Medical Assisting Certificate
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 completion of the certificate, successful 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
Certificate 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 (Choose One course, 2 credits)
REL 200, The Eternal Family, 2 credits
REL 225, Foundations of the Restoration, 2 credits
REL 250, Jesus Christ & the Everlasting Gospel, 2 credits
REL 275, Teachings & Doctrine of The Book of Mormon, 2 credits
Total Religion Minimum 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:
HP 140, Medical Terminology, 3 credits
LS 265, Anatomy & Physiology with a C or higher, 4 credits
Vaccinations Submit to Program Chair
Total Certificate Pre-Requisites Credit Hours 7
Medical Assisting Certificate Core Courses
HP 106, Medical Law & Ethics, 2 credits
HP 128, ICD-10-CM & CPT Coding, 2 credits
HP 132, Medical Scheduling, Billing and EMR, 4 credits
HP 170, Introduction to Pharmacology, 2 credits
HP 210, Clinical Medical Assisting, 4 credits
HP 212, Clinical Procedures Lab, 0 credits
HP 220, Medical Lab Procedures & CPR, 3 credits
HP 222, Medical Laboratory Procedures Lab, 0 credits
HP 299, Practicum for MA, 3 credits
Core Courses Minimum Credit Hours 20
Total Medical Assisting Certificate Minimum 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.
Recommended Sequence of Courses
Depending upon the number of preparatory courses required, additional semesters may be required to complete the program.
First Semester
HP 140, Medical Terminology, 3 credits
LS 265, Anatomy & Physiology, 4 credits
REL*, Cornerstone Course, 2 credits
Total Semester Minimum Hours 9
Second Semester
HP 106, Medical Law & Ethics, 2 credits
HP 132, Medical Scheduling, Billing and EMR, 4 credits
HP 210, Clinical Medical Assisting, 4 credits
HP 212, Clinical Procedures Lab, 0 credits
Total Semester Minimum Hours 10
Third Semester
HP 128, ICD-10-CM & CPT Coding, 2 credits
HP 170, Introduction to Pharmacology, 2 credits
HP 220, Medical Lab Procedures & CPR, 3 credits
HP 222, Medical Laboratory Procedures Lab, 0 credits
Total Semester Minimum Hours 7
Fourth Semester
HP 299**, Practicum for MA, 3 credits
Total Semester Minimum Hours 3
Total Medical Assisting Certificate Minimum Credit Hours: 29
**HP 299 will substitute for CAR 299 for students who are completing the AS degree + Certificate. However, CAR 299 will not substitute for HP 299.
Graduation Requirements
1. Minimum of 29 total semester credit hours as outlined
2. Grade of B or better in HP 140 and a C or higher in LS 265
3. Grade of C or better in all program core courses
4. 1 Cornerstone religion course *
*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.