Medical Assistant

Information for the program you selected is currently unavailable. For program information, please contact one of the following:

Spokane Community College (SCC) Programs:

  • If you are seeking specific program information you may wish to contact one of the counselors available by department at: Transfer Center Counseling at (509) 533-8037; Multicultural Center Counseling at (509) 533-7032; Health Science Counseling at (509) 533-8622; Business Division Counseling at (509) 533-7195; Professional Technical, Business, and Environmental Science Counseling at (509) 533-7038.
  • For general information regarding Spokane Community College, please call for information at: (509) 533-7000 or email: SCCInfo@scc.spokane.edu.
  • To report a problem with a link, please contact the SCC Help Desk at (509) 533-8899.

Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC) Programs:

  • For academic advising, please contact the program department, or call the SFCC Counseling department at (509) 533-3525.
  • For general information regarding Spokane Falls Community College, please call our information line at: 509-533-3500 or 888-509-7944 or email: sfccinfo@spokanefalls.edu

Winter 2018

Enrollment:

Summer

Degrees and Certificates

Program Website:

View the program website

Additional Costs

Books$1000
Supplies and Equipment$200
Misc. Fees*$250
* Estimated cost of books and supplies for seven quarters. Misc fee includes: background check, drug screening.

Program Description

The Medical Assistant is an Allied Health professional who assists physicians and other health care providers in their offices or other medical settings. In accordance with respective state laws, they perform a broad range of administrative and clinical duties. In the Medical Assistant program at Spokane Community College, students learn about the administrative duties of scheduling and receiving patients, preparing and maintaining medical records, performing basic secretarial skills and medical transcription, handling telephone calls, writing correspondence, serving as a liaison between the physician and other individuals, and managing practice finances. The clinical phase of the program is taught through intense training and hands-on application. Students learn to perform clinical duties, including asepsis and infection control, taking patient histories and vital signs, first aid and CPR, preparing patients for procedures, assisting the physician with examinations and treatments, collecting and processing specimens, performing selected diagnostic tests, and preparing and administering medications as directed by the physician. In the 4th quarter the students will have a 198 hour unpaid clinical externship in a medical office working directly with providers.

Formats for this program are offered as on-campus or online/hybrid.

The Medical Assistant program does not accept advanced placement, transfer credits, or credit for experiential learning. All MA credits required for the certificate must be earned at Spokane Community College.
Admission Requirements: After successful completion of the admission requirements, please contact the SCC registraiton office at 533-8860.

A 2.0 grade or better is needed in all required classes before proceeding to the next quarter and before a certificate is awarded. The student may complete requirements in Medical Assistant and receive a certificate or complete the professional requirements plus liberal arts requirements and receive an associate in applied science degree. The student may enroll in liberal arts either preceding or following the professional curriculum.

Program Learning Outcomes

The program goals are to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), and psychomotor (skills), and effective (behavior) learning domains. This program is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in medical ambulatory care settings.

Career Opportunities

Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average as the health industry expands. Medical assisting practitioners work primarily in ambulatory settings such as medical offices and clinics. Medical assistants function as members of the health care delivery team and perform administrative and clinical procedures.