Medical Assistant
A Career as a Medical Assistant
Medical assistants work side-by-side with nurses and others on the health care team, treating patients from newborns to senior citizens. Medical Assisting exposes you to a wide variety of medical office responsibilities that showcase your administrative, technical and scientific responsibilities, as well as your human relations skills.
As a medical assistant, you can share your compassion with patients in a host of medical situations - from primary care physicians' and specialists' offices to hospitals.
Clinical duties performed by medical assistants vary according to state law and may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination and assisting the physician during the examination.
Medical Assistant Program Description
Pima Medical Institute's Medical Assistant certificate program will train you to assist physicians in the examination and treatment of patients, as well as perform routine office tasks.
Pima medical assistants are trained to collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies and sterilize medical instruments. Medical assistant training also includes how to instruct patients about medications and special diets; prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician; authorize drug refills as directed; telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy; draw blood and give injections; prepare patients for X-rays; take electrocardiograms; remove sutures; and change dressings. You will learn how to put patients at ease and interpret a physician's instruction correctly and efficiently.
Medical Assistant Licensure and Certification
Employers prefer to hire formally trained medical assistants from accredited medical assisting colleges or certified applicants who have passed a national examination, indicating that the medical assistant meets certain standards of competence. The American Association of Medical Assistants awards the Certified Medical Assistant credential; the American Medical Technologists awards the Registered Medical Assistant credential. Other medical assistant certificates are offered in podiatry and ophthalmology.
Medical Assistant Program Outline:
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |
| CSK 100 | Study Skills* | 15 | 1.0 | |||
| CAT 150 | Anatomy, Physiology, and Terminology* | 55 | 3.5 | |||
| CCB 100 | Computer Basics* | 15 | 0.5 | |||
| CMF 95 | Math Fundamentals* | 20 | 1.0 | |||
| CHS 100 | CPR & First Aid* | 10 | 5 | 0.5 | ||
| Career Prep Sequence Total | 100 | 20 | 6.5 | |||
*Successful completion of CSK 100, CAT 150, CCB 100, CMF 95, and CHS 100 is required either online or on-ground prior to externship. |
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| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |
| MAA 100 | Office Management | 30 | 30 | 3.0 | ||
| MAA 102 | Introduction to Insurance and Coding |
15 | 15 | 1.5 | ||
| MAA 104 | Business Writing and EHR | 15 | 15 | 1.5 | ||
| Professional Sequence I Total | 60 | 60 | 6.0 | |||
**Professional Sequence I must be successfully completed prior to entrance into Professional Sequences II, III, & IV. Professional Sequences II, III, & IV may be completed in any order. |
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| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |
| MDA 111 | Examination Techniques | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | ||
| MDA 121 | Clinical Aspects of Coding & Billing | 15 | 15 | 1.5 | ||
| MDA 130 | Surgical Procedures | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | ||
| Professional Sequence II Total | 45 | 75 | 5.5 | |||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |
| MDA 106 | Pharmacology | 30 | 30 | 3.0 | ||
| MDA 136 | Medical Law and Ethics | 15 | 1.0 | |||
| MDA 120 | Medical Office Laboratory Procedures | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | ||
| Professional Sequence III Total | 60 | 60 | 6.0 | |||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |
| MDA 125 | Medical Office Laboratory Procedures | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | ||
| MDA 141 | Medical Specialty Procedures | 15 | 30 | 2.0 | ||
| MDA 131 | Communication | 30 | 2.0 | |||
| Professional Sequence IV Total | 60 | 60 | 6.0 | |||
| Course # | Course | Theory | Lab | Extern | Credits | |
| MDA 275 | Externship | 200 | 4.0 | |||
| Externship Total | 200 | 4.0 | ||||
| PROGRAM TOTALS | 325 | 275 | 200 | 34.0 | ||
Job Outlook for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants may experience diverse career opportunities. Medical assistants may be able to advance to office manager. They may also qualify for a variety of administrative support occupations or may even teach medical assisting.
As the health care industry expands because of technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging of the population, there will be an increased need for health care workers. Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to 34 percent through 2018.
Medical Assistant Program Length
Approximately 9 months
For more detailed information on Medical Assistant program specifics, financial aid and lifetime job placement assistance for graduates, please visit your local campus below.
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Chula Vista, California
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
East Valley, Arizona
Las Vegas, Nevada
Mesa, Arizona
Renton, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Tucson, Arizona
