Medical Assistant
Medical Assistant
Subject Area: Health Sciences
Award: Diploma
Minimum Credits: 41.5
Location: Calmar, Peosta
Entry: Fall
Description
Medical Assistants are allied health professionals who perform administrative and clinical functions that support the services of physicians and other health practitioners in a medical office setting. Duties vary depending on the practice and scope of practice in the state. Clinical duties can include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, sterilizing medical equipment, doing blood draws, taking electrocardiograms, and preparing patients for x-rays. Administrative functions include patient scheduling, patient registration, performing billing services, and purchasing and maintaining supplies. Medical Assistants, if directed by a physician and state law, might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications, authorize drug refills and telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy.
Classes are scheduled at the campus and include lab hours. After completion of required prerequisite coursework, a practicum experience is scheduled in a clinical setting for six weeks/forty hours per week. This is a total of 240 hours unpaid practicum experience.
The goal of the Medical Assistant program is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains. Upon successful completion of the program, you are eligible to take the national credentialing exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).
The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727.210.2350
www.caahep.org
| Calendar Year | Retention | Positive Placement | Exam Participation | Exam Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 87.50% | 85.71% | 87% | 82% |
| 2014 | 80% | 83.33% | 87.5% | 78.57% |
| 2013 | 85% | 94.12% | 50% | 100% |
| 5-Year | 83.72% | 88.89% | 78% | 91% |
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Enrollment Process
- Apply for admission.
- Submit official high school, high school equivalency and/or college transcripts to the Admissions Office of the campus you plan to attend.
- Complete ACCUPLACER® reading and writing assessment and ALEKS® math assessment for course placement. Assessments may be waived based on previous college coursework or submission of valid ACT®, ACT Compass® or ALEKS® test scores. ACCUPLACER® scores are valid for three years, and ALEKS® scores are valid for 18 months.
In addition to the College admission procedures outlined, applicants must achieve a minimum ACCUPLACER® reading score of 70 and a minimum ALEKS® score of 15. ACT® or ACT Compass® scores are also acceptable.
Program Admission
The health sciences programs require additional admission requirements including background checks, health records and training requirements. Please review these requirements for program admission.
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Academic Requirements
Fall Course Title Credits BIO:158 Basic Anatomy and Physiology 2.0 BIO:160 Basic Anatomy and Physiology Lab 1.0 HIT:320 Health Records Management 2.0 HSC:117 Basic Medical Terminology 2.5 MAP:111 Medical Office Management I 3.0 MAP:353 Clinical Procedures I 4.0 MAP:401 Medical Law and Ethics 1.0 SDV:179 The College Experience 3.0 Spring Course Title Credits HIT:210 Basic Medical Insurance and Coding 2.0 MAP:358 Clinical Procedures II 5.0 MAP:431 Human Relations 1.0 MAP:501 Math for Medications 1.0 MAP:512 Medical Assisting Pharmacology 2.0 MAP:532 Human Body: Health and Disease 3.0 COM:723 Workplace Communications 3.0 Summer Course Title Credits MAP:622 Medical Assistant Practicum 6.0 Note: To graduate from this program, students must complete all required coursework with a "C-" grade or above and earn a minimum 2.0 grade point average.Students are required to take some courses in an online or hybrid format.
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Employment Information
With an annual income range of $24,418 - $34,331 and a projected growth of 9.0%, the career outlook for Medical Assistant graduates is growing.
Source: EMSI; Salary range represents 10th percentile - median annual wage for related occupations within a 100-mile radius from the center distance between Calmar and Peosta Campuses. Growth rate based on projections from 2017-2021.Future Ready Iowa is an initiative led by the governor to build Iowa’s talent pipeline by meeting the goal of 70 percent of all Iowans to have a two- or four-year college degree, industry recognized certificate or other credential that meets employer need by 2025. Northeast Iowa Community College has the programs necessary to meet this goal.
View Gainful Employment information for this program.
Employers of NICC Alumni
Dubuque Pediatrics, Dubuque, IA
Grand River Medical Group, Dubuque, IA
Guttenberg Municipal Hospital, Guttenberg, IA
Medical Associates, Dubuque, IA
Tri-State Vein Center, Dubuque IA -
Additional Information
Students should be aware that clinic sites can be located anywhere within the NICC service area at both ends of the district. Travel is required and students are responsible for transportation to and from, which could be as far as two hours away. Practicum is held only in the summer semester and is a six-week full time externship.
- View the Medical Assistant Policy Manual (2016).
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Transfer Information
The Medical Assisting diploma program currently has a transfer agreement in place with Allen College. Students are encouraged to speak with representatives at Allen College to verify that their planned courses at NICC will meet requirements.
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Contacts
Jennifer Anglin, NCMA
Medical Assistant Program Director
800.728.7367, ext. 196
anglinje@nicc.edu