Medical Assisting Diploma
About the Diploma
Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied 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.
Well-balanced instruction in business skills and medical procedures enables the graduate to assist the physician in routine practice. The responsibilities of medical assistants vary, depending on whether they work in a clinic, hospital, large group practice or small private office.
Graduates of the program who desire to work in a clinic, hospital, or large group practice are eligible to take the certification exam for Medical Assistants given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) in order to be designated as a Certified Medical Assistant.
Special Admissions Requirements
- PLEASE READ THE “ADMISSIONS OVERVIEW”: MA Admissions Overview
- If you need to take any of the courses requirements listed in the Overview, you can start those now. Visit our Health Science and Nursing Prep page for more information.
- Due to the limited availability of slots in these programs, admission is competitive.
- OCtech seeks to identify students who can achieve at an appropriate level in the curriculum and diversity among its student population.
Health Information Program
Note: To receive an application for this program, you must first complete a Health Information Program (HIP).
VIRTUAL HIP SESSION:
Virtual dates are below. These sessions will be conducted via ZOOM. Please register for the date/time you would like to attend by selecting from the options below. Thank you and we look forward to seeing you!
Tuesday, December 8, 2020 2:00 p.m.Wednesday, December 16, 2020. 10:00 a.m.Monday, January 18, 2021 4:00 p.m.- Tuesday, February 2, 2021 10:00 a.m.
- Wednesday, February 17, 2021 2:30 p.m.
- Monday, February 22, 2021 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, March 9, 2021 10:00 a.m.
- Thursday, March 18, 2021 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 31, 2021 3:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, April 13, 2021 10:00 a.m.
- Thursday, April 22, 2021 10:00 a.m.
- Thursday, April 29, 2021 2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, May 5, 2021 4:00 p.m.
ONLINE HIP SESSION:
Online HIP sessions are also available. Use this link to access session: Online Health Information Program
Degrees Available
Special Requirements
Technology Requirements:
This program requires the use of a laptop computer.
Students may purchase one from the OCtech Bookstore or provide their own device. A laptop may be purchased using financial aid or scholarship funds. Students are also encouraged to purchase a support package, extended warranties and/or accidental coverage for their device.
If you have your own laptop, it must
• have a USB port
• be capable of adding a second browser, such as Chrome, Edge or Firefox
• be capable of downloading a free Office 365 license provided by OCtech
• be capable of playing and recording audio and video
Certifications Available
Graduates of the program are eligible to take the certification exam for medical assistants given by the American Association of Medical Assistants, 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL, 60606; telephone: (312) 899-1500; www.aama-ntl.org.
Career Outlook
Explore medical assisting careers at CareerOneStop.
FAQs & Additional Information
Quick Facts
Accreditation
The Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP, 9355 – 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775; telephone: (727) 210-2350;www.caahep.org.
To review accreditation status, please visit the OCtech Program Accreditation/Approval page.
Program Goals
- To prepare competent entry-level medical assistants who gain employment in the field (80% minimum) by sound preparation in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
- To retain 80% of the students from the beginning of each cohort through to graduation.
- To prepare graduates of the program to be able to sit for a national certifying exam with a minimum pass rate of 70% per cohort.
- For students to acquire the knowledge necessary to perform in the ethical and lawful standards of current medical practice.
Program Outcomes
The total percentage of students retained from the 2017 admission cohort is 77.78%.
This outcome is based on the most recent Annual Report Form submitted to the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Program Coordinator
Chaka McGee
mcgeeck@octech.edu
803.535.1346
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