In the Medical Assistant program, students will learn to complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments, taking patients’ vital signs, and how to assist doctors and nurses with patients' exams. Students will also learn phlebotomy, performing venipuncture (inserting a needle into a vein) to collect blood samples, and how to perform EKG tests. Additionally, students will learn medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical law and ethics, and pharmacology. 

What Will I do as a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants perform both clinical and administrative tasks in healthcare settings. Some of your responsibilites as a medical assistant may include:

Clinical duties

• Taking and recording patient vital signs, such as temperature, blood pressure, and pulse.

• Recording patient medical histories and symptoms.

• Preparing patients for exams and explaining procedures.

• Assisting physicians during exams.

• Collecting blood and other specimens for lab tests.

• Performing basic lab tests.

• Administering medications and injections as directed by a physician.

• Removing stitches and changing wound dressings.

• Performing diagnostic tests like EKGs.

• Sterilizing medical instruments. 

Administrative duties

• Scheduling appointments and procedures.

• Answering phones and responding to patient messages.

• Updating and maintaining patient records.

• Managing billing and insurance paperwork.

• Ordering and stocking medical supplies. 

Degree and Industry Certifications

Technical Diploma: Medical Assistant, CIP: 51.0801

• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT): National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA): National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

• Basic Life Support (BLS): American Heart Association