Medical Assisting

Degree

Certificate (Eligible for federal aid as a stand-alone certificate or if combined with AS degree.)

Overview

Medical assistants are multi-skilled, with training in clerical/administrative procedures (front office) as well as clinical procedures (back office). They can work in large clinics as well as small medical offices. The duties of clinical medical assistants vary according to state laws. Common skills include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens and administer medications.

Administrative skills may include updating and filing patients’ medical records, filling out insurance forms, and arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services. Medical assistants also perform tasks in medical settings, such as answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, and scheduling appointments.

This major provides students with mid-level administrative and clinical skills for a variety of healthcare settings. Students learn and demonstrate current outpatient laboratory collection procedures, assistance with office surgery, front office billing and insurance procedures, and basic computer/word processing skills.

Career Opportunities

There are employment opportunities in insurance companies, outpatient medical offices, and HMO’s for well-trained certified medical assistants. Medical assistants from Ensign College are consistently offered jobs upon completion of their internships. Students may advance to supervisory positions.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the certificate, graduates will be able to:

  • Complete all CAAHEP Psychomotor and Affective competencies at 100% proficiency.
  • Complete all CAAHEP Cognitive competencies.
  • Demonstrate an understanding of basic anatomy, physiology, and disease processes of the human body.
  • Identify, understand and apply the major principles of pharmacology used by allied health professionals.
  • Describe legal and regulatory frameworks of healthcare using basic knowledge of law and ethics as they relate to the Medical Assistant.
  • Demonstrate understanding of medical coding diagnoses and procedures for the medical office.
  • Effectively engage in written and oral communication as demonstrated through charting and communication with patients and other health professionals.
  • Articulate career preparation confidently using resumes.

Course Requirements

Students are responsible to examine the course description of each course listed below for details of prerequisites, which must be satisfied before registering for the course.

Religion Course

Course NumberTitleCredits
REL 200The Eternal Family

2 credits

REL 225Foundations of the Restoration

2 credits

REL 250Jesus Christ & Everlast Gospel

2 credits

REL 275Teach & Doct of Book of Mormon

2 credits

Total Credit Hours:2

Certificate Pre-Requisites

To move forward with the certificate core courses, Medical Assistant students will need to complete the following courses and submit current vaccinations to the program chair.

Course NumberTitleCredits
HP 140Medical Terminology

3 credits

LS 265Anatomy & Physiology

4 credits

Vaccinations Submit to program chair

0 credits

Total Credit Hours:7

Certificate Core Courses

Course NumberTitleCredits
HP 106Medical Law & Ethics

2 credits

HP 128ICD-10-CM & CPT Coding

2 credits

HP 132Medical Scheduling, Billing an

4 credits

HP 170Introduction to Pharmacology

2 credits

HP 210Clinical Medical Assisting

4 credits

HP 212Clinical Procedures Lab

0 credits

HP 220Medical Lab Procedures & CPR

3 credits

HP 222Med. Laboratory Procedures Lab

0 credits

HP 299Practicum for MA & EMA

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:20

Total Credit Hours: 29

*Note: The required (2) credit religion course will count towards the (8) credits of required religion courses for students who are completing the AS degree + Certificate.

**HP 283 will substitute for CAR 299 for students who are completing the AS degree + Certificate. However, CAR 299 will not substitute for HP 283.

Recommended Sequence of Courses

Depending upon preparatory courses required, additional semesters may be required to complete the program.

First Semester

Course NumberTitleCredits
HP 140Medical Terminology

3 credits

LS 265Anatomy & Physiology

4 credits

Religion Cornerstone Religion

2 credits

Total Credit Hours:9

Second Semester

Course NumberTitleCredits
HP 106Medical Law & Ethics

2 credits

HP 132Medical Scheduling, Billing an

4 credits

HP 210Clinical Medical Assisting

4 credits

HP 212Clinical Procedures Lab

0 credits

Total Credit Hours:10

Third Semester

Course NumberTitleCredits
HP 128ICD-10-CM & CPT Coding

2 credits

HP 170Introduction to Pharmacology

2 credits

HP 220Medical Lab Procedures & CPR

3 credits

HP 222Med. Laboratory Procedures Lab

0 credits

Total Credit Hours:7

Fourth Semester

Course NumberTitleCredits
HP 299Practicum for MA & EMA

3 credits

Total Credit Hours:3

Total Credit Hours: 29

*Note: The required (2) credit religion course will count towards the (8) credits of required religion courses for students who are completing the AS degree + Certificate.

**HP 283 will substitute for CAR 299 for students who are completing the AS degree + Certificate. However, CAR 299 will not substitute for HP 283.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Minimum of 29 total semester credit hours as outlined
  2. Grade of B or better in HP 140
  3. Grade of C or better in all program core courses
  4. 1 Cornerstone religion course*