Dear Prospective Applicant:
Thank you for your interest in Cuyahoga Community College’s Medical
Assisting Program. The pathways to enter the Medical Assisting workforce
and meet eligibility requirements for certification include the following
options:
• The Certificate of Proficiency Program: a three-semester program that
includes ENG-1010 College Composition I and MATH-1060 Survey of
Mathematics or higher level math course, or…
• The two year Associate Degree of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
The Medical Assisting program at Tri-C is accredited by the Commission on
Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and meets all
standards established by the American Association of Medical Assistants
(AAMA). This accreditation enables the student to be eligible to take the
Certified Medical Assistant examination (CMA) upon completion of the
program.
Enclosed you will find responses to frequently asked questions about the
program. Please review this information carefully. If you feel you meet or
intend to meet the admission requirements, you should send for an
application packet by mailing the request form on the bottom of page 3 or by
calling the Health Careers Enrollment Center. If you have any questions
about the application process, please contact the Health Careers Enrollment
Center at (216) 987-4247.
Again, thank you for your interest in Cuyahoga Community College and the
Health Careers Programs. Please feel free to contact me at 216.987.4439 or
by email at [email protected] if you have questions about our medical
assisting program.
FAST FACTS
WHAT IS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT?
Medical Assistants (MA) are health care professionals who assist the physician performing numerous tasks including typing, routine correspondence, keeping
medical records, billing and collecting fees, making appointments. Medical Assistants prepare patients for examinations, take vital signs, perform routine laboratory
screening tests, sterilize instruments, order medical and office supplies, perform venipuncture and give injections.
WHERE ARE MEDICAL ASSISTANTS EMPLOYED? HOW MUCH DO THEY
EARN?
Medical Assistants work in a physician/group practice, public health, private or hospital based clinics or other health care facilities where there is a physician in attendance. An entry level medical assistant can expect to earn 23,500 – 26,000 per year.
.
HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAM? CAN I COMPLETE THE PROGRAM ON
PART-TIME BASIS?
Tri-C offers two Medical Assisting Program options:
• Certificate of Proficiency Program: a two-semester program which includes completion of ENG-1010 College Composition I and MATH-1060 Survey of Mathematics or higher level math course
• Two Year Associate degree of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
The short-term two-semester Certificate option is a full-time, day program starting in the fall semester each year at the Metropolitan Campus and at the Eastern Campus each spring semester. The program is offered as a part time evening program at the Western Campus beginning each fall semester. The Certificate of Proficiency is awarded to students who complete the short term program along with ENG-1010 and MATH-1060 or higher. Courses leading toward the Associate Degree in Medical
Assisting may be completed on a part-time basis and are available as day or evening campus courses and distance learning courses.
WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENTER THE PROGRAM?
• Submission of a completed Health Careers Application • Submission of official high school transcript or GED • Completion of English-1010 English Composition I
• Typing proficiency of 40 WPM or successful completion of Information
Technology course, IT 1000, Keyboarding, with a B grade or better (students
who have not taken the IT 1000 or are unable to achieve the 40 WPM requirement should take ITAP-1220 Speed Building)
• A grade point average (GPA) of 2.00
• Submit transcripts from all college/universities • Eligibility for MATH 1060
HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST?
The two-semester Medical Assisting Program option costs approximately $3,900 for tuition (check current semester schedule for actual costs per semester credit), textbooks, and miscellaneous supplies. The cost of the Associate Degree of Allied Health in Medical Assisting is approximately $7,800. Students pay only for the credit hours for which they are enrolled each semester. If a student needs remedial
courses to meet eligibility, the cost will be higher based on the number of remedial courses needed. Background checks are also required for students entering the program at a cost of $95. Students will also be required to purchase uniforms which vary in cost from $20-$25 each. Liability insurance is also required and is available through the Metro Campus Business Office. Please contact the Business Office at (216)-987-4010 for current costs.
IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?
Generally yes. Students may qualify for the usual federal or state programs. For more information contact the CCC Financial Aid Department at 800-954-8742.
WHEN DOES THE PROGRAM START? WHEN IS THE APPLICATION
DEADLINE?
Programs start in the fall semester (August) of each school year. Twenty students are admitted to the program each fall. Students that meet and complete the entrance requirements are accepted until the class is filled. Since acceptance is based on submission date of completed application materials, it is recommended that you apply to the program as soon as you have met the entrance requirements.
CAN I TRANSFER CREDITS FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE OR
UNIVERSITY?
General education courses taken at any Tri-C campus or other colleges or universities will transfer to the Metropolitan campus. Courses from vocational schools cannot be transferred into Tri-C’s Medical Assisting Program.
I ALREADY HAVE COLLEGE CREDITS. CAN I COMPLETE ANY OF THE
PROGRAM OPTIONS IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME?
Due to the sequencing of the technical (MA) courses and practicum experience, it is not possible to complete the award program in less than 2 semesters. However, if many of the Associate Degree requirements have been met, it is possible to complete the two-year Associate Degree Program in less than two years. By transferring in credits, you will reduce your course load each semester.
IS THE PROGRAM OFFERED IN THE EVENINGS OR WEEKENDS?
The Medical Assisting Program courses are only offered during daytime hours at the Metropolitan and Eastern Campuses, and in the evenings at the Western Campus. In most cases, the student practicum must be performed during daytime hours to coincide with physician and clinic office hours. Several of the program courses such as MA–1020 Medical Terminology I, HIM 1111 Physician Office Coding, HTEC 1610 Introduction to Pharmacology and, HTEC-1110 Ethics for Allied Health are offered as web-based distance learning courses. Students earn a Certificate of Award by
CAN MEDICAL ASSISTANTS BECOME CERTIFIED AFTER COMPLETING
SHORT-TERM AWARD OPTION?
Yes. After successful completion of Tri-C’s two-semester Certificate of Proficiency Program students are eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The Cuyahoga Community College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970 Chicago, IL 60601-2208
(312) 553-9355
IF I HAVE A HISTORY OF A FELONY CONVICTION CAN I STILL BE
ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM?
Maybe, a previous history of a felony will not prevent you from entering or
completing Tri-C’s Medical Assisting Program. However, it is our responsibility to inform you that a previous felony conviction may prevent you from being eligible to take the Certification Examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Please read the AAMA eligibility statement on the last page of this packet.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS
Many healthcare facilities have begun to require criminal background checks for their employees. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Hospital Accreditation Standards Manual requires hospitals to implement "a process to ensure that a person’s qualifications are consistent with his/her job
