Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. You need either an official high school diploma, or an official GED to be accepted.

A Social Security Number is not required to enter the program or take the certification examination, if an alternate form of identification can be presented. However, for the certification exam, two pieces of documentation are required (i.e. passport and photo identification). 

There are approximately 80 applications every year, but the program only has the capacity to admit 23 students in total, for all programs per year.

Yes. However, you may not be eligible to take the National Certification Examination of the American Association of Medical Assistants. Any conviction must be cleared for eligibility, prior to taking the National AAMA certification examination. This clearance is the responsibility of the individual.  Additionally, some employers may require a social security number, if offered employment at the practicum facility. Practicum sites may also require a separate background check.

Yes.  You are required to submit a new application, along with sealed official, unopened transcripts. Prior applications are not kept on file and are shredded once the selection process has been completed.

As a full-time student who meets all of the requirements, you can complete the program in 12 months of education, including the practicum which consists of 162 hour of unpaid training. We recommend you take Medical Terminology, Anatomy 25 or Biology 003 or Physiology 100 before you enroll in medical assisting courses.

Part-time students will take longer to complete the program.Medical Assistant courses must be taken in sequence, with the exception of the recommended courses, Medical Terminology, Anatomy 25 or Biology 003 or Physiology 100.

The full time Medical Assistant Program courses are offered during the day, including the clinical experience courses with very limited flexibility. The part-time Medical Assistant Program courses are offered in the evening with the exception of the clinical experience course (MA 128), it is offered during the daytime hours only.

Classes begin in the fall and spring semester.

The minimal goal for this program is to prepare entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Educational methods include classroom and online work, laboratory experience, clinical experience in various physician offices, and outpatient clinical settings.

If you fail a test, you will be approached and suggested to seek tutoring. If a student fails a course, they cannot continue in the program, as courses are only offered once per year. While in the program, you must maintain a grade of “C” or higher to progress to the next level.

No. You do not need to have a degree in order to take the certification exam. However, you must graduate from an accredited Medical Assistant program in order to sit for the certification exam, which must be passed in order to receive the CMA credential.

Yes. Everything performed/learned in the Medical Assistant program is excellent preparation for other Health Science Division programs, (i.e. LVN, RN).