Health Sciences Department | 3 CC - Certificate of Completion | 1 year

Nationally accredited

Our program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educations Programs (CAAHEP) in collaboration with the American Association of Medical Assistants. Our graduates are eligible to take the CMA (AAMA) national certification examination, conducted by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants.

CAAHEP 9355
113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
http://www.caahep.org

Interested in becoming a Medical Assistant? Looking to be more competitive on your program application?

Health Sciences is offering an optional 2-credit Intro to Medical Assisting online course in winter and summer. Students who successfully complete the MA-100 course are eligible for additional points on their CCC Medical Assisting program application.

MA-100 Intro to Medical Assisting (two-credit online course)

Course Description: Introduces the knowledge, skills and attributes of a successful Medical Assistant while exploring the connection between patient experience and patient outcomes. Summarizes the clinical and employability skills required for providing clinical care while introducing content for career exploration. 

Course outcomes and learning objectives:

• Define scope of practice for medical assistants
• Discuss the knowledge, skills and attributes of a successful medical assistant
• Summarize the role of a medical assistant within the care team
• Summarize best practices for performing basic clinical procedures during patient intake
• Discuss strategies for preventing bloodborne pathogens and summarize the top vaccine-preventable diseases
• Reflect on the role of a medical assistant and discuss future career planning

The Medical Assistant program provides students with the opportunity to develop and enhance essential skills required for employability. The program will explore critical attributes for effectively delivering team-based person-centered care, which include the following: 

• Teamwork and collaboration
• Effective communication
• Trauma informed practices
• Self-care principles
• Critical thinking
• Reflective practice
• Process improvement

Careers

Career opportunities may include, but are not limited to: employment in the ambulatory health care facilities, and outpatient surgical centers. Students should be prepared for entry-level employment as a medical assistant.

The Medical Assistant program at Clackamas Community College does not discriminate among applicants as to age, gender affiliation, sexual orientation, color, religion, or national origin.

Job Market

Graduates of our program are employed locally as Certified Medical Assistants at Kaiser Permanente, Legacy Health, OHSU, Providence Health & Services, The Oregon Clinics, and many other health care facilities. Search employment opportunities at specific health care provider websites. Search other careers and regional data on wages and job outlook on Career Coach.

Employment Opportunities

Medical assistants work in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, women’s health as well as specialty clinics (e.g., dermatology, gastroenterology, orthopedics).

Clackamas Community College has strong partnerships with OHSU, Providence Medical Group, Legacy Medical Group, Oregon Clinic, Metro Pediatrics, as well as smaller organizations.

Potential salary for medical assistants in Oregon: $40,000 annually (Oregon Employment Department)

The Medical Assisting Program uses a cohort model of delivering quality instruction and support. This means students start the program together, learn together and graduate together. The Medical Assisting Program starts in the fall with students completing a one-year certificate in spring (total of 49 credits). The program consists of three terms of full-time study with the addition of three prerequisite courses.

The Clackamas Community College Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Educational Review Board (MAERB). Website: www.caahep.org.

The Medical Assisting Program follows the guidelines and requirements set forth by the Oregon Health Authority (OAR 409-030-0100 to 409-030-025). In order to obtain a clinical practicum or clinical experience, students must meet the following standards and requirements set forth by the state.

Note: If you have been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony, please contact the program director for additional information. Deadlines and due dates for completing OHA requirements may vary by program.

Criminal Background Check

Criminal background check must be completed prior to clinical placement and no more than three months before entering the program

Drug Screen

Drug Screen must be completed prior to clinical placement and no more than three months before entering the program

TB Skin Test (Two-step) or Chest X-Ray

There must be documentation of one of the following:

• Two-step TB skin test or
• Quantiferon Gold blood test or
• If the results are positive a clear chest x-ray (with lab report) is required

Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap)

There must be documentation of the following:

• Tdap/Td booster within the past ten years

Varicella (Chicken Pox)

There must be documentation of one of the following:

• Two vaccinations or
• Positive antibody titer (lab report required) or
• Medically documented history of disease

Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR)

 There must be documentation of one of the following:

