Medical Assisting Certificate

Program Code:

Degree:

Certificate

This program may be completed at QCC at the Healthcare and Workforce Development Center in downtown Worcester.
This program will require students to travel to clinical sites within the Worcester County area.

Connections:

Credits from this certificate can be applied to the following associate degree(s):

Medical Support Specialist - Medical Assisting Option

Program Contact Email:

medicalsupport@qcc.mass.edu

Additional Information

Goals

Program Goals:

The goal of the Medical Assisting Certificate is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

Demonstrate proficiency in performing entry-level clinical and administrative procedures of the medical assistant profession.
Work under the direction of a physician in an ethical, legal, and safe manner.
Achieve employment as an entry-level medical assistant.
Demonstrate appropriate critical thinking skills, including written, verbal, and non-verbal communication.
Work effectively as part of a team.
Recognize the importance of continued professional development.
Apply principles of teaching and learning into the delivery of care to patients and families.

Classes

Curriculum:

Course Title	Course #	Semester Offered	Credits	Prerequisites
Semester 1 (Summer) Apply and get accepted to this program (Program Code: ME). This program does not have a waitlist. Contact QCC Career Services (www.QCC.edu/APexams) to receive credit for High School (HS) Advanced Placement (AP) Exams. QCC School Code: 3714. