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Medical Assistant

Do you want to play a critical role in assisting physicians and other healthcare professionals? If you are interested in one of the most in-demand careers in our region’s largest industry, our medical assistant program might be for you.

Medical assistants provide a broad range of administrative and clinical duties. In this program, you will learn about scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining medical records, medical transcription and managing practice finances. You will also get intense, hands-on training to perform clinical duties, including taking vital signs and patient histories, managing infection control, assisting with examinations and treatments, collecting specimens and performing diagnostic tests.

In the last quarter, you will get real experience in a clinical externship in a medical office. Medical assistants work in private practices, clinics, hospitals, medical labs and retirement communities.

Detailed Information

The Spokane Community College Medical Assistant Certificate is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

The Spokane Community College Medical Assistant Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

 

CAAHEP
9355-113th St. N. #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350

AGE REQUIREMENT: Students must be 18 years of age or older for acceptance into the program. This age requirement is essential to meet the criteria necessary for the clinical externship portion of this program.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: All applicants must acknowledge successful completion of a high school diploma or equivalent as part of the certification application process done through the WA Department of Health.

 

Occupational Risks

Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards. Medical Assistants can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics clearly outlines that it is a growth field, with an anticipated 18% growth from 2020 to 2030.  

Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.

As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a medical assistant, and those hazards include the following:

  • Exposure to infectious diseases
  • Sharps injuries
  • Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards
  • Chemical and drug exposure
  • Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks
  • Latex allergies
  • Emotional and physical stress

At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment.

OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.  

Accredited medical assisting programs are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.  

 

To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), and psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Breaking Ground on Your Pathway


Plan Your Courses

Meet with our counselors to customize this plan just for you. You can also search the quarterly schedule for class days and times.

Prepare for College-level Math

Math placement is required for this program. If your math placement is below MATH 87, you’ll need to take the following sequence of courses, starting from the level you placed into:
AE 48 → MATH 87

Placement

English placement is not required for this program.

The Medical Assistant is an Allied Health professional who assists physicians and other health care providers in their offices or other medical settings. In accordance with respective state laws, they perform a broad range of administrative and clinical duties. In the Medical Assistant program at Spokane Community College, students learn about the administrative duties of scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining medical records, performing basic secretarial skills and medical transcription, handling telephone calls, writing correspondence, serving as a liaison between the physician and other individuals, and managing practice finances. The clinical phase of the program is taught through intense training and hands-on application. Students learn to perform clinical duties, including asepsis and infection control, taking patient histories and vital signs, first aid and CPR, preparing patients for procedures, assisting the physician with examinations and treatments, collecting and processing specimens, performing selected diagnostic tests, and preparing and administering medications as directed by the physician. In the 4th quarter the students will have a 198 hour unpaid clinical externship in a medical office working directly with providers.

Formats for this program are offered as on-campus or online/hybrid.

The Spokane Community College Medical Assistant Certificate is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 25400 US Highway 19 N Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, 1-(727)-210-2350.

Program Map for

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Total Admission Requirements Credits: 15

Total Program Credits: 69

Admission Requirements

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
CIS 110
Introduction to Computer Applications   1
5
ENGL&101
English Composition I  
5
MATH 87
Algebra for Math Literacy I   2
5
Total Credits
 
15

Program Courses

NOTE: You must apply and be accepted into the program before taking the following courses

First Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HED 108
Human Anatomy  
5
MA 101
Administrative Medical Assistant I  
5
MA 102
Clinical Medical Assistant I  
3
MA 107
Basic Medical Assisting  
3
Total Credits
 
16

Second Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HED 125
Medical Terminology  
5
MA 111
Administrative Medical Assistant II  
3
MA 112
Clinical Medical Assistant II - A  
3
MA 113
Clinical Medical Assistant II - B  
2
PHARM115
Mathematics for Pharmacy Technicians  
5
Total Credits
 
