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Medical Assisting

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Associate Degree

A.S. in Medical Assisting

The CRC Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Upon completion of the Medical Assisting program, students may take the CMA (AAMA) certification exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Highlights include:
* According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, "Medical Assisting employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among some of the fastest growing occupations over the 2023–32 decade. Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience, and certification."

* Eligibility to become members of AAMA and CSMA

* Preparation for national board exams; CRC students have exceeded national averages in the top 5 percent consistently for the past 20 years

* Provides multiple skills for the entry-level health care professional

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Degree Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
Fall Semester:
MEDA 124 Administrative Medical Assisting 3
MEDA 105 General Medical Assisting 3
COMM 325 Intercultural Communication (3) 31
   or ANTH 313 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Medical Focus (3)
AH 120 Human Disease 3
PSYC 300 General Principles (3) 32
Spring Semester:
AH 124 Pharmacology for the Health Care Professional 2
FCS 324 Human Development: A Life Span (3) 3
   or PSYC 371 Life Span Developmental Psychology (3)
MEDA 230 Clinical Procedures 6
Summer Semester:
MEDA 145 Medical Assisting Certification Review 2
MEDA 140 Medical Assisting Practicum 33
Total Units: 31

1may be taken either fall or spring semester

2may be taken either fall or spring semester

3This is the capstone course and should be taken last.

The Medical Assisting Associate in Science (A.S.) degree may be obtained by completion of the required program, plus the local CRC General Education Requirement, plus sufficient electives to meet a 60-unit total. See CRC graduation requirements.

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Completion of the following prerequisite courses with a C or better:
  • AH 311 - Medical Language
  • BIOL 102 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 100 or 430 & 431 are acceptable)
  • Eligibility for ENGWR 300 OR ENGWR 341 –Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing OR BUS 100 –English for the Professional OR ESL 130- ESL College English Preparation: Advanced-Low
  • CISC 302 - Computer Familiarization
  • MEDA 100 - Introduction to Medical Assisting (taken within the previous 5 years)

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Only students who meet the pre-enrollment requirements will be considered for the program
  • Selection will be based on a random selection process, should the number of qualified applicants exceed available spaces in the program
  • Accepted applicants will be notified by the Program Director by July 1
  • Students will be required to perform a background and drug clearance screening. Students will also be required to show proof of vaccination or immunity to the following: measles, rubella, rubeola, varicella, TDaP, and possibly influenza. Placement in a clinical location will be contingent upon the results of this screening.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • Enter the allied health workforce as a competent, entry-level Medical Assistant trained in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of the occupation (PSLO #1).
  • Declare eligibility for the AAMA national certification examination with the goal of obtaining the CMA (AAMA) credential (PSLO #2).

Career Information

Administrative Medical Assistant; Clinical Medical Assistant

Certificates of Achievement

Medical Assisting Certificate

The CRC Medical Assisting program is designed to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. Upon completion of the Medical Assisting program, students may take the CMA (AAMA) certification exam administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Highlights include:
* According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook published by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Statistics, "Medical Assisting employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among some of the fastest growing occupations over the 2023–32 decade. Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience, and certification."

* Eligibility to become members of AAMA and CSMA

* Preparation for national board exams; CRC students have exceeded national averages in the top 5 percent consistently for the past 20 years

* Provides multiple skills for the entry-level health care professional

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
MEDA 124 Administrative Medical Assisting 3
MEDA 105 General Medical Assisting 3
FCS 324 Human Development: A Life Span (3) 31
   or PSYC 371 Life Span Developmental Psychology (3)
COMM 325 Intercultural Communication (3) 32
   or ANTH 313 Introduction to Cultural Anthropology: Medical Focus (3)
PSYC 300 General Principles (3) 33
AH 120 Human Disease 3
AH 124 Pharmacology for the Health Care Professional 2
MEDA 230 Clinical Procedures 6
MEDA 145 Medical Assisting Certification Review 2
MEDA 140 Medical Assisting Practicum 34
Total Units: 31

1Course may be taken either fall or spring semester

2may be taken either fall or spring semester

3may be taken either fall or spring semester

4This is the capstone course and should be taken last.

