Are you interested in a career in health care, but are not sure where to begin? Medical assistants play a unique role, combining clinical training with administrative skills to work in the office, exam room, and medical lab. They work closely with patients and medical staff to provide excellent service and ensure a patient’s stay is as comfortable and beneficial as possible. Medical assistants are able to start working in the health care field with a shorter amount of formal training compared to a 4-year degree or medical school.
The Medical Assisting Program provides the administrative and clinical knowledge and skills necessary for employment as a Medical Assistant. This includes cognitive, psychomotor and affective skills essential for assisting physicians and other healthcare practitioners with many aspects of medical practice, including administrative and clinical procedures. Examples of administrative procedures taught in the program include: Electronic Medical Records (EMR) simulation; Medical insurance billing and referrals; diagnostic and procedural coding; daily financial practices; medical records and appointment management. Examples of clinical procedures explored in the program include direct patient care such as: obtaining patient vital signs; entering patient data into EMR’s; assisting with physical examinations, phlebotomy (blood draw), administering injections, performing electrocardiograms (EKG’s); instrument processing and assisting in sterile procedures.
Career Opportunities
Graduates may be hired in a variety of settings to perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep healthcare delivery running smoothly. The duties of Medical Assistants vary from office to office, depending on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants are usually generalists, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators. An experienced Medical Assistant might advance to office administrator or clinical lead Medical Assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistant Job Outlook through 2029 projects a 19% growth rate, which is much faster than the average of 4% for other occupations.
Other Options:
Medical Secretary
Medical Administrative Assistant
Program Accreditation
The SPSCC Medical Assisting Certificate Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), 9355-113th St. N. #7709 Seminole, FL 33775, http://www.caahep.org/, on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB), http://maerb.org.
CAAHEP requires all Medical Assisting Programs to make public measurable program outcomes. These outcomes are from the 2024 Annual Report Form for the 5-year average for years 2019-2023:
Exam Passage Rate: 95%
Retention Percentage: 74.79%
Employer Satisfaction 2023: 100%
Graduate Satisfaction 2023: 100%
South Puget Sound Community College believes that all students need to develop a broad range of abilities that will not only make them more effective in their professional pursuits but will enhance their capacity to relate well to others in their daily lives.
Evaluate self-improvement while mastering clinical and administrative skills
Measure, record, interpret, and report data in both clinical and office settings
Adjust communications techniques to interact effectively with colleagues and patients who have diverse backgrounds, expectations, and needs
Incorporate legal, ethical and professional considerations into delivery of healthcare
Perform the duties of an entry level medical assistant in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor, (skills) and affective (behavior) domains
The SPSCC college-wide abilities are embedded into each program:
Effective Communication
Information Literacy
Analytical Reasoning
Multicultural Awareness
Social Responsibility
Program Admissions and Other Requirements
Program Entrance Requirements:
Complete all SPSCC admission requirements
If entering the medical assisting program in fall quarter, the student will have successfully completed all general education courses/electives:
CCS 101
OFTEC 108
OFTEC 136
MED 103 prior to the start of MED 150 and MED 151
Interview with medical assisting faculty one to two quarters prior to enrolling in MED 150 in fall quarter.
Additional Program Requirements:
Proof of Hepatitis B vaccination series and titer required prior to the start of MED 155
MED courses must be completed within 5 years of completion of the program. Any MED courses taken prior to five years of completion would need to be repeated
Students must provide proof of current provider-level CPR certification through the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association prior to beginning their externship (MED 159)
Students are required to pass a Washington State Patrol Background check. A felony conviction requires approval from the American Association of Medical Assistants prior to taking the national exam.
Certification
Upon successful completion of the Associate in Applied Science degree in Medical Assisting, graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam offered through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Upon satisfactory completion of the exam, they will be qualified to use the credentials of Certified Medical Assistant CMA, (AAMA). The CMA credential is recognized nationally; however, each state mandates the scope of practice for Medical Assistants.
Health and Safety
Prior to the beginning of their second quarter in the program, students registered in the Medical Assisting Program are required to have started the Hepatitis B vaccination series. Documentation for this requirement must be presented by the first day of class of the second quarter of the program.
Practicum
The capstone course is the student practicum (MED 159 Externship for Medical Assistants). All cognitive objectives and psychomotor and affective competencies must be completed prior to the practicum. It is highly recommended that all required coursework for the AAS degree be completed prior to the start of the practicum. The practicum allows the opportunity to use your administrative and clinical skills under the guidance of a mentor in an ambulatory healthcare setting. The practicum is a 198-hour non-remunerative arrangement.
Entry into the Medical Assisting Program does not guarantee students a job placement, nor does it guarantee a practicum placement in Thurston County. Practicum placements require successful interviews and background checks. Due to increased competition for practicum placements with other schools in Washington State, South Puget Sound Community College cannot guarantee that the practicum will be in the last quarter of the program.
Includes ability to test out of OFTEC111 by completing typing testing at 35WPM
2
Includes ability to complete: MATH 095 and MATH& 107.
3
Includes ability to complete:MATH 095, MATH 096, and MATH& 146. Some students place directly to MATH& 107 or 146
South Puget Sound Community College has provided pathways and associated recommended courses for ease of student selection based upon a student’s career interest. Please review the pathway maps for required and recommended courses.
