Medical Assisting

Certified Medical Assisting is a limited entry program, which means space is limited and acceptance into this program may be competitive. You may have to meet additional requirements to be considered for admission.

Mindy Wray, Program Director

Pamela Watson, Instructor

Yes. Financial aid is available if you qualify. Please visit the Financial Aid web page or contact the Financial Aid office at 336-334-4822, option 3.

Additional scholarships are awarded to currently enrolled students completing their first two semesters in the Medical Assisting program. The local chapters of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) also offer scholarships based on need and successful completion of their second semester.

Meeting the educational requirements listed above and having a genuine desire to become a partner in a dynamic and thriving field is mandatory.  

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that medical assisting is expected to experience a higher-than-average rate of growth in coming years. In 2016, 634,400 medical assistants were in the U.S. workforce, but that number is expected to rise to 818,300 by 2026, representing a 29% increase.

All students are required to have access to a computer every day for their online assignments. A criminal background check and a drug screen are required during the fourth semester in preparation for clinicals in spring. Students are provided with an estimated cost sheet during their orientation that details each semester and the estimated cost associated with it. A complete physical examination, completed immunization record, and CPR and first aid are additional requirements to be completed by the end of the first year of the program.

Medical assisting may not be the right career for everyone, but if you have done your research about the duties of a medical assistant and feel that this is the career path for you, then you are on the right course.

The best medical assistants have very strong communication skills, are dependable, can handle high levels of stress, and are empathetic to patients and others. In addition, medical assistants must pay close attention to detail and have excellent visual acuity and manual dexterity. Finally, professional medical assistants must have a strong level of integrity and self-control and the ability to be courteous at all times.

Those who plan to become certified should make sure to choose a program that is accredited through the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). 

Students who graduated from either a CAAHEP or ABHES program are eligible to sit for the certification examination to become either a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).

Your job description may include all or part of the list below depending on your location and the American Medical Association's requirements. Here are some of the duties, but you can tailor your job description to only include clinical and/or laboratory and/or administrative duties.

• Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
• Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean. 
• Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
• Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician. 
• Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician. 
• Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
• Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies. 
• Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients. 
• Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies. 
• Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses. 
• Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms. 
• Greet and log in patients arriving at the office or clinic. 
• Schedule appointments for patients.
• Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing tasks such as giving injections or removing sutures. 
• Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission. 
• Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment. 
• Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests. 
• Change dressings on wounds. 
• Set up medical laboratory equipment. 
• Keep financial records or perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit or collections or mailing monthly statements to patients.