• Two vaccinations or
• Positive antibody titers for all 3 components (lab reports required)

Hepatitis B

 There must be documentation of one of the following:

• Three vaccinations or
• Positive antibody titer (lab report required)

COVID-19 (OAR 333-019-010)

• Two vaccinations Pfizer or
• Two vaccinations Moderna or
• One vaccination Johnson & Johnson

Flu Vaccine (Recommended by OHA and required by some employers)

Seasonal flu vaccine  

BLS/CPR Certification (Must be provider level and valid through the end date of the course) 

Certification must be through the American Heart Association

Don't let cost become a barrier! Clackamas Community College offers numerous scholarships and grants.

• Scholarships
• Grants
• Financial Aid

The estimated cost of the Medical Assistant program includes tuition, books, and additional fees associated with credentialing.

Optional items: AAMA Practice Test and AAMA Memberrship

PROGRAM CODE: CC.MEDASST

Medical assistants function as an integral member of the health care delivery team by performing administrative, clinical and other general functions of the ambulatory care setting. The Clackamas Community College, Medical Assistant (MA) program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Educational Review Board, MAERB (CAAHEP), 25400 U.S. Highway 19 N. Ste. 158, Clearwater, FL 33763; telephone: 727-210-2350, online: www.caahep.org

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES AND REQUIREMENTS

The application process to this limited entry program is a multi-phase admission process. Phase requirements are explained in detail on the program website. They include prerequisites, requirements and pertinent dates as listed in the current application: www.clackamas.edu/healthsciences. Information is also available at Student Advising Services located on Harmony, Oregon City and the Wilsonville campuses.

The program consists of three successive terms of full-time study with the addition of two prerequisite courses. Applicants are advised that a high level of dexterity, the ability to multitask and "think on your feet," increased physical and mental stamina, along with a high degree of "attention to detail" are required for the successful completion of the MA program. Successful students are required to complete an administrative and clinical practicum within an ambulatory care setting in the Portland metro area.

Prior to application the MA student candidate must:

Math placement assessments: While MTH-060 is the minimum prerequisite for 2018-19, students are strongly encouraged to have placed into MTH-065. Beginning with the 2019-2020 catalog, MTH-065 will be the required math placement.

Placement testing may be scheduled through Testing and Placement Services on the Harmony campus, 503-594-0636, or on the Oregon City campus, 503-594-3283. No charge for CCC students.

• Successfully complete MA-110, Medical Terminology and WR-121, English Composition with a letter grade of 'C' or better.
• Please note that prerequisites and/or application requirements may change from year to year. Please check the website listed above for the most accurate information

Students seeking to enter this special admit program must meet additional admission criteria including Oregon statutory mandates for all healthcare students and providers:

• Must not have been convicted of, pleaded guilty to or currently charged with a felony; and they must pass a criminal history background check. Must also pass urine drug screen to enter the program (repeated and passed prior to third term externship)
• Provide official documentation that they will be at least 18 years of age prior to beginning their externship experience in spring term
• Must certify high school diploma or pass GED exam
• Must be in good standing with any organization that has granted a professional license, certification or registration
• Provide and submit all Oregon Health Authority (OHA) required documents within the specified time frame of the multiphase application process.
• Criminal history background check
• Urine drug/alcohol screen
• American Heart Association
  • BLS CPR certification (Basic Life Support CPR)
  • Heartsaver 1st Aid certification
• Health and Physical Form
• OHA required vaccinations and/or titers and health screens

RELATED INSTRUCTION OUTCOMES

Computation (1 course- MTH-054 Medication Calculations for Medical Assistants)

• Use appropriate mathematics to solve problems.

Communication (1 course- WR-101 Communication Skills: Occupational Writing or WR-121 English Composition)

• Read actively, think critically and write purposefully and capably for professional audiences.

Human Relations (1 course- PSY-101 Human Relations)

• Engage in ethical communication processes that accomplish goals.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this program, students should be able to:

• demonstrate entry level employment skills (psychomotor/affective);
• demonstrate knowledge of medical assistant concepts (cognitive);
• communicate relevant patient information concisely and accurately;
• apply infection controls (medical/surgical), safety and bloodborne pathogen principles and techniques to the practice of medical assisting;
• apply medical laws and ethical principles to the practice of medical assisting;
• calculate and administer medications: oral and parenteral;
• describe the structure, function and organization of the human body across the lifespan.

