Medical Assisting

The Medical Assisting curriculum prepares you to be a multi-skilled healthcare professional qualified to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures.

Coursework includes instruction in scheduling appointments; coding and processing insurance accounts; billing, collections, and computer operations; assisting with examinations/treatments; performing routine laboratory procedures; performing electrocardiography; supervising medication administration; and understanding ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.

Employment opportunities include physicians’ offices, health maintenance organizations, health departments, and hospitals.

The GTCC Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP is at 9355 113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709. The phone number is 727-210-2350, and the website is www.caahep.org. The five-year job placement rate and exam passage rate are 85.48% and 94.74%, respectively for the years 2019-2023.

Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting programs may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants Certification Examination (MAERB) to become Certified Medical Assistants. Passing this exam is the only way to earn the credential, CMA (AAMA).

Admission Information

Credentialing Options

Medical Assisting, AAS - CIP Code: 51.0801

A 45 40 0

Contact: (336) 334-4822, ext. 50407

Limited Enrollment Program: Contact the Enrollment Services Office for Program admission requirements and Program application deadlines.

The Medical Assisting curriculum prepares multi-skilled health care professionals qualified to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures.  The purpose of the program is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Course work includes instruction in scheduling appointments, coding and processing insurance accounts, billing, collections, computer operations; assisting with examinations/treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures, electrocardiography, supervised medication administration; and ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.

Employment opportunities include physicians' offices, health maintenance organizations, health departments, and hospitals.

The GTCC Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP is located at 9355 113th Street N., #7709, Seminole, FL 33775-7709. The phone number is 727-210-2350 and the website address is www.caahep.org. The 5-year outcomes for the GTCC Medical Assisting program in job placement rates and exam pass rates are 85.48% and 94.74% for the years 2019-2023, respectively. 

Graduates of CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assisting programs may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants' Certification Examination (MAERB) to become Certified Medical Assistants.  Passing this exam is the only path to obtain the credential, CMA (AAMA).

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Medical Assisting Associate Degree program, the graduate should be able to:

  • Apply effective written and oral communication skills with consumers and co-workers in the role of medical assistant
  • Create solutions to problems related to administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures
  • Implement policies and procedure manuals related to administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures
  • Demonstrate mathematical calculations related to generating laboratory results, administrative bookkeeping, and administration of medications
  • Project professionalism by maintaining positive interpersonal skills, being a team player, showing initiative and responsibility, and practicing in a legal and ethical manner
  • Demonstrate 100% competency in the Cognitive domains (knowledge) and Psychomotor/Affective domains (skills) required for success as an entry level Medical Assisting graduate

Fall Semester I

Total Credits: 15

Spring Semester I

Total Credits: 15

Summer Semester I

Total Credits: 6

Fall Semester II

Total Credits: 16

Spring Semester II

Total Credits: 16

Total credit hours required for degree: 68

Electives

1. Humanities/Fine Arts Elective

Choose one course from the following:

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Associate in Arts, Pre-Medical Assisting Pathway

A 10 10 0 MA

Contact: (336) 334-4822, ext. 50439

Limited Entry Pre-Health Program Pathway

GTCC is an open access institution, however many of our programs have enrollment requirements for admission.  Limited Enrollment Pathways help to identify students who are awaiting acceptance into Limited Enrollment Programs while they complete entry requirements to qualify for admission.  Students who are unable to qualify for admission to Limited Enrollment Programs within one year will be removed from the Limited Enrollment Pathway, and will remain enrolled in the Associate in Arts (A10100) degree program.

If these courses are taken in the first 2 semesters before applying to the program, students will have completed all of the general education courses and all will add to ranking points.

Semester I

Total Credits: 15

Semester II

Total Credits: 15

Semester III

Total Credits: 15

Semester IV

  • General Education Elective Credits: 3 
  • General Education Elective Credits: 3 
  • Other Required Elective/Pre-Major Elective Credits: 3 
  • Other Required Elective/Pre-Major Elective Credits: 3 
  • Other Required Elective/Pre-Major Elective Credits: 3 

Total Credits: 15

Course Requirements for Associate in Arts, Pre-Medical Assisting Pathway (60 Credits)

General Education Requirements

The general education common course pathway includes study in the areas of English, communication; humanities and fine arts; social and behavioral sciences; natural sciences and mathematics.

