Medical assistants are essential healthcare professionals, highly trained to handle both administrative and clinical tasks in various medical settings. Their work significantly impacts public health, demanding a deep understanding of medical knowledge and specialized skills acquired through formal education and hands-on experience. This profession serves as a crucial entry point into the broader healthcare field.
Medical Assisting Student Handbook
Advanced Medical Assisting: An Associate in Science Degree
This Associate in Science (A.S.) degree program is meticulously designed to equip students for successful careers as integral members of a physician’s healthcare team. The program utilizes a realistic medical office setting to provide students with the necessary administrative and clinical skills. Graduates are prepared to excel in diverse environments, including physician’s offices, outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, medical and diagnostic labs, and kidney dialysis centers, alongside other healthcare practices.
Upon completing the program, graduates are eligible to pursue national certifications in medical assisting. These include becoming a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the AAMA, a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) via AMT, or a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from NHA. Furthermore, certification as a Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) through NHA is also attainable.
Credits earned in this program can be transferred towards Palm Beach State’s Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision and Management. Additionally, these credits may be transferable to other institutions, facilitating entry into four-year programs.
Important Notice: While Palm Beach State College currently does not mandate COVID-19 vaccination, it’s crucial to understand that Health Sciences programs must adhere to state and national accreditation requirements, necessitating clinical training in healthcare facilities. These facilities have their own compliance rules regarding immunizations, drug screenings, background checks, and fitness for duty. Non-compliance with these requirements may hinder program completion. For inquiries, please contact Dr. Delsa R. Bush, Risk Management Director, at bushd@palmbeachstate.edu.
Program Cost: Approximately $9,600 (in-state), encompassing books, uniform, and tuition.
Medical Assisting Specialist: College Credit Certificate
This College Credit Certificate (CCC) program focuses on preparing students for essential roles within a healthcare team, specifically in physician’s offices. The curriculum is delivered in a simulated medical office environment, ensuring students gain proficiency in both administrative and clinical skills. This program opens doors to employment in physician practices, outpatient centers, ambulatory surgical centers, diagnostic and medical laboratories, kidney dialysis units, and various other healthcare provider offices.
Graduates are well-prepared to take national certification exams in medical assisting, including CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), and CCMA (NHA). Certification as a Phlebotomy Technician, CPT (NHA), is also an option.
Credits acquired through this certificate program are fully applicable towards the Medical Assisting Advanced Associate in Science degree, providing a stepping stone for further education.
Controlled Access Program Application
Certain programs at Palm Beach State College (PBSC), including Medical Assisting, are classified as controlled access. This means that after general admission to PBSC, a separate program application is required.
Apply to the Medical Assisting Program
Important Program Admission Requirements
Meeting academic criteria is only part of the admission process. Applicants must also pass drug screenings, background checks, and fingerprinting to be fully admitted into the Medical Assisting program. As a health science program, it adheres to all federal and state regulations, as well as clinical facility requirements. Clinical experience is a mandatory component of the program, and specific requirements set by clinical facilities must be met for participation and program completion.
Program Accreditation and Goals
The Medical Assisting Certificate Program at Palm Beach State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), based on the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 – 113th St. N. #7709, Seminole, FL 33775, Ph: 727-210-2350
Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)
2339 N. California Ave, #47138, Chicago, IL 60647
Ph: 312-392-0155
The program’s primary goal is: “To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.”
Palm Beach State College’s Medical Assisting program in Lake Worth, FL, demonstrates strong student success, with a five-year average exam passage rate of 76.47% (2019-2023). Notably, in 2023, 100% of exam takers successfully passed.
In considering a nurse is part of what career pathway therapeutic diagnostic, it’s important to recognize that medical assistants play a vital supporting role within this broader pathway. While nurses are central figures in therapeutic and diagnostic care, medical assistants contribute significantly to the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in these areas, working alongside nurses and other professionals to provide comprehensive patient care. They are indeed part of the larger therapeutic and diagnostic team, making this career pathway a rewarding and impactful choice.
