Home Future Students Current Students Former Students Parents and Family Employers Faculty and Staff

Medical Assisting Diploma

Next Steps

Program Description:

Medical assistants are valuable in any team of caregivers, and with the national shortage of healthcare workers, opportunity for employment is ample.

As a medical assistant, the student will help care for patients by providing routine treatment and performing laboratory or office duties. Typical duties include scheduling and receiving patients; taking temperature, blood pressure, height and weight measurements; assisting in examinations; and keeping medical records. He or she will have a background in computerized databases as well as in customer service. Under a doctor's direction as a medical assistant, you may give injections, assist in collecting samples for analysis, perform standard laboratory tests, order and maintain supplies, and assist in minor surgery and wound care.

After graduation, the student will have many choices for future employment, including private physicians' offices, clinics, emergency-care facilities, hospitals, and other healthcare organizations.

Classes are five days per week, up to six hours per day in the classroom or eight hours per day in the clinical setting. The student will take the certification examination after graduation and will be certified upon passing the exam.

Students are admitted every quarter in the Allied Health Assistant or the Healthcare Science Program in order to complete prerequisite core courses. Those who have completed prerequisite coursework compete for admission into the program during spring and fall quarters. Students are accepted during winter and summer quarters.

The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs accredits the Columbus Technical College's Medical Assisting Program upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (CRB-AAMAE). CAAHEP, 35 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, 312.553.9355.

Career Information, Occupational Outlook and Related Professional Organizations:

Length of Program: 83 Credit Hours

Program Admission Requirements:

  1. Present official documentation of an earned high school diploma or official GED scores.
  2. Be at least 17 years old.
  3. Complete prerequisite courses by the end of the quarter prior to the quarter of admission.
  4. Submit the following completed forms on or before March 1st for spring quarter 2008 admission only. After spring quarter 2008, the deadlines are as follows: For winter quarter admission, submit completed forms on or before November 1. For summer quarter admission, submit completed forms on or before May 1 (beginning 2009). Interviews will be scheduled with the Medical Assisting Program Manager on the same day that you submit your application packet.
    1. Letter of Intent
    2. Personal Data Form
    3. Pre-requisite Checklist
    4. Level I Background check
  5. Submit the following completed forms prior to beginning Externship:
    1. Physical Exam
    2. Immunization Form
    3. Pre-entrance Dental Form
    4. Current CPR Card*

*If you need to become CPR certified, please contact Economic Development at 706.649.1590.

All forms are to be submitted to the Medical Assisting program office:.
Office:  Carl Patrick Hall; Room P-1520
Phone:  706.649.1499

Estimated Cost:

All costs are estimated and subject to change without notice. Tuition, fees and books are not included.

Supplies: Dosimetry Badges (Externship quarter only) $15.00
2 jackets, 2 pants and 2 tops 140.00
4 School Patches 12.00
Insurance: Liability policy prior to Externship 17.50
Certification: AAMA National Examination 100.00
Program Pin 50.00
Background Check 48.50

Program Sequence

* Indicates courses ranked for admission

Quarter Course Description Credit Hours
Prerequisites
1st Quarter 		MAT 101* General Math 5
ENG 101 English 5
SCT 100 Introduction to Microcomputers 3
  Total 13
Prerequisites
2nd Quarter 		PSY 101 Psychology 5
AHS 109* Medical Terminology 3
MAS 101 Legal Aspects of the Medical Office 3
  Total 11
Prerequisites
3rd Quarter 		AHS 101* Anatomy and Physiology 5
AHS 104* Introduction to Healthcare 3
  Total 8
Program
Admission
1st Quarter
 MAS 106 Medical Office Procedures 5
MAS 112 Human Diseases 5
BUS 101 Beginning Document Processing 5
  Total 15
2nd Quarter
 MAS 103 Pharmacology 5
MAS 110 Medical Insurance Management 3
MAS 108 Medical Assisting Skills I 6
  Total 14
3rd Quarter MAS 109 Medical Assisting Skills II 6
MAS 111 Administrative Practice Management 4
  Total 10
4th Quarter MAS 117 Medical Assisting Externship 8
MAS 118 Medical Assisting Seminar 4
  Total 12

Completion of Work Ready Certification

The content of this page does not constitute a contract between Columbus Technical College and its students on either a collective or individual basis. Course curriculum, fee changes, or additional unforeseen changes may occur after publication. Course offerings are contingent upon adequate enrollments. Please contact the school offering the program for the most current information. Academic advising is available to students prior to registration; this information is not a substitute for consulting with an academic advisor.

Last updated: October 6, 2008.