Skip to main content

Palm Beach State College

College Catalog 2019-2020

Palm Beach State College
Search Courses
print

Medical Assisting PSAV



Medical Assisting  (5236) LIMITED ACCESS

Type of Award
PSAV - Post Secondary Adult Vocational Certificate

Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/programs/MedicalAssistant

Program Description
Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public's health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

This PSAV program prepares students for employment as vital members of a physician's health care team. This program is taught in an office-like setting, allowing students to learn the necessary skills to work in both the administrative and clinical settings of a physician's office, outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, kidney dialysis centers and offices of other health care practitioners.

Coursework for the Medical Assisting program covers anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pathophysiology, basic accounting, insurance processing and electronic health records. Students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, medication administration and first aid. Coursework also includes practice with such skills as insurance coding and billing, posting charges, basic bookkeeping, front office reception, patient assessment, assisting with examinations, giving injections, phlebotomy, taking vital signs, doing electrocardiography and much more.

Program Accreditation
The Palm Beach State College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (http://www.caahep.org/) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158 Clearwater, Fl 33763, telephone 727-210-2350.

Program Learning Outcomes
For detailed information, visit www.palmbeachstate.edu/learningoutcomes/Program-Learning-Outcomes.

General Admission Requirements to the College

  • Submit an official high school or GED transcript and official college/university transcripts from each post-secondary institution attended. Refer to the Admission Procedures section of the college catalog for more information regarding transcripts.

 

Admission Requirements for Medical Assisting
In addition to the General Admission requirements, student must meet the following eligibility criteria to be considered for selection to the program. (Meeting admission criteria does not guarantee acceptance into the program).

  • Attend a mandatory Medical Assisting information session; dates located on program website.
  • Submit a completed Limited Access Medical Assisting program application, located on the program website, by the deadline date.

Completion Requirements
Students must successfully complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program. Students must pass with the following minimum TABE scores prior to completion of the third sequence of the program: Reading: 10; English: 10; Mathematics: 10 or qualify for TABE exemption.

Program Length
1,300 hours, or approximately 13 months. Medical Assisting is a daytime program only.

Location
The program is offered at the Lake Worth campus.

For More Information
Barbara Kalfin, Program Director, kalfinb@PalmBeachState.edu, (561) 868-3562
or
Cathy Lombard, Health Science Advisor, lombardc@PalmBeachState.edu, (561) 868-3949

Employment Opportunities
Upon completion of this program, you may seek employment as a medical assistant in a physician's office, hospital, outpatient clinic, chiropractics, pediatrics, emergency 24 hr care, private and public educational agencies, alternative ambulatory health care services, state and local government agencies, referral and diagnostics labs, and other specializations.

Gainful Employment
For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other related information, see www.palmbeachstate.edu/areasofstudy/GainfulEmployment.

Career Path Notes
Upon program completion, students must sit for the American Association of Medical Assisting (AAMA) national certification exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant, CMA (AAMA). Employers are making hiring decisions based on proof that a candidate for a medical assistant position is certified.

Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities including job outlook and salary information visit:
Occupational Outlook Handbook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/
O-Net Online: http://online.onetcenter.org/