Medical Assisting, A.A.S.
Entry Time
Fall, Spring, Summer
Award
Associate of Applied Science degree
4 terms (including summer)
After earning a Medical Assisting diploma, graduates are eligible to take the nationally-recognized Certified Medical Assistant exam. Most employers require certification upon employment.
In the clinical area, medical assistants (MAs) take patients to the examination room, ask about and record symptoms, and measure the patient’s height, weight and blood pressure. MAs also prepare instruments for and assist with minor surgeries, assist the physician with patient exams, obtain EKGs, give injections and draw blood for routine lab work. MAs may also be employed in an administrative position responsible for greeting patients, answering phones, scheduling appointments, and managing medical records, insurance payments and patient accounts.
This Allied Health program has a mandatory background check for clinical purposes.
Accreditation
The Kirkwood Medical Assisting diploma program 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 Street N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
Career Opportunities
- physician/specialty clinics
- hospital clinics, public health, laboratories and insurance companies
The graduate may work as:
- an administrative medical assistant
- clinical medical assistant
- patient service representative
- phlebotomist
- scribe
- unit secretary or
- any combination of these positions
Degree Requirements
| Prerequisites | Credit Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Select one of the following: 3 | 3 | |
| Basic Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Human Anatomy Physiology I and Human Anatomy Physiology II | ||
| Term Totals: | 3 | |
| Term 1 | ||
| MAP-123 | Admin Medical Office Procedure 3 | 3 |
| MAP-502 | Math for Medical Assistants 3 | 2 |
| MAP-125 | Intro to Clinical Procedures 3 | 2 |
| HSC-107 | Professionals in Health 1,3 | 2 |
| HSC-115 | Medical Terminology 1,3 | 4 |
| BCA-189 | Microcomputer Literacy 1,3 | 1 |
| Term Totals: | 14 | |
| Term 2 | ||
| MAP-214 | Medical Lab 3 | 3 |
| MAP-312 | MA Clinical Procedures 3 | 3 |
| MAP-402 | Medical Law and Ethics 3 | 2 |
| MAP-403 | Basic Med Office Insurance 3 | 2 |
| MAP-513 | Medical Assisting Pharmacology 3 | 3 |
| Term Totals: | 13 | |
| Term 3 | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Fundamentals of Oral Comm 1 | ||
| Communication for Health Care Professionals 1 | ||
| Public Speaking 1 | ||
| MAP-618 | Medical Assisting Externship 2,3 | 7 |
| PSY-111 | Intro to Psychology 1 | 3 |
| Term Totals: | 13 | |
| Term 4 | ||
| ENG-105 | Composition I 1 | 3 |
| Electives 1 | 10 | |
| Humanities or History/Culture Course 1 | 3 | |
| Behavioral/Social Science Elective 1 | 3 | |
| Term Totals: | 19 | |
| Program Totals: | 62 | |
- 1
Courses may be taken before beginning the program.
- 2
No program (MAP) courses may be taken with externship. Proof of compliance completion must be done prior to registration for externship.
- 3
Minimum C- is required in all MAP courses, in addition to BIO- courses, HSC-107 Professionals in Health, HSC-115 Medical Terminology, and BCA-189 Microcomputer Literacy.
Optional Courses
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HSC-205 | Exploration of Healthcare Careers | 3 |
| HSC-103 | Studies in Health Sciences | 1-3 |
| HSC-168 | Nurse Aide | 3.5 |
| HSC-162 | Health Support Professional | 3.5 |
| HSC-118 | Academic Success in Healthcare | 1 |