English Composition

The following two English compositions courses are required:

Humanities/Fine Arts

The following courses are required:

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives

Choose two courses from the following list:

Social/Behavioral Sciences

The following courses are required:

  • PSY 150 General Psychology
    PSY 150 General Psychology
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  • Additional Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3
  • Additional Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3
Social/Behavioral Science Electives

Choose two (2) courses from the following list:

Mathematics

The following course is required:

Natural Sciences

Choose four (4) credits from the following courses:

General Education Electives

Take eight (8) credits from the list below:

Other Required Hours

An additional 18 credits of courses should be selected from courses classified as pre-major, elective, or general education courses within the CAA.

Academic Transition and Pathway Requirements

The following courses are required:

Other Required Electives / Pre-Major Electives

Choose nine (9) credits from the following list of courses:

Footnotes:

1. WBL-111 is not transferable and can only be utilized as the 61st hour of the program.

Total Credits: 60

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About Medical Assisting

Medical Assisting at GTCC

Frequently Asked Questions

Certified Medical Assisting is a limited entry program, which means space is limited and acceptance into this program may be competitive. You may have to meet additional requirements to be considered for admission.

Students interested in applying for this program must follow the guidelines in the Medical Assisting Admission Packet linked above in the section called "Admission Information."

Mindy Wray, Program Director

Pamela Watson, Instructor

Yes. Financial aid is available if you qualify. Please visit the Financial Aid web page or contact the Financial Aid office at 336-334-4822, option 3.

Additional scholarships are awarded to currently enrolled students completing their first two semesters in the Medical Assisting program. The local chapters of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) also offer scholarships based on need and successful completion of their second semester.

Meeting the educational requirements listed above and having a genuine desire to become a partner in a dynamic and thriving field is mandatory.  

The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that medical assisting is expected to experience a higher-than-average rate of growth in coming years. In 2016, 634,400 medical assistants were in the U.S. workforce, but that number is expected to rise to 818,300 by 2026, representing a 29% increase.

All students are required to have access to a computer every day for their online assignments. A criminal background check and a drug screen are required during the fourth semester in preparation for clinicals in spring. Students are provided with an estimated cost sheet during their orientation that details each semester and the estimated cost associated with it. A complete physical examination, completed immunization record, and CPR and first aid are additional requirements to be completed by the end of the first year of the program.

Medical assisting may not be the right career for everyone, but if you have done your research about the duties of a medical assistant and feel that this is the career path for you, then you are on the right course.

The best medical assistants have very strong communication skills, are dependable, can handle high levels of stress, and are empathetic to patients and others. In addition, medical assistants must pay close attention to detail and have excellent visual acuity and manual dexterity. Finally, professional medical assistants must have a strong level of integrity and self-control and the ability to be courteous at all times.

Those who plan to become certified should make sure to choose a program that is accredited through the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). 

Students who graduated from either a CAAHEP or ABHES program are eligible to sit for the certification examination to become either a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).

Your job description may include all or part of the list below depending on your location and the American Medical Association's requirements. Here are some of the duties, but you can tailor your job description to only include clinical and/or laboratory and/or administrative duties.

  • Record patients' medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
  • Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean. 
  • Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
  • Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician. 
  • Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician. 
  • Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
  • Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies. 
  • Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians' instructions to patients. 
  • Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies. 
  • Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses. 
  • Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms. 
  • Greet and log in patients arriving at the office or clinic. 
  • Schedule appointments for patients.
  • Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing tasks such as giving injections or removing sutures. 
  • Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission. 
  • Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment. 
  • Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests. 
  • Change dressings on wounds. 
  • Set up medical laboratory equipment. 
  • Keep financial records or perform other bookkeeping duties, such as handling credit or collections or mailing monthly statements to patients.