Clinical Medical Assisting

The Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Clinical Medical Assisting provides education and training for employment as Medical Assistants. Medical assistants are integral members of the administrative and clinical healthcare team in various healthcare settings. Medical assistants act as liaisons between the healthcare providers and patients, and are of vital importance to the success of the medical practice. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national certification exam. An Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Medical Assisting and a Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Medical Administrative Assisting are also available.

Details

Field of Interest
Health Sciences
Degree Type
Certificate of Completion (CCL)
Academic Plan
Clinical Medical Assisting (CER)
Academic Plan Code
5291
Total credits required
37-40
Catalog Year
2024-2025
Effective Term
Fall 2023
Admissions criteria

Formal application and admission to the program is required.
Students must be at least 18 years of age to apply for admission.
Must be a high school graduate or equivalent.
Completion of the Certificate of Completion (CCL) in Medical Administrative Assisting (5295)
Submit current CPR/BLS Provider card (American Heart Association approved) and maintain current status throughout the practicum(s).
Complete and submit the Allied Health Student Health and Safety Documentation Checklist, with included documentation, signed by a licensed healthcare provider.

Background Check Requirements
Admission to an Allied Health program requires that students be in compliance with the Maricopa County Community College District Supplemental Background Check policy. Program applications will not be accepted without a copy of an Arizona Department of Public Safety Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card. Students must maintain current fingerprint clearance throughout the practicum(s). Upon conditional program admission, the student must comply with all requirements of the current MCCCD background check policy.

Notes

Per programmatic accreditation requirements, students must pass all the psychomotor and affective skills contained within each course in order to successfully complete the course.

Students cannot repeat a course more than once.

Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program.

What You'll Learn

This pathway map will help you gain the expertise needed to:

  1. Demonstrate empathy, compassion, cultural sensitivity and respect for diversity in the healthcare setting.
  2. Display professional behaviors and accountability.
  3. Apply ethical and legal guidelines and scope of practice to administrative and clinical settings, including use of technology and management of medical documents.
  4. Perform administrative skills and procedures in an ambulatory healthcare environment.
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of medical terminology and anatomy and physiology as a healthcare professional.
  6. Use critical thinking skills to follow current best practices in healthcare.
  7. Communicate effectively and in a culturally responsive manner with patients and the healthcare team.
  8. Perform various clinical and laboratory procedures using safety protocols under supervision of the healthcare provider.

Successful completion of this certificate may lead to employment in a variety of different occupations and industries. Below are examples of related occupations with associated Arizona-based annual median wages* for this program. Education requirements vary for the occupations listed below, so you may need further education or degrees in order to qualify for some of these jobs and earn the related salaries. Please visit with an academic advisor and/or program director for additional information.

Medical Assistants

$38,930

* Wage information sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics Program. Updated May 2022.

Course Sequence by Term

The following is the suggested course sequence by term. Please keep in mind:

  • Students should meet with an academic advisor to develop an individual education plan that meets their academic and career goals. Use the Pathway Planner tool in your Student Center to manage your plan.
  • The course sequence is laid out by suggested term and may be affected when students enter the program at different times of the year.
  • Initial course placement is determined by current district placement measures and/or completion of 100-200 level course and/or program requirements.
  • Degree and transfer seeking students may be required to successfully complete a MCCCD First Year Experience Course (FYE) within the first two semesters at a MCCCD College. Courses include FYE101 and FYE103. Course offerings will vary by college. See an academic, program, or faculty advisor for details.

Full-time Sequence

Full-time status is 12 credits to 18 credits per semester.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO160 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology SQ 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAS200 Medical Conversions and Calculations for Medical Assisting 2
MAT114 College Algebra Prep 4

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment (0) L 0–3
MAS201 Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting Critical course Gateway course 6
MAS202 Laboratory Testing in Ambulatory Healthcare Settings Critical course Students must pass all lab competencies and the clinical final exam with a minimum of 85% to pass the course. (MAERB Policy 215) 6
MAS203 Medical Assisting Pharmacology Critical course Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites. Students must pass all dosage calculation tests and the clinical final exam with a 100% to pass the course. 6
MAS204 Clinical Medical Assisting Practicum Critical course Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites. All health and safety documents must remain current and in good standing, especially TB screening and CPR BLS provider, throughout the MAS204 Practicum. 4
MAS205 Medical Assisting Program Review Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites. 2

Part-time Sequence

Part-time status is 11 credit hours or less.

Term 1

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 1
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
BIO160 Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology SQ 4
ENG101 or
ENG107		 First-Year Composition or First-Year Composition for ESL FYC or FYC 3
MAT114 College Algebra Prep 4
MAS200 Medical Conversions and Calculations for Medical Assisting 2

Term 2

A sequence of suggested courses that should be taken during Term 2
Course Number Course Name Requisites Notes Area Credits
CRE101 College Critical Reading and Critical Thinking OR Equivalent as indicated by assessment (0) L 0–3
MAS201 Fundamentals of Clinical Medical Assisting 6
MAS202 Laboratory Testing in Ambulatory Healthcare Settings Critical course Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites.
Students must pass all lab competencies and the clinical final exam with a minimum of 85% to pass the course. (MAERB Policy 215) 		6
MAS203 Medical Assisting Pharmacology Critical course Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites.

Students must pass all dosage calculation tests and the clinical final exam with a 100% to pass the course. 		6
MAS204 Clinical Medical Assisting Practicum Critical course Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites.

All health and safety documents must remain current and in good standing, especially TB screening and CPR BLS provider, throughout the MAS204 Practicum. 		4
MAS205 Medical Assisting Program Review Courses are scheduled in order of Prerequisites. 2
Course Area Key

Gateway Course = Generally the first major-specific course in a pathway.

Critical Course = A course that is highly predictive of future success in a pathway.

  • FYC = First Year Composition
  • L = Literacy & Critical Inquiry
  • SQ = Natural Sciences Quantitative
Disclaimer

Students must earn a grade of C or better for all courses required within the program.

Course Sequence total credits may differ from the program information located on the MCCCD curriculum website due to program and system design.

View MCCCD’s official curriculum documentation for additional details regarding the requirements of this award (https://aztransmac2.asu.edu/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MCCCD.woa/wa/freeForm11?id=181580).

At Maricopa, we strive to provide you with accurate and current information about our degree and certificate offerings. Due to the dynamic nature of the curriculum process, course and program information is subject to change. As a result, the course list associated with this degree or certificate on this site does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If you are interested in pursuing this degree or certificate, we encourage you to meet with an advisor to discuss the requirements at your college for the appropriate catalog year.