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Completion of the following pre-requisite courses with a C or better:
  • AH 311 - Medical Language
  • BIOL 102 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 100 or 430 & 431 are acceptable)
  • Eligibility for ENGWR 300 OR ENGWR 341 –Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing OR BUS 100 –English for the Professional OR ESL 130 - ESL College English Preparation: Advanced-Low
  • CISC 302 - Computer Familiarization
  • MEDA 100 - Introduction to Medical Assisting (within the last 5 years)

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Only students who meet the pre-enrollment requirements will be considered for the program
  • Selection will be based on a random selection process, should the number of qualified applicants exceed available spaces in the program
  • Accepted applicants will be notified by the Program Director by July 1
  • Students will be required to perform a background and drug clearance screening. Students will also be required to show proof of vaccination or immunity to the following: measles, rubella, rubeola, varicella, TDaP, and possibly influenza. Placement in a clinical location will be contingent upon the results of this screening.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • Enter the allied health workforce as a competent, entry-level Medical Assistant trained in the cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains of the occupation (PSLO #1).
  • Declare eligibility for the AAMA national certification examination with the goal of obtaining the CMA (AAMA) credential (PSLO #2).

Career Information

Clinical Medical Assistant; Administrative Medical Assistant


Medical Assisting, Administrative Certificate

This curriculum is designed to prepare the individual with front office skills for employment as an Administrative Medical Assistant in a physician's office, hospital, clinic, laboratory, pharmaceutical company, or health insurance company.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
AH 311 Medical Language for Health-Care Providers 3
BIOL 100 Introduction to Concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology (3) 3 - 41
   or BIOL 102 Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (4)
BUS 100 English for the Professional 3
CISC 302 Computer Familiarization 2
MEDA 100 Introduction to Medical Assisting 1.5
MEDA 110 Medical Insurance Procedures 1.5
MEDA 124 Administrative Medical Assisting 3
AH 120 Human Disease 3
Total Units: 20 - 21

1BIOL 430/431 combo is also acceptable

Enrollment Eligibility

To be eligible for enrollment in the program, the student must meet the following criteria:

  • Completion of the following pre-requisite courses with a C or better:
  • AH 311 - Medical Language
  • BIOL 102 - Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology (BIOL 100 or 430 & 431 are acceptable)
  • Eligibility for ENGWR 300 OR ENGWR 341 –Introduction to Technical and Professional Writing OR BUS 100 –English for the Professional OR ESL 130 - ESL College English Preparation: Advanced-Low
  • CISC 302 - Computer Familiarization
  • MEDA 100 - Introduction to Medical Assisting (within the last 5 years)

Enrollment Process

Eligible students are selected for the program according to the following steps:

  • Only students who meet the pre-enrollment requirements will be considered for the program
  • Selection will be based on a random selection process, should the number of qualified applicants exceed available spaces in the program
  • Accepted applicants will be notified by the Program Director by July 1

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • Perform the entry-levels skills of an administrative medical assistant, such as effective scheduling, proper use of a multi-line phone system, ICD and CPT coding, and insurance claims completion. (PSLO #1)

Career Information

Administrative Medical Assistant; entry-level Insurance Biller; Hospital Unit Secretary


Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing Certificate

The CRC Medical Insurance Billing certificate program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in insurance billing in an ambulatory medical office setting. The curriculum is designed to give students the desired skills for employment in a physician's office or other ambulatory clinic.

Catalog Date: January 1, 2025

Certificate Requirements

Course Code Course Title Units
AH 311 Medical Language for Health-Care Providers 3
AH 120 Human Disease 3
AH 124 Pharmacology for the Health Care Professional 2
BIOL 100 Introduction to Concepts of Human Anatomy and Physiology 31
HIT 120 Basic ICD-CM Coding 3
MEDA 110 Medical Insurance Procedures 1.5
HIT 123 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding 1
Total Units: 16.5

1([BIOL 102] or [BIOL 430 and BIOL 431] are also acceptable)

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, the student will be able to:

  • Attain entry-level skills in insurance billing.
  • Utilize insurance and billing knowledge to obtain entry-level employment in an ambulatory setting.

Career Information

The CRC Medical Insurance Billing Certificate is designed to prepare students for entry-level employment in an ambulatory setting in the insurance and/or billing department. Students will obtain the necessary knowledge for insurance authorizations, billing and reconciliations.

More About the Program

Learn about applying to the program, answers to frequently asked questions, and more.

Medical Assisting Department

Most Affordable award badge

Awarded Most Affordable Program 2020-2021

Scholarships

Apply for scholarships for Medical Assisting students:

  • CRC Methodist Hospital of Sacramento ($500)
  • CRC Meg and Frank Zbierski ($500)
  • CRC McConnell Family ($400)
  • CRC Biology Faculty ($500)
  • Sutters Scholars Program ($500)

Applications open spring semester.

Scholarships

Career Education

This major is part of CRC's Career Education (CE) Program. Request assistance from Career Education by dropping us a line!

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