Medical Assistant - Technical Diploma
Medical Assistant program graduates are eligible for employment in a variety of settings which could include physicians' offices, insurance providers, medical laboratories, or medical records departments. As a member of the health care team, the medical assistant prepares patients for examination or treatment, takes vital signs, performs simple lab tests, performs electrocardiograms, and performs administrative functions. If you are looking for a career working in a fast-paced environment where you interact with many people every day, medical assistant is the career for you. The goal of the medical assistant program is “To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.” The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org This program requires submission of a background check and health records for clinicals. Students must pay for this service. Visit www.nwtc.edu/cbc for more information.
Program Costs & Financial Aid
See costs of tuition, books, and supplies.This program is partially eligible for financial aid.
Estimates based on in-state residency. Learn more about tuition and fees.
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Follow Your Path
All credits from the following certificate(s) apply toward this technical diploma:
Health Care Customer Service Representative, 615091
Some credits from this technical diploma apply toward other technical diploma(s):
Practical Nursing, 315431
Currently certified/practicing medical assistants may apply credit from prior education and work experience toward the Practical Nursing technical diploma.
Career Pathway Bridge available for students needing additional support to meet program entry requirements.
Delivery
How do I get started in this program?
Requirements for Program Entry
- For instructions on how to get started, download the application checklist for this program.
Application Checklist
What are my courses?
Curriculum
Students following the study plan below will complete the Medical Assistant technical diploma in the number of semesters shown. For alternate study plans, please contact the program academic advisor.
First Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Second Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Third Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
- Curriculum Note: All 10-501-XXX and 31-509-XXX courses must be passed with a C or better.
- The credit for 10-890-101, College 101, is an Institutional Requirements for graduation. Consequently, it is not part of the program requirements, but must be passed with a C.
Flexible Learning Option
A part-time online and weekend track is available. This option is scheduled over a five-semester period, including one summer. For more information, contact NWTC Admissions at start@nwtc.edu or 920-498-5444.
Program Outcomes
- Perform medical office administrative functions.
- Provide patient care in accordance with regulations, policies, laws, and patient rights.
- Perform medical laboratory procedures.
- Demonstrate professionalism in a health care setting.
- Demonstrate safety and emergency practices in a health care setting.
What careers are in my future?
Graduate Employment
with 80% in field
Median Starting Salary
Source: NWTC Graduate Outcome Survey
Employment Potential
A graduate of this program will have the potential for employment in the following areas:
- Medical Assistant: prepares a patient for examination or treatment, takes vital signs, performs simple lab tests, performs electrocardiograms, performs administrative functions, and assists the physician as needed within clinical procedures. Upon successful completion of the AAMA certification exam, Certified Medical Assistant status is obtained.
- Medical Insurance Clerk: processes insurance claims on a computer.
- EKG Technician: operates and maintains electrocardiographic machines, records the heart’s electrical activity, and provides data for diagnosis and treatment of heart ailments by physicians.
- Medical Laboratory Assistant: performs simple laboratory procedures and venipunctures to collect blood specimens.
- Medical Records Clerk: handles all patient medical records in areas such as progress notes and pulls records of patients on a daily basis.
- Medical Office Assistant: performs a variety of duties related to bookkeeping, typing, filing, record keeping, customer relations, telephoning, general correspondence, appointments, and patient accounts.
- Phlebotomist: obtains blood specimens by venipuncture and capillary puncture.
- Receptionist: greets patients, schedules appointments, and answers telephone.
Employment opportunities with additional education
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- Registered Nurse
What else do I need to know about the program?
Note
- Graduates of the Medical Assistant Technical Diploma who achieve status of “Certified Medical Assistant” CMA (AAMA) or “Registered Medical Assistant” RMA and work at least 3,000 hours in a Medical Assistant role may apply for admission to the Medical Assistant to Practical Nursing bridge program. Refer to the information for the Practical Nursing program on this website for required General Studies courses.
Accreditation
The Medical Assistant program at NWTC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709 Seminole, FL 33775 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org
Industry Credentials
Graduates are eligible to take the CMA (AAMA) examination. See additional detail below.
Generally, individuals who 1) have been found guilty of a felony, or pleaded guilty to a felony, or 2) had a professional license, registration, or certification denied, revoked, suspended, or subjected to probationary conditions by a regulatory authority or certification board are not eligible for the CMA (AAMA) Exam. However, the Certifying Board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances. If you wish to request that the Certifying Board permit you to take the test, you must submit a Request for Waiver form and written evidence that demonstrates your felony conviction or plea or professional misconduct should not prevent you from taking the CMA (AAMA) Exam.
Clinical Experience
- Students will have on-the-job experience in area clinics during a five-week (minimum of 184 hours), full-time practicum during the final semester of the program. Students will be assigned to work in clinics that have an affiliation agreement with NWTC. Practicum sites will be assigned by the practicum coordinator. If the student wishes to request a site out of the Green Bay area, every effort will be made by the practicum coordinator to accommodate the student request. Site placements outside of the NWTC District need approval from the district program and are often not available. Students will be required to purchase a uniform, provide their own transportation to assigned sites, and cover any other expenses related to clinical experiences. Students may be expected to travel distances and participate in p.m. clinicals. Students may be required to complete drug testing by clinical agencies.
- All clinical arrangements will be facilitated by NWTC staff and/or faculty.
Wisconsin Caregiver Law
NWTC is required to comply with the Wisconsin Caregiver Law (1997 WISCONSIN ACT 27). The completion of a caregiver background check includes the review of criminal records for convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behavior. Students accepted into this program must complete a background check through www.viewpointscreening.com/nwtc AND complete a Background Information Disclosure (BID) form disclosing any acts, crimes, or convictions prior to program entry and/or clinical, practicum, field experience. The information provided in the BID form must be truthful and match any findings on the criminal record check. Information regarding this process is provided to students immediately upon acceptance into the program. Please review your entry/admission checklist. Students with a criminal history may be denied access to placement at the discretion of the clinical, practicum, or field experience site. Consequently, should a student have a history of convictions of serious crimes or a history of improper behaviors, NWTC cannot guarantee clinical/practicum/field experience placement or guarantee graduation.
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Keep going on the nursing pathway!
Apply your Medical Assistant credits and experience to the Practical Nursing program - and become a licensed practical nurse. You'll take fewer classes and finish faster than if you took the PN program on its own. Learn more »
But why stop there? LPNs can apply their education to the Nursing-Associate Degree and become a registered nurse. Jump to the fifth semester of the Nursing-Associate Degree (RN) program. Learn more »
Occupational Risks
Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards, as practitioners can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics clearly outlines that it is a growth field, with an anticipated 18% growth from 2020 to 2030.
Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.
As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a medical assistant, and those hazards include the following:
- Exposure to infectious diseases
- Sharps injuries
- Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards
- Chemical and drug exposure
- Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks
- Latex allergies
- Stress
At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
Accredited medical assisting programs are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.
Start College Early: High School Pathways to College Credit
Start this program while you're in high school! NWTC has agreements that let high school students earn college credits. Learn about getting dual credit »
Program Outcomes - View statistics on the Medical Assistant program job placement rate, certification pass rate, and graduate satisfaction rate.
- Online
-
Classes wherever you have an internet connection.
- An in-person career experience, such as an internship, practicum, or credit for prior learning, may be required.
- Some online courses may be held at specific dates/times.
- Day
- Classes between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
- Evening
- Classes between the hours of 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
- Weekend
- A combination of online classes and Saturday and/or Sunday classes.
- Full-time
- 12 or more credits per term.
- Part-time
- Fewer than 12 credits per term.