Make a First Impression That Truly Matters
Medical assistants are the friendly faces you see when you walk into a doctor’s office, doing a bit of everything to keep things running smoothly.
They greet patients with a warm smile, manage appointments, and help with billing, all while also taking vital signs and prepping patients for exams.
This is a job that requires administrative and hands-on skills, exceptional bedside manner, and a heart for patients.
What do medical assistants get in return? Ample job opportunities, and because they commonly work in doctor’s offices, predictable schedules and time off.
Does this sound like the career for you? You’ve come to the right place.
The Program Options
Mode
Online with in-person labs
Prerequisites
High school diploma or GED, completion of the admission process for the Medical Assisting programs
Mode
Online with in-person labs
Prerequisites
High school diploma or GED, completion of the admission process for the Medical Assisting programs
Mode
Online with in-person labs
Prerequisites
High school diploma or GED, completion of the admission process for the Medical Assisting programs.
Mode
Online with in-person labs
Prerequisites
High school diploma or GED, completion of the admission process for the Medical Assisting programs.
Mode
Online/in-person
Prerequisites
Unweighted GPA of 2.8, completion of the admission process for the Medical Assisting programs.
Mode
Online/in-person
Prerequisites
Unweighted GPA of 2.8, completion of the admission process for the Medical Assisting programs.
Accredited
This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
100
The five-year average job placement rate for South Piedmont’s Medical Assisting program is 100 percent (2018-2023).
Certified
Medical Assisting program completers are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam.
Our Grads Stand Apart
There isn’t just one reason that South Piedmont’s Medical Assistant graduates are in high demand by local employers. There are several.
In addition to teaching students the knowledge, skills, and behaviors they’ll need in their future roles, we also emphasize professionalism, effective communication, and Electronic Medical Records and Electronic Medical Health techniques to manage patient information digitally in healthcare settings.
We go above and beyond in our educational delivery, producing grads who are in-demand and indispensable to their future employers.
A Program that Fits Your Life
I love that the Medical Assisting program is made up of online classes with four in-person lab classes, which caters to those who have to work or take care of family while trying to complete their educational journey. I appreciate the program making the online classes just as hands-on as in-person labs with the use of simulated EMR software, role-playing recordings, and weekly Teams meetings with the instructor for guidance.
Kayla Busby, ’19 Medical Assisting graduate, who is now a Medical Assisting faculty member
Medical Assisting FAQ
To apply to the Medical Assisting Program:
- View the Medical Assisting Information Session to learn more about Medical Assisting by clicking on the link below:
MEDICAL ASSISTING INFORMATION SESSION
- Complete the Medical Assisting Application Request form by clicking on the link below.
Medical Assisting Application Request Form You must watch the information session first and complete the quiz afterwards to apply to the program. After completion of the quiz, you will be emailed a Phase II application from healthadmissions@spcc.edu. You must complete this application and return it to healthadmissions@spcc.edu in order to apply for the Medical Assisting program.
The Medical Assisting Diploma Program at South Piedmont Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (www.maerb.org) (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: (727) 210-2350
Fax: (727) 210-2354
www.caahep.org
Graduates of CAAHEP accredited medical assisting programs may be eligible to sit for the American Association of Medical Assistants’ Certification Examination to become Certified Medical Assistants.
American Association of Medical Assisting (AAMA)
Assisting Endowment
20 N. Wacker Dr.
Suite 1575
Chicago, IL 60606
(312) 899-1500
www.aama-ntl.org
Medical assistants are employed in physician offices, urgent care centers, medical clinics, outpatient surgery centers, and ambulatory care centers.
The Medical Assisting program at South Piedmont Community College has a five-year average retention rate of 70% for the years 2018-2023.
The Medical Assisting program at South Piedmont Community College has a five-year average of 100% for job placement for the years 2018-2023.
The five-year average for the exam passage rate for the years 2018-2023 is 60%.
Medical assistants are cross trained to perform administrative and clinical duties. Here are examples of the task you might do in your future job. Your actual tasks will vary depending on the location, size, and specialty of your employer, as well as state law.
Administrative Duties
• Using computer applications
• Answering telephones
• Greeting patients
• Updating and filing patient medical records
• Coding and filling out insurance forms
• Scheduling appointments
• Arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services
• Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping
Clinical Duties
• Taking medical histories
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients
• Preparing patients for examinations
• Assisting the physician during exams
• Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
• Performing basic laboratory tests
• Instructing patients about medication and special diets
• Preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician
• Transmitting prescription refills as directed
• Drawing blood
• Taking electrocardiograms
• Removing sutures and changing dressings
Patient Liaison
Medical assistants are instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office and often explain the physician’s instructions.
PCMH Team Member
Medical assistants are essential members of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team. According to a survey by the Healthcare Intelligence Network, medical assistants ranked as one of the top five professionals necessary to the PCMH team.
As a full-time Medical Assisting diploma student, you should be able to complete the program in two semesters. Courses are scheduled in 8-week sessions. During the final eight weeks of the program, you will complete the clinical practicum experience (MED 260), you will be assigned to a physician’s office, where you will work a full-time schedule for four days each week (Monday-Thursday). There are no weekend or night hours available for completing the clinical practicum hours. Practicum sites are chosen by the practicum coordinator and are based on availability of clinical sites. This practicum assignment is unpaid.
All of our clinical facilities require a state and national criminal background investigation and drug screen of all students before they can be allowed into the clinical areas. The program requires that a background investigation is completed within 60 days of acceptance to the program. Upon admission, you must also complete a medical exam and provide record of immunizations. Current Provider Level CPR certification from the American Heart Association or American Red Cross must be completed within 60 days of the first semester of the program. You are responsible for the costs of each of these. More information on how to complete these requirements will be provided upon acceptance.
Students interested in the Medical Assisting program should consider the following scholarships. Please note that many scholarships are managed by organizations outside of South Piedmont Community College.
• Joan Michaels Memorial Scholarship
• Medical Assisting Certificate Scholarship
• Medical Assisting Degree Scholarship
• Public Health Community Scholarship
• Tylenol Future Care Scholarship
Make the Most of Your Time at South Piedmont
Deepen your education by participating in our Enhanced Learning Opportunities.