A Medical Assistant performs administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by a physician.
The Medical Assistant Program is a 12-month certificate program that offers college credit. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to make application to take the certification exam with American Medical Technologist to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).
Application Process
Interested individuals should attend a Health Professions Orientation as the first step in the application process. The initial meeting will determine applicant options and set a time line for completing acceptance requirements. The program begins each fall with class selection made by July 15. All applicants must have fulfilled admissions criteria by the class selection date.
Admission Criteria
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Applicant must attend a Howard College Health Professions Orientation.
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Be accepted to attend Howard College.
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A physical examination (must be completed after acceptance into program and prior to first day of class).
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Applicant must provide proof of immunizations required by the Texas Health Department, Rule 97.64. Additional immunizations may be required by some clinical facilities.
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Successful clearance of criminal background investigation.
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An application to the Medical Assistant program must be submitted to the Howard College Health Professions Division by June 1.
- Prior to the start of clinical rotation, the student must clear a drug screening.
Preparation for Admission
This program is TSI exempt and there are no prerequisites. Students may take any non-MDCA course prior to acceptance to the program.
Progress Standards
In order to progress from one term to another, students must earn a letter grade of “C” or better in all required courses. Students who do not make this progress may reapply for the next cycle of the program but will be considered as new applicants and will be subject to the current curriculum and application process. Students who do not successfully complete a course must repeat that course. In addition, for any co-requisite classes associated with that class, the student must take the final examination and pass with a 70 or higher in order to not have to repeat the co-requisite.
If a 70 is not obtained, the student will be required to audit the co-requisite class to ensure he/she maintains knowledge and skills necessary for future success. Students may not attempt the program more than twice.
THE PRECEDING CRITERIA DO NOT ACT AS SUBSTITUTE TO ANY HOWARD COLLEGE ADMISSION POLICY-PROGRESS STANDARDS
Expense in Addition to Tuition, Texts, and Fees/Uniforms and Supplies
Students must purchase appropriate uniforms necessary for participation in clinical activities. Uniform consists of approved scrubs, lab coat, shoes, watch with a second hand, and a stethoscope. Cost of uniforms varies dependent upon style, size, and quality of the items.
Clinical
Clinical experiences provide detailed education, training, and work-based experience in direct patient/client care at a clinical site. All clinical experiences are unpaid external learning experiences that are required for program completion. Students may not be substituted for staff personnel while performing clinical program requirements. Students and faculty provided by Howard College are not and will not be acting as servant agents or employees of a medical facility during program clinical rotation.
Health Insurance
Students enrolled in the Medical Assistant Program are required to purchase health insurance prior to the beginning of clinical experiences and to maintain such insurance for the duration of their enrollment.
Gainful Employment
The US Department of Education requires colleges to disclose a variety of information for any financial aid eligible program that “prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.” Howard College is committed to creating an educated workforce by offering occupational programs that lead to gainful employment.
Gainful Employment Information for Medical Assistant, Certificate Level I
