Term Effective: Fall 2006

The requirements for this program of study are effective beginning the semester shown above. If you began working on this program before the effective semester, you may not be affected by the changes. Consult with the program contact person or the department chair to determine your eligibility to complete the program under previous requirements.

Description:

The Medical Assisting: Administrative Certificate of Achievement prepares students for work in physicians' offices, medical clinics, hospital outpatient clinics, health agencies, and educational institutions. This certificate provides training in administrative (front office) skills.

The duties of a medical assistant vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the physician's specialty. In small practices, medical assistants are usually generalists, handling both clerical and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager or physician. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.

Administrative Medical Assistants' duties include greeting patients, answering telephones, scheduling appointments, maintaining and filing client medical records, completing insurance forms, arranging hospital admissions and laboratory services, handling billing, bookkeeping, and physician correspondence. They also help maintain a neat, clean waiting room and front office. They may advance to office management positions.

The employment outlook is very good. Job titles include administrative medical assistant, administrative assistant, medical receptionist, medical records clerk, medical secretary, hospital unit secretary, insurance claims processor, and medical research assistant.

Students interested in the order for taking classes in this program, can view the recommended course sequence. Click here for supplemental information about the program, and contact the Health Sciences Department for more information.

This program of study is also available as an Associate degree major option.

Course Prerequisites and Advisories:

Courses in a program of study may have prerequisites or advisories; that is, courses that must or should be completed before taking that course. Please check for prerequisites or advisories by clicking on the course numbers in the Program Requirements section.

It is important that students who are completing an Associate Degree and desire to transfer to a four-year institution meet with a counselor to plan their lower division coursework. While many majors at SRJC are intended to align with lower division major preparation required by California public universities, specific lower-division major requirements vary among individual campuses. See a counselor, visit the Transfer Center, and check Guides For Transfer in Specific Majors, and ASSIST to review transfer preparation guides for specific schools and majors.

Notes:

All courses must be completed with a "C" or better to receive a certificate.