A.A.S. Degree in Medical Assisting (A45400)

The Medical Assisting curriculum prepares multi-skilled health care professionals to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures.

Coursework includes instruction in scheduling appointments, coding and processing insurance accounts, billing, collections, computer operations; assisting with examinations/treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures, electrocardiography, supervised medication administration; and ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.

Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting programs may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants' Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants. Employment opportunities include physicians' offices, health maintenance organizations, health departments, and hospitals.

Additional requirements that must be met following admittance to the program are as follows:

1. Before beginning the clinical externship portion of the program, students are required to have a Health Care provider level current First Aid/CPR certification effective throughout the entire two-semester externship rotations. Evidence of physical health must be provided by submitting a completed Student Medical Form to Martin Community College and a current immunization record. Failure to provide the listed materials in a timely manner will prevent progress through the program by making the student ineligible for placement in externship.

2. Students accepted into the Medical Assisting Program will be required to meet the safety standards for health care workers' exposure to blood borne pathogens including, but not limited to, HBV immunizations as printed in the Medical Assisting Student Handbook. Evidence of HBV immunization must be provided to be eligible for externship.

3. Additional Medical Assisting policies and procedures are outlined in the Medical Assisting Student Handbook and are available from both full-and part-time Medical Assisting faculty.

4. Students entering clinical externships (usually in their last two semesters) may be required by the clinical site to provide a criminal background check and a drug screening test before or during each rotation. A criminal history or positive drug screen may preclude the student from being placed for clinical rotation and therefore prevent the student from finishing the degree or diploma. A positive drug screen during the rotation will result in a failing grade for that clinical and will prevent the student from continuing in the program.

The Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board. Initial accreditation was granted on October 10, 1998. Reaccreditation was granted on March 15, 2024. The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs can be contacted at (727) 210-2350 or:
CAAHEP
9355 113th Street N., #7709
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
Additional information is available at https://www.caahep.org.