Award: Certificate in Medical Assisting
| No. of credits required: | 39 |
For more information: Contact Donna Rowan,
443-412-2389, dorowan@harford.edu, or Advising, Career,
and Transfer Services, 443-412-2301.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Certificate in Medical Assisting at Harford Community
College is a career program designed to prepare students
for employment as a medical assistant immediately upon
completing the course of studies. The program prepares
students to work in an administrative and clinical capacity
in a variety of medical office and clinical settings. Students
learn the knowledge, technical skills and work ethic that are
required for an entry level position in medical assisting.
The program includes both classroom theory and clinical
practice. The student who completes the certificate program
has the option of earning the A.A.S. in Medical Assisting by
completing the general education courses required by that
degree program. Graduates of the program are eligible to test for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through American Medical Technologists (AMT) or the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through American Association of Medical Assistant (AAMA). Please note that, generally, individuals who have been found guilty of a felony, or pleaded guilty to a felony, are not eligible to take the exam. However, the Certifying Board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances.
Students may complete the Associate degree in Medical
Assisting in four semesters without a summer session, or in
15 months which includes a summer session.
Administrative duties performed by medical assistants include
general medical office procedures, scheduling appointments,
medical billing, and coding. Clinical duties include recording
medical histories and vital signs, preparing patients for
examination and procedures, performing laboratory tests,
pharmacology and injection training, and phlebotomy and
ECG training.
PROGRAM GOALS
Upon completion of the program, the student will :
- Perform clinical skills within the scope of practice for a medical assistant: phlebotomy, injections, EKG (electrocardiogram), obtaining lab specimens, and vital signs.
- Perform executive administrative skills within the scope of practice for a medical assistant including; scheduling, billing and coding.
- Possess knowledge of legal implications and ethical considerations in an ambulatory healthcare setting.
- Follow the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) Code of Ethics.
- Be eligible to take the RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) Examination through American Medical Technologists for national certification.
- Have completed 160 hours of unpaid externship in an ambulatory healthcare setting.
- Demonstrate professionalism and effective communication skills.
- Qualify to secure an entry level employment position as a medical assistant.
REQUIRED COURSES
# Biology Requirement choose BIO 108 & BIO 116 OR BIO 203 & BIO 204
** Current Healthcare Provider Level CPR and First Aid certification
are required prior to starting this course. PPD status
and immunization and health records must be provided
prior to orientation to this course.
***Medical Assisting Externship requires 160 hours
of unpaid work experience in a physician's office
or clinical setting.
GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT
Medical Assisting, 39 credits
CIP: 51.0899
SOC: 31-9092
Occupations: Medical Assistant, Medical Secretary
Link to O*Net: http://www.onetonline.org/find/result?s=medical assistant
Tuition and Fees: $4,865.00
Time to Completion: 2 years
Note: The 2011-2012 Catalog was used to define credits to completion, and program cost.
Program length is calculated based on average 9 credits per semester, assumed the student was college ready and not required to take developmental course(s).
These figures are based on estimations, and do not include any increases that may occur in course materials or credit fees.
For additional information go to: http://www.harford.edu/catalog/pdf/gainful-employment.pdf
EMPLOYMENT INFORMATION
Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing health
professional occupations in the United States. According
to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical
assistants will continue to grow much faster than average
through the year 2018 as the health care industry expands
because of technological advances in medicine and the
growth and aging of the population.
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CERTIFICATE REQUIREMENTS
Students earning a certificate from HCC must complete or demonstrate exemption from the following courses: ENG 003
and ENG 012, or ENG 018; and MATH 001 or MATH 010. See graduation
requirement details in this catalog for further information.
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English Composition
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Interdisciplinary and Emerging Issues
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