotomy Certificate focuses on obtaining blood samples for testing. Students are also taught simple blood tests, urinalysis, and selected microbiology procedures.

A Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Certificate includes specialized coding classes as well as selected clinical and front office courses to order to increase the student's knowledge base to enable them to become a competent coder.

A Dialysis Technician Certificate includes classes to prepare students to care for patients who are placed on kidney machines.

Graduates who earn the Medical Assistant ATA or certificate degree are eligible to write the AAMA National Certification Examination to become nationally certified medical assistants (CMA). Medical Assistant graduates also meet the specified training requirements of the Healthcare Assistant Law (HCL) of the state of Washington for categories A, C and E. Recipients of the Dialysis Technician certificate meet the training requirements of category G. Students who complete the Phlebotomy Assistant certificate must be at least 18 years of age and be able to pass the Ishihara colorblindness test in order to be certified, and they meet the state requirements for category A of the Healthcare Assistant Laws of the state of Washington. Students must have either a GED or high school diploma before they take their state certification exam.

Employment Outlook

According to published reports by the federal and state governments, faster than average growth is expected in outpatient settings due to technological advances in medicine and the growing aging population. Shortages continue for trained healthcare workers. Graduates of this program are employed in these outpatient settings.

Entry Into the Program

Please apply to the Admissions Office. Admission and registration guidelines are listed in the catalog and on the college website. Although students may enter the program at the beginning of any of four quarters, some key courses are offered only in specific quarters during the year. It is strongly recommended that students entering the program be able to read, write, and compute at the college level and have basic keyboarding skills. Students lacking this preparation should consult and advisor for appropriate coursework. Science courses that are five or more years old cannot be transferred in for credit. Students should schedule an appointment with a Medical Assistant advisor or counselor to prepare their class schedule. Students are encouraged to review sample schedules and course descriptions to plan their course of study.

Work-Based Learning

The Department Chair gives permission for placement and arranges clinical externship placements in local medical facilities or other health care agencies. Students will integrate classroom learning with a work-based learning experience when eligible Medical Assistant (MEDA) students are placed into a MEDA clinical externship during their last quarter of study. In order to be placed into the required MEDA clinical externship, candidates must complete all specified courses (varies with the degree/ certificate) with a “C” grade, and must meet the following requirements:

• Negative TB test or chest X-ray
• Recent diphtheria-tetanus vaccination
• Positive titer (German Measles) or measles, mumps and rubella vaccination (MMR) (If born before 1957, do not need to meet this requirement according to CDC recommendations and guidelines)
• Hepatitis B vaccination series
• Current CPR and First Aid Card (may be earned while a student
• Certificate of Attendance at a 7-hour AIDS Prevention Seminar (may be earned while a student)
• Medical Assistant and Dialysis Technician students must present evidence of having current private medical insurance and purchase professional liability insurance from the College before they will be placed into an externship experience.

Dismissal and Re-entry Procedures

1. Once in the Medical Assistant program, students must comply with the rules and regulations of program and clinical affiliates or be subject to dismissal from the program. The Department Chair, the Dean of Professional/Technical programs, and the Registrar must approve dismissal. The student may reapply to the program if approved by the Department Chair.
2. Students must perform in a safe and competent manner in the clinical facilities and comply with the rules and regulations of the Medical Assistant program and clinical affiliates. Failure to do so may result in immediate dismissal from the program. Unsafe practice in the clinical setting may result in a failing grade in the clinical externship course.
3. Prior students not currently enrolled in the Medical Assistant Certificate or ATA degree program who wish to reenter must petition for readmission if they withdraw from the program for academic reasons, or if they wish to repeat a course.

Associate in Technical Arts Degree (ATA)

An Associate of Technical Arts degree (ATA) is awarded upon the completion of a minimum of 90 credits. Students must complete the 80-credit Medical Assistant certificate with a minimum 2.0 GPA in each class. In addition, a 2.0 GPA in each class is required in the related education coursework above the 100 level for the degree.

Medical Assistant Associate in Technical Arts Degree

An Associate of Technical Arts degree (ATA) is awarded upon the completion of a minimum of 90 credits. Students must complete the 80 credit Medical Assistant certificate with a minimum 2.0 GPA in each class. In addition, a 2.0 GPA in each class is required in the related education coursework above the 100 level for the degree.

View Sample Schedule

Program Certificates

Certificates in the Medical Assistant program are granted upon completion of all requirements with a 2.0 GPA or above in all courses.

Medical Assistant Certificate

A certificate is awarded to those students who do the following:

a. Completion of typing Terminal Performance Objectives (TPO)

b. Meet immunization requirements.
c. Satisfactory completion of MEDA 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 200, ENGL 170, OFTEC 122, SOSC 113

Medical Front Office Certificate

Completion of typing Terminal Performance Objectives (TPO). Satisfactory completion of MEDA 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 109, 110, 111, 112, 118, 200, ENGL 170, OFTEC 122, 124, SOSC 113 and SPCH 125.

Phlebotomy Assistant Certificate

Must have received at least 2 injections of the hepatitis vaccination series before enrolling in MEDA 113 satisfactory completion of MEDA 100, 101, 102, 103, 113, 114, 120, 200, OFTEC 122 and SOSC 113.

Medical Billing and Coding Specialist Certificate

Satisfactory completion of MEDA 100, 101, 102, 103, 105, 106, 109, 110, 112, 118, 122, 123, OFTEC 122, ENGL 170, SOSC 113 and SPCH 125.

Dialysis Technician Certificate

Satisfactory completion of MEDA 100, 101, 102, 103, 106, 109, 112, 113, 115, 118, 200, SOSC 113, ENGL 170, DIATC 124, DIATC 125, DIATC 126, DIATC 127, DIATC 128, DIATC 129.

Pharmacy Technician Certificate

Satisfactory completion of PHARM 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138; MEDA 101, 102, 106, 112, 118, 200, ENGL 170, OfTec 162,SocSci 113.

Individual Technical Certificate

An Individual Technical Certificate may be developed in conjunction with other programs to meet marketable objectives and goals with Department Chair approval.

Contact Us

Jeanette Hemming
Department Chair
Mount Vernon Campus
2405 East College Way

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 416-7720
jeanette.hemming@skagit.edu