Pathways

Associate Degree

Mid's Medical Assistant Associate Degree pathway prepares you to effectively perform the wide-range of tasks often assigned to medical assistants. This pathway takes approximately 6 semesters and includes 64 credit hours covering topics such as medical terminology, insurance billing, pharmacology, laboratory procedures, and more.

Training Credential

Mid's Medical Assistant Training Credential pathway includes 39 credits and takes approximately 2 semesters to complete. Key medical assisting topics are covered and this pathway allows you to enter the workforce more quickly and then return to ladder your learning and your skills toward completing the MA associate degree.

Industry-Recognized Certifications

You may be wondering how employers will know what skills you've mastered by completing your degree at Mid. To highlight these skills, Mid has partnered with a variety of organizations to award industry-recognized skill certifications. Industry-recognized certifications provide a return on your education investment by demonstrating the skills you've developed to employers and increasing your employment potential.

MA Industry-Recognized Certifications

MA students at Mid sit for the CMA (AAMA) exam in the Medical Assistant capstone course. The CMA (AAMA)® exam is the only medical assisting exam administered the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and that uses the National Board of Medical Examiners to oversee the exam. The CMA (AAMA) is internationally accredited by the International Accreditation Service and Nationally by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies.

This certification demonstrates to employers that medical assistant graduates have been educated and tested in a wide scope of general, clinical, and administrative responsibilities. And employers rely on the AAMA to verify certification status of current and potential employees. CMA (AAMA) certification holders must complete re-certification every 60 months.

Why Choose Mid?

• Mid's MA faculty are experienced in medical assisting and strive to produce medical assistant graduates who perform at high levels and stand out from the rest!
• Small cohorts of students begin the program each Fall to ensure that students receive individual attention from instructors.
• Students gain hands-on, real-world experience through work in local laboratories or medical offices. These experiences include a venipuncture workshop and 160-hour externship, which includes 80 hours of administrative and 80 hours of clinical skill building.
• Mid’s MA Program was just awarded re-accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
• Mid Michigan College’s MA associate degree and training credential are well known for producing multi-skilled, high quality graduates.
• Local medical professionals request and reserve employment opportunities for Mid’s MA students months before they are placed in their externships, and often contact the MA Program Director when they are searching for quality employees.
• 91% of MA Program graduates are employed.

Career Outlook

WHAT IS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT?

Medical Assistants are health care professionals who are cross-trained to perform both administrative and clinical duties. They work alongside physicians in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics, in long-term care facilities like nursing homes, in hospital emergency rooms and in insurance billing organizations. Medical Assistants are patient liaisons who are instrumental in helping patients feel at ease in the physician’s office and who often explain the physician's instructions in details the patients can understand. Medical Assistants perform:

Administrative duties which may include, but are not limited to:

• Using computer applications; Answering telephones; Greeting patients; Updating and filing patient medical records or entering patient information in the Electronic Medical Record; Coding and filling out insurance forms for reimbursement; Scheduling appointments; Arranging for hospital admissions, specialty and surgical referrals, laboratory and x-ray services, etc.; Handling correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping; Employee payroll

Clinical duties which may include, but are not limited to:

• Taking medical histories; Explaining treatment procedures to patients; Preparing patients for examination; Assisting the physician during examinations; 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; Authorizing prescription refills as directed; Drawing blood; Taking electrocardiograms; Removing sutures and changing dressings

Median Pay $16.16/hour | $33,610/year | 23% Growth

Data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and valid 2018 through 2028.

Research Careers

O*NET OnLine has detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers, workforce development, HR professionals, students, researchers, and more!

Summary Report for Medical Assistants

Research Health Science Careers