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Medical Assistant, Baccalaureate Certificate

The primary purpose of the Medical Assistant program is to prepare students to work as a certified Medical Assistant in a physician’s office, hospital, outpatient clinic, lab or insurance company. It is designed to provide the skills necessary to perform as a clinical medical assistant and to increase marketability by also providing administrative certification. This busy professional can go from the front office, answering the phone and completing insurance forms, to assisting the doctor by performing clinical tasks such as taking vitals, drawing blood or performing an EKG.

Health care professions require a high degree of honesty and integrity. Students are expected to conduct themselves in the classroom as they would in the place of employment. Because knowledge gained in the classroom, lab, or externship directly impacts the student’s future ability to safely provide patient care, all breaches of ethical behavior are considered extremely serious.

Students who successfully complete the program will be prepared and able to sit for the certified Medical Assistant (RMA) certification exam.

Program Learning Outcomes and Competencies:

  • Explain the values and ethics of a medical assistant providing healthcare to diverse populations.
  • Demonstrate healthcare office procedures that include scheduling, bookkeeping, billing and payment collection, and preparing medical records and charts according to best practices of medical office management.
  • Apply new knowledge to the use and interpretation of medical terms in their proper contexts.
  • Demonstrate the use of therapeutic communication with patients/clients across the lifespan.
  • Perform and document all specified clinical medical assistant skills, including but not limited to vital signs, venipuncture and EKG, according to current hospital and ambulatory care center standards.
  • Differentiate between types of medications and administration routes.
  • Describe the professional development responsibilities and lifelong learning opportunities of a Medical Assistant.

In addition to the Undergraduate Admissions requirements, applicants must:

  • Complete successful interview with members of the program Admissions Committee

Program Details:

  • Requires 30 QH for completion
  • Requires completion of all courses at NLU
  • Requires a minimum grade of "C" or better in all coursework prior to enrolling in MEDA 201 Clinical Practicum
  • Requires successful completion of the practicum training totaling 160 practicum hours
  • Requires a min GPA of 2.0 for gradation 

Required Courses

Medical Assistant Certificate

CAR 202Creating Professional Identity

2
MEDA 101Medical Assisting

4
MEDA 110Medical Administration

2
MEDA 115Human Anatomy and Physiology for Medical Assisting

4
MEDA 120Pharmacology for Medical Assisting

2
MEDA 150Medical Assisting Clinical Skills I

4
MEDA 151Medical Assisting Clinical Skills II

6
MEDA 201Clinical Practicum

6