18

Third Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
HIM 120
Medical Assistant Coding and Reimbursement  
3
MA 121
Administrative Medical Assistant III  
2
MA 122
Clinical Medical Assistant III - A  
2
MA 123
Clinical Medical Assistant III - B  
3
MA 125
Ambulatory Care Setting Pharmacology  
5
MA 126
Introduction to Study of Disease  
5
Total Credits
 
20

Fourth Quarter

Course ID
Course Title
Credits
MA 131
Administrative Medical Assistant IV  
3
MA 132
Clinical Medical Assistant IV - A  
3
MA 133
Clinical Medical Assistant IV - B  
2
MA 141
Medical Assistant Seminar  
1
MA 142
Medical Assistant Externship  
6
Total Credits
 
15

1 An equivalent course to CIS 110 is acceptable.
2 MATH 71 may be substituted for MATH 87. MATH 71 or 87 must be passed with a 2.0 or higher. Prior to Fall 2022, Math 87 or 91 with a 2.0 or higher is still required.

Program Requirements

  • Students must be 18 years of age or older for acceptance into the program.
  • Successful passage and completion of a national criminal background check and drug screening is mandatory within both the initial and final quarters of the program.
  • All applicants must acknowledge successful completion of a high school diploma or equivalent as part of the certification process through the WA Department of Health.
  • Students must complete Admission Requirements before acceptance into the program.
  • A grade of 2.0 or better is required in all classes before advancing to the next quarter.
  • Students who complete professional requirements with liberal arts requirements will receive an associate in applied science with their certification.
  • Students may enroll in liberal arts either preceding or following the professional curriculum.

Technical Standards

Technical standards are the essential benchmarks for admission to and engagement in an educational program. They outline both academic and practical criteria, including skills and performance expectations for those pursuing a career as a medical assistant. Academic standards cover study courses, achieving satisfactory grades, and fulfilling other essential activities. Nonacademic standards encompass physical, cognitive, and behavioral prerequisites crucial for mastering the curriculum and cultivating the professional attributes necessary for a successful career.

It's crucial to meet these technical standards, whether with or without accommodations. Individuals aspiring to join the Medical Assistant Program at Spokane Community College should thoroughly assess the non-academic technical standards outlined below, considering any potential limitations that might impact their ability to meet these requirements. Applicants are encouraged to engage with the program director to discuss any individual situations that could affect adherence to these technical standards.

Physical Standards

  • Lifting: Lift and carry equipment and patients up to 50 pounds, supporting and assisting patients in and out of a wheelchair, and on and off an examination table (lifting requirement is 0-25% of the time).
  • Pushing: Push a patient weighing up to 200 pounds in a wheelchair.
  • Spend an average of 25% of a regular workday walking, squatting, sitting, bending, and reaching, and 75% standing.
  • Maneuverability: Perform activities such as kneeling, bending, stooping, crouching to perform CPR, assist patients, and retrieve items from cabinets below waist level.
  • Fine Motor Skills: Exhibit adequate dexterity for tasks such as phlebotomy, electrocardiography, administering medications, handling small containers of potentially biohazardous specimens, using measuring devices, and operating various equipment.

Tactile Standards

  • Palpation: Ability to palpate pulses, muscle contractions, bony landmarks, and edema.
  • Sensory Differentiation: Differentiate between temperature and pressure variations.

Visual Standards

  • Acuity: Possess adequate visual acuity for tasks including medication preparation and administration, diagnostic laboratory procedures, and patient assessment.
  • Reading: Read accurately numbers, letters, cursive writing, and differentiate shapes and colors.
  • Corrective Devices: Standards apply with or without corrective devices.

Auditory Standards

  • Perception: Possess adequate auditory perception for verbal communication, including heart sounds, blood pressure sounds, patient distress sounds, instrument timers, alarms, and telephone communication.
  • Corrective Devices: Standards apply with or without corrective devices.

Communication Standards:

  • Verbal, Nonverbal, and Written Skills: Demonstrate effective communication skills in English for interactions with patients, families, healthcare providers, colleagues, and the community.
  • Language: Speak and comprehend oral and written English, including medical terminology.
  • Writing: Write clearly and legibly in English for medical record documentation, form completion, and written communication.

