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About the Program
Healthcare is growing faster than any other industry in America, and as a result the demand for healthcare employees continues to rise. Are you interested in a medical career, but you prefer to work in an office setting? Then you may be the perfect fit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) program.
A CMA performs a variety of clinical and clerical tasks in a health-related setting, such as hospitals, clinics, and doctor’s offices. Clinical duties include taking vitals, collecting specimens, and communicating with physicians. CMAs will perform clerical tasks that include processing insurance forms, scheduling appointments, and registering patients. Overall, CMAs are trained to carry out a wide variety of job duties in an outpatient setting.
SKILLS FOR THE JOB
Students in the CMA program will develop an in-depth knowledge of conceptual, professional, and medical skills. In the classroom, students will use computer software to work extensively with medical records and insurance forms. The program will also have medical equipment and supplies to assist with training for clinical tasks.
As with other medical careers, hands-on training is necessary to properly prepare for a CMA career. While enrolled in the program, students will complete an internship at local hospitals to have an interactive learning experience. Supervised by hospital staff, the student will practice what he or she has learned, working with patients and medical data. The internship experience will enhance the students’ learning as well as career readiness, and internships have the potential to lead to future job opportunities.
CAREER CERTIFICATIONS
Upon completing the program, graduates can sit for the Certified Medical Adminstrative Assistant (CMAA) or Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. If you successfully pass the exam, you will become a Certified Medical Assistant. Graduates can also earn additional certifications that many healthcare organizations value and seek during the hiring process. Through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), graduates can become certified as an EKG Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, and more. With these certificates, a CMA can perform an EKG and draw a patient’s labs in an outpatient setting.
Program graduates will be prepared to enter the ever-growing workforce with several opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for CMAs is expected to grow 23% by 2028, which is much faster than other occupations. The 2019 median salary for CMAs was $33,610.
INTERESTED?
To join the Certified Medical Assistant program, or for more information, please call Frontier Community College at 618-842-3711 or email fccadmissions@iecc.edu.