Medical Assistant
Your education
The Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) degree in medical assisting is a degree completion program designed to provide students the opportunity to build upon the foundation of skills and knowledge developed at the certificate level through completion of additional allied health and general education coursework. Students can complete the medical assistant A.A.S. in four semesters.
The medical assistant certificate degree program is a three-semester program designed to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession and to prepare you for entry-level employment in health care settings. The certificate degree program incorporates the medical office reception occupational endorsement and medical/dental reception certificate.
Program coursework will develop knowledge and skills for both office work and clinical care. Courses include, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology or human biology, administrative procedures, clinical procedures, communication, applied mathematics, and human behavior in health care. You will also complete a practicum of 180 hours in a local medical healthcare facility.
The medical assistant certificate is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and is intended to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Upon completion of the certificate degree, you will be eligible to take the national exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Your career
Medical assistants are trained to work in several areas of a medical practice. They may assist the physician with exams and procedures and may also work in the front office in scheduling, reception, billing, reimbursement and office management. Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep health care settings running smoothly.
Program highlights
Hands-on clinical training may be offered in physicians’ offices, clinics, or other health facilities. Class sizes are intentionally kept small so that students receive highly individualized one-on-one training from outstanding faculty and instructors.
Medical assistant certificate and A.A.S. degree students may take medical scribe certificate degree courses, enabling them to develop this skillset to add to their resumes.
ACCREDITATION: The UAF CTC medical assistant certificate degree is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs: 9355 – 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775.
Other details
Special admission requirements may apply to students in this program. Applicants should familiarize themselves with these and speak with a program advisor if they have any questions or concerns. Prerequisites for the program include a high school diploma or GED and completion of the medical assistant application.
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