Medical Assistant Program

The Medical Assistant program at NIACC is designed to prepare men and women for an exciting career in the medical field. The program prepares students to function as members of the health care delivery team and perform administrative and clinical procedures.

Administrative duties include:

scheduling and receiving patients
preparing and maintaining medical records
performing basic secretarial skills and medical transcription
handling telephone calls
writing correspondence
serving as liaison between the physician and other individuals
managing practice finances

Clinical duties include:

asepsis and infection control
taking patient histories and vital signs
performing first aid and CPR
preparing patients for procedures
assisting the physician with examinations and treatments
collecting and processing specimens
performing selected diagnostic tests
preparing and administering medications as directed by the physician

97% of available NIACC graduates are employed in training-related jobs.
(2006 NIACC Career Graduate Report)

Employment is projected to grow much faster than average, ranking medical assistants among the fastest growing occupations over the 2006-16 decade.

Entrance Requirements:
High school graduation or the equivalent is necessary for entrance into the program. Students are encouraged to meet with the counselor prior to program enrollment to arrange for assessment in keyboarding, reading, writing, and math to determine if additional course work is required to promote success. A physical examination providing evidence of current immunization and sound physical and mental health is also required prior to Clinical Procedures I.

NOTE: A physical examination providing evidence of current immunization and sound physical and mental health is also required prior to Clinical Procedures I. Criminal background checks and adult/dependent abuse checks will be required. Drug testing may also be required by individual agencies. Results of these checks will be used by contracted clinical facilities to determine clinical eligibility. Costs for requirements will be the responsibility of the student.

Beginning with the January 2001 administration of the Certification Examination, a student with a felony record may not be eligible for Certification Examination unless the Curriculum Board grants a waiver based on one or more of the mitigating circumstances listed in the Disciplinary Standards. The student can verify certification eligibility by contacting the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants), 20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606-2903.

Suggested Schedule:
A night class sequencing is also available for this program if numbers are sufficient. If the program is being extended beyond a one-year period, it is required that Clinical Procedures I and II be taking during the final year of the course of study.

First Term
BCA-129	Word Processing	2 s.h.
BUS-121	Business Communication	3 s.h.
HSC-120	Medical TerminologyI	3 s.h.
MAP-353	Clinical Procedures	I 4 s.h.
HSC-150	Body Structure and Function OR
	Anatomy and Physiology I and II	4 s.h.
	Total	16 s.h.

Second Term
ACC-111	Introduction to Accounting	3 s.h.
ADM-131	Electronic Calculators	1 s.h.
BUS-160	Human Relations	3 s.h.
HIT-210	Basic Medical Insurance and Coding	2 s.h.
ADM-215*	Medical Office Procedures	3 s.h.
MAP-358	Clinical Procedures II	5 s.h.
SDV-135	Employment Strategies	1 s.h.
	Total	18 s.h.

Summer Term (only 8 weeks)
MAP-616	Medical Assistant Externship	6 s.h.

* Prerequisites: BCA-129, Word Processing and BUS-121, Business Communication

For more information on the Medical Assistant program at NIACC, e-mail Donna Orton at North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401 (1-888-GO NIACC)

Health Division

North Iowa Area Community College, 500 College Drive, Mason City, IA 50401
641-423-1264 or 1-888-GO NIACC
www.niacc.edu