Mental/Cognitive Standards:

  • Intellectual and Emotional Functions: Possess sufficient intellectual and emotional capabilities to plan and implement duties responsibly.
  • Stress Management: Function safely and effectively under stressful situations.
  • Alertness: Remain alert to surroundings and potential emergencies.
  • Interpersonal Skills: Interact effectively and appropriately with patients, families, and coworkers.
  • Ethical Standards: Display attitudes and actions consistent with ethical standards of medical assisting.
  • Multitasking: Manage and prioritize multiple tasks while maintaining composure.
  • Confidentiality: Communicate an understanding of confidentiality principles.
  • Calmness: Remain calm, rational, decisive, and in control, especially during emergency situations.
  • Personal Presentation: Maintain cleanliness and personal grooming consistent with close personal contact.
  • Medication Influence: Function without causing harm to others if under the influence of prescription or over-the-counter medication.
  • Harm Prevention: Function without causing harm to others due to any mental or physical conditions.








 

Estimated costs for completing this program

 
WA Resident
Non-Resident
International
Tuition
$ 8,433
$ 9,858
$ 18,785
Books
$ 1,167
$ 1,167
$ 1,167
Course Fees
$ 549
$ 549
$ 549
Institutional Fees
$ 560
$ 560
$ 2,662
Supplies and Materials
$ 300
$ 300
$ 300
Total Costs
$ 11,008
$ 12,433
$ 23,463

Costs for completing a degree or certificate can vary. For more information about costs, visit our How Much Does it Cost? page.

MAERB Positive Job Placement Threshold: 60%
Year of Graduation Total Number of Graduates # of Grads who became Employed as Medical Assistant OR a Related Field # of Grads who continued with education in allied health OR went into military All other graduates who either didn’t get a job as a MA or in a related field, didn’t continue with their education or go into the military, or whose status is unknown Positive Placement Rate
2022 28 24 0 4 85.71%
2021 27 23 2 2 92.59%
2020 28 23 0 5 82.14%
2019 33 28 0 5 84.85%
2018 31 27 1 3 90.32%
Total 147 125 3 19 87.07%

Program start: Summer (on-campus/hybrid), Spring (online/hybrid)
Pre-requisites: Yes
Program length: 4 quarters not including prerequisites.
Number of students each start: 8 in spring, 8 in summer.
Contact: Ryan Taylor at Ryan.Taylor@scc.spokane.edu or 509-533-8138

Students are only admitted into the Medical Assistant Program from an interest list maintained by the Registration Office and after successfully passing a background check and drug screening. Students may request addition to the list at any time, but only students who are in the final quarter of their program prerequisites will be eligible for enrollment in the Medical Assistant Program. Interested candidates should meet with an Allied Health Counselor to verify they’ve satisfied required program prerequisites. Afterwards, contact the Registration office at scc.reg-office@scc.spokane.edu or 509-533-8860 to be added to the interest list for the upcoming cohort start in either spring or summer.

AGE REQUIREMENT: Students must be 18 years of age or older for acceptance into the program. This age requirement is essential to meet the criteria necessary for the clinical externship portion of this program.

EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENT: All applicants must acknowledge successful completion of a high school diploma or equivalent as part of the certification application process done through the WA Department of Health.

Have a question? Let's hear it.

Bill Rambo

Academic Counseling Liaison
Bill.Rambo@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7038

 

Clarissa Shearer

Department Co-Chair
Clarissa.Shearer@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7305

 

Kimberly Eikum

Department Co-Chair
Kimberly.Eikum@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8613

 

Leslie Plum

Workforce Transitions Specialist
Leslie.Plum@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8210

 

Megan Fadeley

Academic Counseling Liaison
Megan.Fadeley@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7039

 

Michelle Gendusa

Academic Counseling Liaison
Michelle.Gendusa@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8196

 

Ryan Taylor

Program Director
Ryan.Taylor@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-8138

 

Sierra Schrader

Pathway Specialist
Sierra.Schrader@scc.spokane.edu
509-533-7490