Medical Assistant Technical Certificate
Play a key support role as an administrator or clinician in a medical office.
Medical assistants are an essential part of the medical team, providing administrative and clinical support services to keep an office running smoothly. This dynamic career means no two days are the same – you may take patient vitals, draw blood, or process lab samples, and spend the next day at the front desk checking in patients and processing insurance claims. Working as a medical assistant can be a lifelong calling, or it may be the perfect stepping stone to an expanded role on the health care team.
At PA College, you can complete your education in our medical assistant program in as little as nine months. Our full-time curriculum includes both theory and hands-on clinical practice courses, as well as a six-week externship experience to put your skills to work. At the end of the program, students sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam through the National Healthcareer Association to become a Certified Medical Assistant in PA, though you may be able to start working in the field even before you’re certified!
How much does a medical assistant make? See the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ job outlook.
PA College cannot guarantee clinical rotations for students who have not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
Curriculum
The Medical Assistant program uses a module-based structure for its curriculum. The curriculum includes five consecutive five-week modules (two courses per module) of both online instruction and in-person sessions for building clinical and administrative skills. The program concludes with a six-week in-person externship, where students are able to practice their skills in the health care environment. Students in the Medical Assistant program do not earn college credit.
Fall Semester (3 Modules)
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| MAP 100 | Introduction to Medical Assisting and the Healthcare Setting |
| MAP 105 | Medical Assistant Law and Ethics |
| MAP 110 | Medical Assistant Terminology |
| MAP 120 | Medical Assistant Anatomy and Physiology I |
| MAP 125 | Medical Assistant Anatomy and Physiology II |
| MAP 150 | Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures I |
Spring Semester (2 Modules and Externship)
| Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|
| MAP 130 | Medical Assistant Administrative Procedures |
| MAP 160 | Medical Assistant Laboratory Techniques |
| MAP 170 | Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures II |
| MAP 180 | Medical Assistant Career Development and Skills Review |
| MAP 190 | Externship |