The Medical Assistant program (MA) requires students complete the following academic prerequisite requirements:

Prerequisites:

• MA-110 Medical Terminology
• BI-120 Intro to Human Anatomy and Physiology OR
  • BI-101 and BI-102
  • BI-231, -232, and -233

Prerequisites OR Clackamas Community College (PASS) placement test scores:

• WR-121 English Composition OR WR-101 Occupational Writing

Submit your unofficial transcripts or Clackamas Community College (PASS) placement test scores to: Allied_Health_Admissions@clackamas.edu.

To be successful in the Medical Assisting Program and become employable, the student must be able to perform essential functions expected of the MA (see list below). Please contact the MA program regarding questions or concerns about these requirements.

Students must have the physical, intellectual and emotional abilities to provide safe patient care; visual acuity, hearing, speech, manual dexterity, physical strength, and endurance must be maintained as well. The practice of medical assisting requires the following functional abilities with or without reasonable accommodations:

Visual acuity (clearness of vision)

With or without corrective lenses sufficient to assess patients and their own environments.

Detect changes in skin color or condition; collect data from recording equipment and measurement devices used in patient care; detect a fire in a patient area and initiate emergency action; reading and following instructions pertaining to medical assisting materials; ability to perform procedures involving fine detail, including the use of indirect field of vision.

Hearing ability

With or without hearing aids to hear a patient’s call for help, to auscultate a patient’s vital signs and their own environment.

Detect sounds related to bodily functions using a stethoscope; detect audible alarms within the frequency and volume ranges of sounds generated by mechanical systems that monitor bodily functions; hear clearly during telephone conversations; effectively hear to communicate with patients and other health care team members.

Olfactory ability (smells)

Detect smoke from burning materials; detect odors from hazardous material spills.

Tactile ability (sense of touch)

Read and record patient vital signs; detect unsafe temperature levels in heat-producing devices used in patient care; perform patient care procedures; detect anatomical abnormalities.

Strength and mobility

Ability to lift 25 lbs; prolonged time sitting and/or standing on feet (8-12 hours); repetitive bending and twisting.

Ability to speak, comprehend, read and write in English

Able to question the patient about his/her condition; accurately relay information about the patient both verbally and in written communication to others.

Fine motor skills (ability to make movements using the small muscles in your hands or wrists)

Demonstrate eye/hand coordination; safely dispose of needles in sharps containers; safely perform venipuncture and intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injections.

Emotional stability to function effectively under stress

Ability to adapt to changing situations and to follow through on assigned patient care responsibilities.

Cognitive ability (reasoning and/or thinking)

Ability to collect, analyze, apply information.

Ability to make clinical judgments and manage decisions that promote positive patient outcomes.

ADA Accommodations

The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1991 (ADA) mandates that reasonable accommodations must be made for individuals with disabilities. Any student who may need an accommodation for a disability should make an appointment with the program director and the Disability Resource Center.

The Medical Assisting application requires prospective students to answer two essay questions. The applications are “de-identified” prior to reviewing and scoring essays to reduce bias. It is recommended students meet with a Health Sciences Academic Advisor prior to completing your application.

Essay 1: (300 words or less) Having strong essential skills is imperative in health care today. We see some of these skills as teamwork, empathy, flexibility, time management, or creative thinking. They all help us serve our patient population. Choose one of the above essential skills and share how you believe this will help you be successful in this program. Include how you have developed this skill and an example of how you currently use this skill in your daily life.

Note: We are asking this question because we want know how you would incorporate one of these skills in the MA program. 

Essay 2: (250 words or less) The admissions team would like to know more about what makes you a well-rounded applicant. Share what experiences led you to the medical field and medical assisting specifically. Share with us what makes you a unique and strong candidate for this program.

Note: We are asking this question because as students in the MA program we recognize that candidates have additional skills and experience they have gained that make them a strong candidate.