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Medical Assisting: Clinical-Track 3 Certificate Health Sciences Total Units: 40.5
A newer version of this program is available. View the latest version here.

Catalog rights may apply, see a counselor for more information.

Term Effective: Fall 1997

Description:

The Medical Assisting: Clinical Career Certificate prepares students for work in physicians' offices, medical clinics, hospital outpatient clinics, health agencies, and educational institutions. Students completing the program will be eligible to take the California Examination for Certified Medical Assistants. This program provides training in clinical (back 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.

Clinical Medical Assistants duties vary according to state law and according to the size and specialty of the medical practice. These duties include preparing clients for examinations, taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, explaining treatment procedures to clients, and assisting during examinations. Clinical Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and perform basic laboratory tests. They instruct clients about medication and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, remove sutures and change dressings. They may also arrange examining room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean. Some Clinical Medical Assistants may specialize; for example, there are podiatric and opthalmic medical assistants, among others.

The employment outlook is very good. Job titles include clinical medical assistant in medical offices, clinics or hospital outpatient departments, or work as a hospital unit secretary.

Click here for supplemental information about the program, and contact the Health Sciences Department for more information.

Program Requirements:

The requirements for the Medical Assisting: Clinical-Track 3 Certificate program are:

  • Complete 40.5 units from
    • Medical Assisting: Clinical Requirements

Medical Assisting: Clinical Requirements - complete 40.50 units
BOT 153Typing-Skill Building1.50
CIS 101APersonal Computers for New Users1.00
HLC 60Medical Terminology3.00
MA 63AClinical Procedures 13.00
MA 63BClinical Procedures 23.00
MA 287.5Clinical Experience2.00
MA 64Laboratory Techniques2.00
MA 65Pharmacology & Administration of Medications2.00
MA 66.4Externship, Clinical Medical Assisting3.50
MA 60Introduction to Medical Office Practice3.00
MA 61Law and Ethics in the Medical Office1.00
MA 62Advanced Medical Terminology4.00
PSYCH 1AGeneral Psychology3.00
Complete any combination totaling at least 3.00 units from the following:
CourseDescriptionUnits
ANAT 51Anatomy & Physiology1.00-5.00
ANAT 58Introduction to Human Anatomy3.00

Term Effective: Fall 1997

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.

Term Inactive: Fall 2006

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:

Students who are on a "fast track" and are interested in completing the program more quickly, are encouraged to take HLC 60 in the summer.
All courses must be completed with a "C" or better to receive the certificate.

Contact
Information
Phone Email Website
(707) 527-4272
srjccertificate003157@santarosa.edu