Medical Assisting Advanced Overview (2314)
See the Addenda section of the catalog for action based on curriculum minutes dated April 25, 2024
Type of Award
AS - Associate in Science
Program Website
www.palmbeachstate.edu/career-pathways/pathway-health/default.aspx
Program Description
Medical assistants are multiskilled 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. It requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills, gained through both formal education and practical experience, that serve as standards for entry into the profession.
This Associate in Science degree prepares students for employment as vital members of a physician's health care team. This program is taught in a medical office-like setting, allowing students to learn the necessary skills to work in both the administrative and clinical areas of a physician's practice, as well as outpatient clinics, ambulatory surgery centers, medical and diagnostic laboratories, kidney dialysis centers and offices of other health care practitioners.
Coursework for the Medical Assisting Advanced A.S. degree 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 Learning Outcomes
For detailed information, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/learningoutcomes/Program-Learning-Outcomes
General Admission Requirements to the College
- Complete an Application for Admission, located at www.palmbeachstate.edu/admissions/Admissions-Applications.
- 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.
- Submit placement test scores if not exempt from placement testing. To determine if you are exempt, go to www.palmbeachstate.edu/advising/Placement-Testing.
- Complete all other requirements for admission outlined in the Admission Procedures section of the college catalog.
Admission Requirements for Medical Assisting Advanced
Completion Requirements
Students must successfully complete all courses listed in the catalog for this program with a grade of "C" or higher.
For more details about graduation requirements please refer to the Graduation section of this catalog.
Program Length
2 years
Location
The program is offered at Loxahatchee Groves campus.
For More Information
Penny Knight, Program Director, mintsp@palmbeachstate.edu, (561) 868-3165
Employment Opportunities
The Medical Assisting Advanced Associate in Science degree will provide students with the skills and knowledge to perform both administrative and clinical duties in ambulatory care settings. Students can work in physician practices, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care centers, rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, and more.
Career Path Notes
Upon program completion, students may take a national certification in medical assisting such as the Certified Medical Assistant, CMA (AAMA); the Registered Medical Assistant, RMA (AMT); or the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, CCMA (NHA). They can also take the certification exam for Phlebotomy Technician, CPT (NHA).
Courses from this program may transfer into Palm Beach State's Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Supervision and Management. For more information, visit: www.palmbeachstate.edu/bachelors/
In addition, courses from this program may transfer to other colleges and universities that allow students to transfer into a four-year program. For more information, contact the college or university to which you wish to transfer.
Career Center
www.palmbeachstate.edu/Career
For more information about employment opportunities, including job outlook and salary information, visit: Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/ooh
O-Net Online: www.onetonline.org
Required courses:
Required Courses (Credits: 42)
CGS1100 | Microcomputer Applications (AA) | 3 Credits |
MEA1007 | Introduction to Medical Assisting (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA 1021C | Diseases, Disorders and Treatments 1 (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA1250C | Diseases, Disorders and Treatments 2 (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA1304 | Introduction to Medical Office Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA1355 | Physician Reimbursement and Revenue (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA 2246C | Pharmacology for Medical Assistants (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2090 | Leadership for the Medical Assistants (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2248C | Basic Lab and Phlebotomy (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA 2252C | Diagnostic Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2305 | Advanced Medical Office Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2803C | Externship for Medical Assisting (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2939 | Seminar in Medical Assisting (AS) | 3 Credits |
HSC2531 | Medical Terminology (AA) | 3 Credits |
General Education (Credits: 23)
BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
ENC1101 | English Composition 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 Credits |
AMH2020 | United States History Since 1877 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
POS1041 | Introduction to American Government (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
AMH2010 | United States History to1877 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Choose Any Humanities Area ll, Tier 1 course | 3 Credits |
| Choose Any Mathematics Area lll, Tier 1 course | 3 Credits |
Total Credit Hours: 65
Course Sequence
Term One - Fall (Year One) (Credits: 16)
BSC2085 | Anatomy and Physiology 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
BSC2085L | Anatomy and Physiology 1 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
ENC1101 | English Composition 1 (AA) | 3 Credits |
HSC2531 | Medical Terminology (AA) | 3 Credits |
MEA1007 | Introduction to Medical Assisting (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA1304 | Introduction to Medical Office Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term Four - Spring (Year Two) (Credits: 15)
CGS1100 | Microcomputer Applications (AA) | 3 Credits |
MEA2090 | Leadership for the Medical Assistants (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2803C | Externship for Medical Assisting (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2939 | Seminar in Medical Assisting (AS) | 3 Credits |
SPC1017 | Fundamentals of Speech Communication (AA) | 3 Credits |
Term Three - Fall (Year Two) (Credits: 18)
| Choose Any Humanities Area ll, Tier 1 course | 3 Credits |
| Choose Any Mathematics Area lll, Tier 1 course | 3 Credits |
MEA1250C | Diseases, Disorders and Treatments 2 (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2305 | Advanced Medical Office Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA 2246C | Pharmacology for Medical Assistants (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA 2252C | Diagnostic Procedures (AS) | 3 Credits |
Term Two - Spring (Year One) (Credits: 16)
BSC2086 | Anatomy and Physiology 2 (AA) | 3 Credits |
BSC2086L | Anatomy and Physiology 2 Lab (AA) | 1 Credit |
MEA 1021C | Diseases, Disorders and Treatments 1 (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA1355 | Physician Reimbursement and Revenue (AS) | 3 Credits |
MEA2248C | Basic Lab and Phlebotomy (AS) | 3 Credits |
AMH2020 | United States History Since 1877 (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
POS1041 | Introduction to American Government (AA) | 3 Credits |
| Or | |
AMH2010 | United States History to1877 (AA) | 3 Credits |
Total Credit Hours: 65