Medical Assisting A.A.S. (A45400)

Program Description

The Medical Assisting curriculum prepares students to become competent, multi-skilled healthcare professionals who are qualified to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures in a variety of healthcare settings. 

Coursework includes a balanced integration of general education, administrative procedures, clinical techniques, and supervised clinical practice. 

Through a combination of lecture, hands-on laboratory instruction, and real-world clinical experience, students gain comprehensive knowledge and practical skills. Emphasis is also placed on developing an understanding of ethical and legal issues related to patient care, ensuring that graduates are prepared to uphold professional standards and deliver compassionate, competent service in today’s healthcare environment.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates in this program should be able to:

• Practice professional behaviors incorporating personal responsibilities and accountability to continued competence.
• Communicate effectively with patients, significant support staff, and members of the healthcare team.
• Integrate clinical knowledge to assess situations to meet the needs of the patient.
• Understand and implement the request of the medical provider.
• Maintain the management of the medical office by implementing administrative and financial skills.
• Utilize an Electronic Health Record system to effectively manage patient information

CAAHEP Accreditation

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

The goal of accredited Medical Assisting Programs is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.  

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

9355-113th St N, #7709

Seminole, FL 33775

Phone: 727-210-2350 | Website: https://www.caahep.org/ 

Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)

2339 N. California Ave., #47138

Chicago, IL 60647

Website: https://www.maerb.org/ 

Graduates of the Medical Assisting A.A.S. Degree are eligible to take the national AAMA certification examination to become Certified Medical Assistants (CMA, AAMA). For more information about the certification, please visit www.aama-ntl.org.

Employment Opportunities

Upon graduation students are eligible to work in physicians’ offices, health maintenance organizations, health departments, hospital clinics, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies and other related areas.

Admission

The Medical Assisting program offers fall, spring and evening entry options.

Students who are enrolled in the Medical Assisting program are advised to be full-time and follow the semester-by-semester curriculum plan. For more specific information, contact the department head or the Health Sciences Admissions Coordinator.  Faculty members advise students as to the courses they should take before enrollment.  

All developmental requirements must be completed before admission or registration into some courses.

The following requirements must be completed for enrollment:

• Updated application
• High School Transcript or equivalent
• Official transcripts of all post-secondary education
• Placement testing or approved waiver
• Appointment with admissions coordinator or Medical Assisting department head

Students who wish to enter the Medical Assisting Program must complete the application process for Alamance Community College by following the steps outlined on the Admissions page: 

Admissions (Apply Now!)

Once all general admission requirements have been completed, students must schedule a meeting with a Medical Assisting Faculty Advisor or a Health Sciences Admissions Coordinator for program advising and further guidance.

Students admitted into the Medical Assisting Program are strongly encouraged to enroll full-time and follow the semester-by-semester curriculum plan to ensure timely completion and optimal preparation for practicum placement and certification.

Progression and Continuation

Alamance Community College is committed to supporting student success. To continue and progress in the Medical Assisting Program, students must meet the following academic and professional standards:

• Maintain an overall grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher

• Earn a grade of “C” or better in all Medical Assisting (MED) courses

• Successfully complete all related general education courses

• Pass all required psychomotor (skills-based) and affective (behavioral) competencies

In accordance with Medical Assisting accreditation standards, students must pass every required competency within the curriculum to remain in the program. These competencies will be clearly outlined and shared within each course.  Failure to pass any required psychomotor or affective competency may result in dismissal from the program.

Program Readmission

Students who withdraw or are dismissed from the Medical Assisting Program may be considered for readmission based on the following criteria:

• The student must follow the current Admissions Guidelines of Alamance Community College.

• The student must be in good academic standing with both the college and the Medical Assisting Program.

• A meeting may be required with the Medical Assisting Department Head to review previous academic performance, behavior, and any contributing factors to the student’s prior withdrawal or dismissal.

• A specific academic success plan may be developed outlining the student’s goals and strategies for successfully completing the program.

• Returning students must meet all current curriculum standards and accreditation requirements, regardless of when they were previously enrolled.

Readmission is not guaranteed and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, considering space availability, faculty recommendations, and overall readiness to reenter the program.

Program Transfer and Credential Policy

We recognize that students may enter the Medical Assisting Program with prior coursework, degrees, or healthcare-related credentials. However, all such experiences must be carefully evaluated to ensure compliance with the Medical Assisting Program and accreditation standards.

Students wishing to transfer credits from another institution must:

• Apply to Alamance Community College (ACC)

• Submit official transcripts as outlined in the admissions process

• Have transfer credits reviewed and evaluated by a Medical Assisting Faculty Advisor

Please note that transfer credits are not automatically accepted. All psychomotor (skills-based) and affective (behavioral) competencies must be assessed in accordance with accreditation requirements. Therefore, students with prior coursework or credentials are not exempt from demonstrating proficiency in these essential areas.

Students requesting credit for prior education or credentials must:

• Schedule a meeting with the Medical Assisting Department Head

• Provide supporting documentation (e.g., course descriptions, syllabi, certificates) that align with current program competencies

• Be prepared to demonstrate specific skills as part of the evaluation process

Possession of a prior degree or previously earned credits does not guarantee accelerated progression through the program. All students are required to follow the established semester-by-semester curriculum plan to ensure competency development and compliance with accreditation standards.

Technical Standards

Students entering the program must meet specific emotional, behavioral, physical, and cognitive standards. This information is found in the admissions office and in the program handbook.

Students qualifying for special accommodations to these standards must contact the Disability Services Coordinator at 336-506-4130 for more specific information.

 

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AND DRUG SCREENS

Clinical agencies affiliated with Alamance Community College require criminal background checks and drug screenings for all Medical Assisting students prior to beginning their clinical experiences. These screenings are necessary to determine eligibility for participation at the assigned clinical sites.

• Students are responsible for the full cost of the background check and drug screen.

• Details and instructions will be provided to eligible students.

• Currently, the Medical Assisting Program utilizes an online vendor to manage this process.

Please be advised:

• If a clinical site denies a student placement based on the results of their background check or drug screen, the student will be unable to complete the required clinical component of the program.

• As a result, the student will be withdrawn from all MED courses and will not be allowed to continue in the Medical Assisting Program.

• Additionally, a criminal background may affect eligibility to sit for the National Certification Exam upon program completion.

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they meet all clinical site and certification eligibility requirements

Additional Program Costs

The Medical Assisting curriculum has additional costs associated with it. Students who enroll in this program are required to pay for such items as certification exams, achievement tests, uniforms, supplies, and the like. Many of these are required as part of the curriculum but are not provided by the College. 

Additional expenses required for this program are listed below with approximate costs:

• Textbooks and Learning Resources  $500 - $800

• Uniforms and Supplies-$250 

• Physical and Immunizations-$300 - $500 (Depends on needed vaccines - Students are highly encouraged to locate their immunization records. Many of the required immunizations were likely obtained during childhood)

• Documentation Management $80

• Criminal Background and Drug Screen $79 - $120

• Liability insurance-$16 per year 

• Medical Assisting Club Dues - $Varies

• National Certification Exam $125 

• AAMA Student Dues $30 - $55

• CPR/First Aid $120