Medical assistants are vital in today's rapidly changing health care system. If you pursue a career in medical assisting, you will work directly with patients by assisting physicians with routine medical exams, recording vital signs and medical histories, and explaining treatment procedures to patients and their families.
Excellent Career Outlook
Medical assisting offers a bright future. The U.S. Department of Labor cites it as one of the fastest-growing careers over the next decade due, in part, to an increasing number of elderly patients who require frequent medical office visits.*
Upon completion of this program, you will be awarded a diploma in medical assisting. If you would like to earn an associate's degree in this career field, we also offer an Associate in Specialized Technology in Medical Assistant degree, which offers additional clinical and administrative courses to prepare you for your future career as a medical assistant.
What Will You Study?
This curriculum includes courses that will prepare you to assist the physician in physical examinations and minor surgery and with EKGs, vital signs, and laboratory testing. You will also receive training on how to keep the medical office running smoothly. Courses include instruction and lab training in:
- Clinical assisting and pharmacology with emphasis on infection and disease control
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation and electrocardiography
- Medical insurance, bookkeeping, health sciences, and lab procedures
- Patient care and communication
- Skeletal, endocrine, and reproductive systems
- Therapeutic care, including physical therapy and current ethical issues
You will be required to complete an externship at an approved facility, which will give you an opportunity to gain real-world experience in medical assisting.
Prepare for the Certification Exam
This curriculum is designed to help prepare you for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination sponsored by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).†
* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006–2007 Edition.
† However, the Institute cannot guarantee a student's eligibility either to take this exam or become certified. A student's eligibility may depend on his or her work experience, completion of high school (or its equivalent), not having a criminal record, meeting other licensure or certification requirements, or the program or Institute itself having appropriate accreditation or licensure. Externship sites may themselves require a criminal background check or medical examination.