Certificate in
Medical Assisting Certificate Schoolcraft College
Introduction
The medical assisting certificate objective is to prepare competent, entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. The program is designed to coordinate classroom and laboratory experience with practical experience in a healthcare facility such as the physician’s office. Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals who perform a wide range of roles in physicians’ offices, clinics, and other healthcare settings. They are proficient in a multitude of clinical and administrative tasks and are widely viewed by doctors as vital members of the healthcare delivery team. Students are required to achieve a grade of 2.0 or better for all HIT and MA courses.
Academic and medical assisting courses must be completed by the end of the winter semester to be eligible for placement in the Office Practicum offered in the spring. The Office Practicum is an externship that is structured to provide experiences in applying knowledge, performing administrative and clinical procedures, and developing professional attitudes for interacting with other professionals and consumers in a healthcare facility.
Students who satisfactorily complete the program requirements qualify for a certificate of program completion. “The Medical Assisting Program of Schoolcraft College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).” Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination conducted by the certifying board of the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Curriculum
Sample Schedule of Courses
Admission Prerequisites
- BIOL 105 - Basic Human Anatomy and Physiology Credits: 4
- HIT 104 - Medical Terminology Credits: 4
Total Credits: 8
First Year
Fall Semester
- MA 134 - Medical Insurance Coding Credits: 3
- MA 140 - Medical Office Procedures Credits: 3
- MA 115 - Phlebotomy Credits: 3
- CIS 120 - Software Applications Credits: 3
Total Credits: 12
Winter Semester
- MA 175 - Medical Laboratory Techniques Credits: 3 *
- MA 180 - Medical Office Clinical Procedures Credits: 4 *
- MA 155 - Medical Insurance Billing Credits: 3
- HIT 114 - Pharmacology for Health Professionals Credits: 2
Total Credits: 12
Spring Session
- MA 196 - Office Practicum Credits: 3 *
Total Credits: 3
Program Total: 35 Credits
*Courses open only to students who are officially admitted to the Medical Assisting Program.
Not all courses are offered each semester. Students should work with an academic advisor to develop a schedule that will work for them. Students planning to transfer should check the transfer institution’s requirements/guides or discuss their options with an academic advisor. The number of credits may vary depending on the course selection. Note: Students must begin MA 196 within six months of completing MA 175 & MA 180.