Medical Assisting
Medical assistants are multi-skilled health care professionals. They work under the direction of a qualified physician, nurse-practitioner or physician assistant and perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks. They work primarily in ambulatory care settings such as medical offices and clinics.
Associate Degree program
5 semesters
- 4 semesters of classroom work
- final semester includes a clinical experience (practicum)
The program is offered at Caldwell campus with clinical portions in the surrounding areas.
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
- Versatile and multifaceted profession
- Employment in variety of settings
- Over 119,800 MA openings are projected each year
EDUCATION OF THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT
- Courses in a Medical Assisting Program
- General Education
- Administrative
- Clinical Courses (lab procedures, exam procedures)
- Practicum 240 hours (Clinical experience)
WHAT DO MEDICAL ASSISTANTS DO?
Administrative duties
- Scheduling appointments
- Maintaining medical records
- Billing and coding for insurance purposes
Clinical duties
- Taking and recording vital signs and medical histories
- Preparing patients for examination
- Drawing blood
- Administering medications as directed by physician
SALARY INFORMATION / JOB GROWTH
- According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for medical assistants are projected to grow by 19% from 2019 to 2029, a rate much faster than the average for all occupations.
The median annual wage for Medical Assistants in 2023 is 42,000 per year.
– Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
COURSE WORK
Semester by semester course work information is available in the college catalog.
CLINICAL PRACTICUM
- For MED 260 each student will be placed in a clinical setting for a total of 240 contact hours.
- Assignment of clinical placements is at the discretion of the MA faculty and may be in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, OB-GYN, or other specialty areas in Caldwell, Watauga, and surrounding counties.
- Students will practice both administrative and clinical skills.
- Prior to attending clinical, students must satisfactorily complete a criminal background check, drug screen, medical form with updated immunizations, and CPR course for health care providers.
- Students who fail to complete the above requirements will not be allowed to attend clinical.
PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE
- Medical Assistants must project a professional appearance
- Tattoos must be covered
- Only one earring per ear
- No excessive jewelry
- Good personal hygiene
- Clean uniforms and shoes
- Hair pulled back and neat
- No nose rings, lip rings, etc.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Complete college application
- High school and college transcripts
- Meet eligibility requirements to enroll in gateway English and math requirements
- Complete Medical Assisting information session
- Request a MAR (Minimum Admissions Requirements) Review by contacting the Health Sciences Admissions Office
Estimated Program Cost
| Item | Amount | When Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition* *May be subject to change without notice as determined by the General Assembly of North Carolina | $5830.00 | $76.00 per semester hr + $35 per semester(Fall and Spring) activity fee + $2 per course campus service fee |
| Liability (malpractice) ins | $13.00 | Fall II |
| Accident insurance | $6.00 | Fall I and Fall II |
| Textbooks | TBD | Ongoing |
| Uniforms | $150.00 plus shoes | Fall II |
| Stethoscope | $30.00 and up | Fall II |
| Criminal Background Ck, Drug Screen, Immunization Tracker | $135.00 | Fall II |
| Graduation Fee | $25.00 | Fall II |
TRAVEL
- Students are responsible for travel to and from school and clinical sites plus any parking fees.
- Students are responsible for travel for field trips and community service projects.
- Students need to have reliable transportation.
ALSO NEEDED
Students will need to have a wristwatch with a second hand for checking time, pulse and respiration.
You can’t use your cell phone in clinical!
WHERE DO I GET MORE INFORMATION?
For Admissions information contact:
Ruthie Price rprice@cccti.edu or 828.726.2711
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME!
To receive credit for your medical assisting admission file, please complete the Information Session Confirmation Form. Make sure to complete the form in its entirety and click the submit button at the bottom.
Contacts
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