Medical Assistant - Associate in Applied Science

Become an integral member of a medical team.

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. A medical assistant takes vital signs, prepares patients for and assists physicians during examinations, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, performs basic laboratory tests on the premises, schedules appointments, bills patients, fills out insurance forms, and much more.

Berkeley College’s Medical Assistant Certificate and Associate in Applied Science degree programs prepare students to enter the high-demand field of healthcare and to work in a variety of settings, including physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other professional healthcare facilities. Graduates are prepared to meet both the clinical and administrative challenges of today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.

The program is designed to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. This is accomplished by providing curriculum relating to patient care skills, general study, and administrative/business skills.

The Associate in Applied Science degree program is an extension of the career-track Certificate program.

Graduates of the Medical Assistant programs are eligible to participate in a variety of certification examinations, including:

• Certified Medical Assistant - CMA (AAMA)
• Registered Medical Assistant - RMA (AMT)
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant - CCMA (NHA)
• Certified Electrocardiography - CET (NHA)
• Certified Phlebotomy - CPT (NHA)
• Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers - BLS (AHA)

Students gain experience in a wide variety of areas, including:

• Clinical procedures such as electrocardiography (EKG), venipuncture, and specimen collection
• Medical office administration
• Medical terminology
• Pharmacology and human diseases

Medical Assistant Students Benefit From:

• A strong foundation in both the theory and practice of clinical care
• Hands-on learning in on-site medical laboratories that simulate the clinical environment
• Instruction in the use of relevant medical devices and software
• Valuable, practical experience through a program-related, faculty-monitored practicum
• Liberal arts and sciences courses that provide students with a foundation of skills and knowledge necessary to reason clearly and communicate effectively

Sample Course Sequence

First Semester

• SCI1100 Anatomy and Physiology I 3
• HEA2200 Medical Terminology 3
• SOC2225 Introduction to Psychology 3
• ENG1105 Writing and Research 3
• CIS1115 Computer Applications 3

Second Semester

• HEA1101 Foundations of Health Services 3
• MED1130 Medical Emergencies and Electrocardiography 3
• SCI2100 Anatomy and Physiology II 3
• MED1120 Medical Office Administration 3
• HEA2203 Ethical and Legal Aspects of Health Services 3

Third Semester

• MED1100 Clinical and Surgical Office Procedures 3
• MED1160 Principles of Pharmacology and Human Diseases 3
• MED1140 Specimen Collection and Procedures 3
• ENG2205 Writing Through Literature 3
• HEA2255 Electronic Health Records 3

Fourth Semester

• MED2280 Medical Assistant Capstone and Practicum 6
• Social Science Elective 3
• Humanities Elective 3
• Free Elective 3

60 semester credits required for graduation