Dear Prospective Applicant: Thank you for your interest in Cuyahoga Community College s Medical Assisting Program. The pathways to enter the Medical Assisting workforce and meet eligibility requirements for certification include the following options: The Certificate of Proficiency Program: a three-semester program that includes ENG-1010 College Composition I and MATH-1060 Survey of Mathematics or higher level math course, or The two year Associate Degree of Applied Science in Medical Assisting The Medical Assisting program at Tri-C is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and meets all standards established by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). This accreditation enables the student to be eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination (CMA) upon completion of the program. Enclosed you will find responses to frequently asked questions about the program. Please review this information carefully. If you feel you meet or intend to meet the admission requirements, you should send for an application packet by mailing the request form on the bottom of page 3 or by calling the Health Careers Enrollment Center. If you have any questions about the application process, please contact the Health Careers Enrollment Center at (216) 987-4247. Again, thank you for your interest in Cuyahoga Community College and the Health Careers Programs. Please feel free to contact me at 216.987.4439 or by email at Sherry.brewer@tri-c.edu if you have questions about our medical assisting program. Sherry L. Brewer, BS, CMA-AC Medical Assisting Program Manager
FAST FACTS WHAT IS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT? Medical Assistants (MA) are health care professionals who assist the physician performing numerous tasks including typing, routine correspondence, keeping medical records, billing and collecting fees, making appointments. Medical Assistants prepare patients for examinations, take vital signs, perform routine laboratory screening tests, sterilize instruments, order medical and office supplies, perform venipuncture and give injections. WHERE ARE MEDICAL ASSISTANTS EMPLOYED? HOW MUCH DO THEY EARN? Medical Assistants work in a physician/group practice, public health, private or hospital based clinics or other health care facilities where there is a physician in attendance. An entry level medical assistant can expect to earn 23,500 26,000 per year.. HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAM? CAN I COMPLETE THE PROGRAM ON PART-TIME BASIS? Tri-C offers two Medical Assisting Program options: Certificate of Proficiency Program: a two-semester program which includes completion of ENG-1010 College Composition I and MATH-1060 Survey of Mathematics or higher level math course Two Year Associate degree of Applied Science in Medical Assisting The short-term two-semester Certificate option is a full-time, day program starting in the fall semester each year at the Metropolitan Campus and at the Eastern Campus each spring semester. The program is offered as a part time evening program at the Western Campus beginning each fall semester. The Certificate of Proficiency is awarded to students who complete the short term program along with ENG-1010 and MATH-1060 or higher. Courses leading toward the Associate Degree in Medical Assisting may be completed on a part-time basis and are available as day or evening campus courses and distance learning courses. WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENTER THE PROGRAM? Submission of a completed Health Careers Application Submission of official high school transcript or GED Completion of English-1010 English Composition I Typing proficiency of 40 WPM or successful completion of Information Technology course, IT 1000, Keyboarding, with a B grade or better (students who have not taken the IT 1000 or are unable to achieve the 40 WPM requirement should take ITAP-1220 Speed Building) A grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 Submit transcripts from all college/universities Eligibility for MATH 1060 ***IMPORTANT: ENG-1010 and MATH-1060 (or a higher level math course) is required for the Certificate of Proficiency, and Certificate of Proficiency is needed for eligibility for AAMA certification exam.
HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST? The two-semester Medical Assisting Program option costs approximately $3,900 for tuition (check current semester schedule for actual costs per semester credit), textbooks, and miscellaneous supplies. The cost of the Associate Degree of Allied Health in Medical Assisting is approximately $7,800. Students pay only for the credit hours for which they are enrolled each semester. If a student needs remedial courses to meet eligibility, the cost will be higher based on the number of remedial courses needed. Background checks are also required for students entering the program at a cost of $95. Students will also be required to purchase uniforms which vary in cost from $20-$25 each. Liability insurance is also required and is available through the Metro Campus Business Office. Please contact the Business Office at (216)-987-4010 for current costs. IS FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE? Generally yes. Students may qualify for the usual federal or state programs. For more information contact the CCC Financial Aid Department at 800-954-8742. WHEN DOES THE PROGRAM START? WHEN IS THE APPLICATION DEADLINE? Programs start in the fall semester (August) of each school year. Twenty students are admitted to the program each fall. Students that meet and complete the entrance requirements are accepted until the class is filled. Since acceptance is based on submission date of completed application materials, it is recommended that you apply to the program as soon as you have met the entrance requirements. CAN I TRANSFER CREDITS FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY? General education courses taken at any Tri-C campus or other colleges or universities will transfer to the Metropolitan campus. Courses from vocational schools cannot be transferred into Tri-C s Medical Assisting Program. I ALREADY HAVE COLLEGE CREDITS. CAN I COMPLETE ANY OF THE PROGRAM OPTIONS IN A SHORTER PERIOD OF TIME? Due to the sequencing of the technical (MA) courses and practicum experience, it is not possible to complete the award program in less than 2 semesters. However, if many of the Associate Degree requirements have been met, it is possible to complete the two-year Associate Degree Program in less than two years. By transferring in credits, you will reduce your course load each semester. IS THE PROGRAM OFFERED IN THE EVENINGS OR WEEKENDS? The Medical Assisting Program courses are only offered during daytime hours at the Metropolitan and Eastern Campuses, and in the evenings at the Western Campus. In most cases, the student practicum must be performed during daytime hours to coincide with physician and clinic office hours. Several of the program courses such as MA 1020 Medical Terminology I, HIM 1111 Physician Office Coding, HTEC 1610 Introduction to Pharmacology and, HTEC-1110 Ethics for Allied Health are offered as web-based distance learning courses. Students earn a Certificate of Award by completing the English and math requirement along with the two-semester program. Associate Degree courses may be taken on a part-time basis.
CAN MEDICAL ASSISTANTS BECOME CERTIFIED AFTER COMPLETING SHORT-TERM AWARD OPTION? Yes. After successful completion of Tri-C s two-semester Certificate of Proficiency Program students are eligible to take the national certification examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The Cuyahoga Community College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970 Chicago, IL 60601-2208 (312) 553-9355 IF I HAVE A HISTORY OF A FELONY CONVICTION CAN I STILL BE ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM? Maybe, a previous history of a felony will not prevent you from entering or completing Tri-C s Medical Assisting Program. However, it is our responsibility to inform you that a previous felony conviction may prevent you from being eligible to take the Certification Examination given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Please read the AAMA eligibility statement on the last page of this packet. CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECKS Many healthcare facilities have begun to require criminal background checks for their employees. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations Hospital Accreditation Standards Manual requires hospitals to implement "a process to ensure that a person s qualifications are consistent with his/her job responsibilities." This standard "applies to staff, students and volunteers," and it further it states that the hospital is responsible for verifying "the following according to law, regulation or hospital policy: information on criminal background." As such, Cuyahoga Community College students who participate in professional practice experiences in the medical assisting program will be required to undergo a criminal background check prior to placement at a healthcare facility. In addition, the facility may require students to undergo a physical examination (on-site at the facility or by the student's primary care provider) prior to beginning the professional practice experience that may include drug screening. Students will be required to incur costs associated with the criminal background check and/or the drug screening.
Please send me an application packet for the MEDICAL ASSISTING PROGRAM At Cuyahoga Community College NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE: CAMPUS OF INTEREST (circle one): Western Metro Eastern Return to: Health Careers Enrollment Center Cuyahoga Community College 2900 Community College Avenue MHCS 126 Cleveland, Ohio 44115-3196