Medical Assisting

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Medical Assisting

Certificate

Medical Assistants are allied health professionals who perform a wide range of roles in physicians’ offices, clinics and other health care settings. They are proficient in many clinical and administrative tasks and are vital members of the health care delivery team. The Medical Assistant Certificate of Completion program teaches the business and clinical skills to become a Medical Assistant. This fully accredited program provides the mechanism for graduates to take the National Board Examination to become a nationally Certified Medical Assistant. Emphasis is on both front and back office. Front office skills include patient relations, medical insurance, finances, coding, anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, interpersonal communication skills, administrative procedures, skill development in computer usage and transcription. Back office skills include clinical skills such as medical and surgical asepsis, charting, patient prep, procedure set-ups, prioritizing, medication calculation and administration, EKG, diagnostic imaging theory, and lab skills such as hematology, urinalysis, basic microbiology and phlebotomy.

The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs* (www.caahep.org) on recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowments (AAMAE).

Estimated Length of Completion

Degree Quarters Credits
Certificate Full Time: 3
Part Time: Part Time Option Not Available		 57.0

Program lengths are estimates, not guarantees. For the most current program information, please check with the program contact.

There are no entry requirements for this program

Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor to discuss specific career goals and recommended coursework.

Job tests this program will prepare you for:

  • Certified Medical Assistant National Exam. Students who pass a national exam become eligible to apply for Washington State level certification.

For current employment and wage estimates, please visit the following online resources and search for the relevant occupational term:

All costs are estimates and are not guarantees. For the most current program information, check with an adviser by calling (206) 934-4068. There are additional costs for books and supplies. Each student is responsible for the purchase of certain supplies and required tools before the instruction begins.

Full Time Cost

Quarter Credits Resident Non-Resident International
1 15 $1,540.90 $1,718.90 $3,524.30
2 21 $1,773.85 $1,954.61 $3,868.55
3 21 $1,773.85 $1,954.61 $3,868.55

The following fee is associated with the program:

  • Books and supplies: $1,368

Hours may vary based on specific program requirements.

Worker Friendly

This program is offered at times and in formats that meet the needs of working adults. This includes:

  • Online
  • Coursework is generally completed over the internet, within a quarterly timeframe, contact with instructor via email. Some courses may require limited on-campus visits.

Worker Friendly

This program is offered at times and in formats that meet the needs of working adults. This includes:

  • Hybrid
  • Hybrid courses provide students with the scheduling flexibility of fewer campus visits while covering the same materials as an equivalent class held entirely on campus. Hybrid classes usually have at least one on-campus meeting per week combined with a "virtual classroom" with online content, lessons and activities.

Worker Friendly

This program is offered at times and in formats that meet the needs of working adults. This includes:

  • Daytime
  • Courses offered between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM

Coursework

Course Course ID Credits Availability

A history and overview of medical practices and the healthcare team, certification and professional organizations. Effective communication related to communication in healthcare is addressed; includes cultural perspectives on illness. This course introduces the student to legal and ethical concepts related to ambulatory healthcare. Emphasizes critical thinking, HIV/AIDS education, and emergency preparedness.

CMA 101 5.0

Provides students with opportunities to acquire knowledge of the medical front office focusing on skills and techniques required for the clinical and administrative functions of a medical assistant in an ambulatory care setting. Covers the office environment as well as computer medical application, telephone techniques, professional correspondence, and medical records management relative to electronic health records.

 CMA 102 4.0

Students learn medical assisting theory and how to apply it to medical assisting clinical practice. Clinical practice will include, but not be limited to, vital signs, equipment sterilization, diagnostic procedures, and role responsibilities when assisting physicians with their work. Medical device knowledge will include wheelchairs, crutches, nebulizers, and audiometry. Communication, documentation, and patient education topics are also discussed.

 CMA 103 8.0
Course Course ID Credits Availability

Covers insurance & the electronic billing processes, financial accounting aspects of medical practices, and health insurance & numeric/alphanumeric codes utilized in healthcare for the purpose of maintaining accurate medical records & ensuring efficient claims processes. Provides students with opportunities to apply their knowledge within a simulated medical office setting. Emphasizes various types of health insurance, billing, & bookkeeping.

 CMA 104 5.0

Provides students with a professional environment within a simulated clinic setting focused on invasive procedures. Students are introduced to phlebotomy, CLIA waived tests theories, procedures and values, specimen handling and transport, safe clinical practices, and effective medical record documentation and practical application of skills as related to the medical assistant in a healthcare provider environment.

 CMA 105 8.0

First of two courses of externship. Students will acquire study skills for the national CCMA exam, then participate in an unpaid practicum (externship) of 160 hours total in a medical clinic. In this course or the next, students will also apply for CCMA exam, MA-C WA State License and graduation.

 CMA 108 6.0
Course Course ID Credits Availability

This course will be a full quarter of review of all administrative and clinical procedures. Students will practice as if they were in an actual medical clinic. This course will be mostly hands-on with minimal lecture.

CMA 106 7.0

The student will learn theory and practical procedures in calculating medication dosages and administering medications. Theory includes legal and ethical factors, the medication order or prescription, dosages, drug labels, calculating dosages, the seven rights of drug administration, and various routes to deliver medications. These routes include practice in oral medications, various parenteral routes - injections intradermal, subcutaneously and intramuscularly.

CMA 107 8.0

Second of two courses of externship. Students will acquire study skills for the national CCMA exam, then participate in an unpaid practicum (externship) of 160-180 hours total in a medical clinic. Students will also apply for CCMA exam, MA-C WA State License and graduation.

 CMA 109 6.0