Cert in Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services

This diploma prepares students to work as entry-level medical assistants on teams that care for patients. Typical work involves booking and greeting patients, taking vital signs, helping with exams, and maintaining charts. Under a physician's direction, assistants may also give injections, help collect samples, run standard laboratory tests, order supplies, and assist with minor surgery and wound care. Students gain a background in computerized databases and customer service. Instruction targets knowledge, hands-on skills, and professional behavior. Students complete general education, then occupational classes in pharmacology, front office practice, clinical skills and disease, advanced skills, and insurance and claims, ending with an externship and seminar. A trigger course must be passed to stay in the program, and all prerequisite and occupational classes require at least a C. Graduates take a certification exam and become certified on passing it. Employment settings include physicians' offices, clinics, emergency facilities, and hospitals. The program holds programmatic accreditation through CAAHEP.