Description

The Medical Assistant Career Pathway Certificate of Completion is a 35 credit, nine-month program designed to get highly trained, qualified, certified medical assistants into the local workforce quickly due to an extreme shortage of medical assistants in Central Oregon.

This program is in partnership with a local clinic, and the courses begin once per year in Spring term. Students may re-enter and complete the one-year certificate of completion.

Upon successful completion of the program, students receive a certificate of completion and are eligible to submit an application to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification examination. Upon passing the AAMA exam, medical assistants earn the CMA.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

1. Apply comprehensive medical assisting processes and critical thinking to achieve optimal patient care in ambulatory settings.
2. Coordinate and facilitate patient care throughout the ambulatory care setting within a medical team.
3. Accurately and safely perform a variety of administrative and clinical procedures within the MA scope of practice.
4. Demonstrate professionalism through confidentiality, diversity, and therapeutic communication within the medical patient-client relationship
5. Implement current concepts of infection control and occupational safety by maintaining industry standards of quality control within ambulatory care setting

Entrance Requirements

Academic Entrance Requirements

Required:

• A high school diploma, GED, or a high school transcript noting successful graduation

Other Entrance Requirements

Required:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Criminal history check and 10-panel drug screen with vendor chosen by the College; see the program page for more information
• Documentation of current immunizations: TB blood titer, MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, Tdap, flu. While the COVID-19 vaccine is not required for entry into the Medical Assistant program, clinical sites for practicum courses may require the COVID-19 vaccine. Please contact the program director if you have any questions.
• American Heart Association Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers CPR and first aid training will need to be completed prior to entrance into practicum
• Additional immunizations, tracking fees, or background checks may be required by practicum sites at the student’s expense
• Refer to program technical standards in the Student Handbook (physical, medical, safety, and other requirements that an individual must meet in order to be eligible for admission) for more information

Additional Program Costs (Beyond Standard Tuition/Fees and Textbooks)

Material Costs

Due to the rapidly changing nature of health care and associated costs, the following are only estimates and are subject to change.

• Stethoscope: $30
• Blood pressure cuff: $20
• Uniform and watch with second hand: $75
• Immunizations and titers: $0 to $685 (some may be covered by insurance or subsidized by other funding sources)
• Immunizations tracking: $10
• Criminal background check: $65
• Urine drug screen: $45
• Tracking fee for students rotating through St. Charles: $20
• Cengage Learning Management System and online textbooks: $179

Enrollment Fees

• Lab fees: $665 to $765

Course Requirements

Advising Notes

Program entry will be by instructor approval.  Please contact the Program Director, Shannon Waller by email swaller@cocc.edu or by phone 541-318-3722.

Performance Standards

• Academic Requirements:
  • Students must have a 2.0 cumulative GPA to earn a COCC certificate or degree.
  • All courses in the program must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
• Additional Requirements:
  • Students must maintain an average of 75% on tests and 75% overall in each class to progress to subsequent core program classes. Students must pass 75% of lab skills check-offs on the first attempt to progress to subsequent core program classes. Students must demonstrate medication administration proficiency through a high score on a drug calculation exam prior to entering practicum. Students must complete 100% of psychomotor and affective competencies as identified by the program’s accrediting body and complete a minimum of 160 hours of practicum to complete the program.

Sample Plan