Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

Students applying for admission to the program must meet the admission requirements for the Medical Assisting program. Admission and progression requirements are listed in the following information.

Upon successful completion of the Medical Assisting curriculum, students will have acquired the knowledge and skills to establish eligibility for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA [AAMA]) exam.  Upon certification, graduates will have a reasonable opportunity to secure employment in a field related to the profession.

The Cleveland State Community College Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 9355 - 113th Street N, #7709, Seminole, Florida 33775, 727-210-2350 (www.caahep.org).

Medical Assisting Admission and Progression Standards

1. All students wishing to enter into the Medical Assisting program must complete the following criteria:
   1. Be accepted for admission to Cleveland State Community College and comply with all college requirements.
   2. Remove any deficiencies as a result of admission assessment and complete the appropriate learning support courses, in Reading, prior to submitting an application to the Medical Assisting program.
   3. Complete an application to the Medical Assisting program. Application forms are available online.
   4. Meet the following requirements:
      1. Must have received a grade of “C” or better on all courses applicable to the Medical Assisting curriculum prior to graduation. Core Medical Assisting courses (i.e. transferred) must be within 10 years prior to the date of admission to the program unless documentation of exception is approved by the Medical Assisting Program Director and the Vice President of Academic Affairs.
      2. Must select elective course(s) in consultation with advisor.
2. Courses in the Medical Assisting program must be taken in sequence and a maximum of five years is allowed from the date of admission to the program to complete the Medical Assisting courses.
3. Students taking any required course in the Medical Assisting program curriculum must make a “C” or better in any of the core Medical Assisting courses to progress. Grades below “C” in any General Education courses must be repeated prior to graduation. Grades below “C” will not be accepted for graduation purposes. Students having taken a required Medical Assisting core course twice without achieving a grade of “C” or above will be denied progression in the program.*
4. Students must maintain a current card denoting successful completion of the course in professional CPR and first aid for health care providers while in Medical Assisting III, IV, and Practicum.  Appropriate charges will be added to college fees.
5. Students are required to purchase malpractice insurance through the college at the time of registration for Medical Assisting III (which covers the entire school year).  Appropriate charges will be added to college fees.
6. Applicants who are not admitted to the Medical Assisting program and wish to be considered for admission in a subsequent year should re-apply in the year in which they wish to enter. Applications should be submitted at least 30 days prior to registration for the term.
7. Health
   1. Even though admission to the Medical Assisting program has been granted, admitted students will be required to satisfactorily complete a physical examination/health verification before enrolling in the required practicum component of the program. This will include a complete physical examination by a licensed practitioner, drug screening, TB skin test, chicken pox and MMR, tetanus booster if needed and hepatitis B series if needed. Students will be required, during the course of the program, to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. Such essential requirements include freedom from communicable diseases, the ability to perform certain physical tasks and suitable emotional fitness. Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Core performance standards for admission and progression which comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 are available from the Medical Assisting Program Director.
   2. The Medical Assisting faculty reserve the right to ask a student to submit to psychological testing and/or counseling if deemed necessary.
   3. Students will be required to meet all health guidelines of the agencies providing practicum. For example, health insurance may be required by some agencies. Not having health insurance may be required by some agencies. Not having health insurance could limit a student’s educational experience.  Students are responsible for costs incurred from injury or illness while in the program.
8. Other
   1. Problems with individuals who are admitted to the Medical Assisting program whose use of alcohol or consciousness-altering drugs interferes with their performance of educational activities will be handled in accordance with the departmental drug/alcohol policy. Failure to correct the problem will result in termination from the Medical Assisting program.
   2. Applicants who have had any license in any health care field suspended, revoked or denied or who have been the subject of disciplinary action could be ineligible to sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam even though they may successfully complete the program. It is the applicant’s sole responsibility to contact the American Association of Medical Assistants to determine eligibility for completing the CMA (AAMA) exam.
   3. Beginning with the administration of the January 2001 certification examination, felons are not eligible to sit for the examination unless the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants grants a waiver based on one or more mitigating circumstances listed in the disciplinary standards. Individuals should contact the American Association of Medical Assistants for more information.
   4. Completion of the Medical Assisting program does not guarantee passage of the CMA (AAMA) exam.  The national Certified Medical Assistant (CMA [AAMA]) exam should be scheduled after graduation.
   5. Students in the Medical Assisting program will be exposed to and required to perform tests on blood and body fluids, under supervision, which may include those with infectious diseases. Students will be required to perform tests, such as injections, venipuncture (drawing blood) and other invasive procedures on other students and have them performed on herself/himself, under supervision, while practicing in the lab. These procedures are performed under HIPAA, OSHA and CLIA guidelines and universal/standard precautions. Any student refusing assignment to have these performed or performing them on another student or patient may be subject to dismissal from the program.
   6. Faculty policy statements concerning attendance, grading, progression and professional dress requirements are available upon request. Students will have the additional expense of uniforms, lab coat with patch, shoes, watch with second hand, blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.  Transportation to and from class and practicum sites is the responsibility of the student.
   7. Students may be required by the practicum agency to undergo a criminal background check.  If as a result of a required criminal background check a student is prohibited from a practicum affiliate agency, the student may be dismissed from the program.

Medical Assisting Readmission/Transfer

In addition to meeting the above criteria, applicants seeking readmission or admission by transfer should also be aware that such requests are considered by the Medical Assisting faculty/director on an individual basis and under consideration of recommended faculty/student ratio and the availability of clinical facilities.

Medical Assisting Transfer Students

1. Must submit all official transcripts and appropriate course descriptions from any previous college programs.
2. May be required to submit a letter of recommendation if a student is transferring from another Medical Assisting program.
3. Should understand that Medical Assisting and other courses from other programs and colleges will be evaluated as well as CMA (AAMA) certification on an individual basis.
4. May seek proficiency credit through exams in courses available through proficiency testing.

Medical Assisting Readmission Applicants

1. Must apply to the Medical Assisting program prior to registration for the semester preceding the one in which readmission is desired.
2. May be required to take re-entry, audit or independent study courses with special assignments.
3. Will be considered only once for readmission if unable to progress academically in the Medical Assisting program.

Summary of Required Hours

Fall	Credit Hours
ADMN 1302 - Keyboarding/Formatting I  or BUSN 1302 - Keyboarding with Word Processing	3
ADMN 1306 - Medical Terminology I	3
ENGL 1010 - English Composition I	3
GEN 1010 - First Year Seminar	3
MDCA 1301 - Medical Assisting I	3
Spring
ADMN 2304 - Introduction to Electronic Health Records	3
INFS 1010 - Computer Applications	3
MDCA 1302 - Medical Assisting II	3
MDCA 1303 - MA Administrative Procedures	3
PSYC 1030 - Introduction to Psychology	3
Fall
ADMN 1307 - Survey of Coding	3
MDCA 2301 - Medical Assisting Pharmacology	3
MDCA 2302 - Healthcare Legal/Ethical Issues	3
MDCA 2403 - Medical Assisting III	4
1Mathematics/Natural Sciences	3-4
Spring
MDCA 2306 - Medical Assisting Seminar	3
MDCA 2404 - Medical Assisting IV	4
MDCA 2405 - Medical Assisting Practicum	4
2Guided General Education	3
1Humanities/Fine Arts	3
Total	63-64

¹In consultation with academic advisor, students may select appropriate Humanities/Fine Arts and Mathematics/Natural Sciences  electives.

²In consultation with academic advisor, students may select appropriate General Education elective from the categories of Communication, Humanities/Fine Arts, Mathematics/Natural Sciences and Social/Behavioral Sciences .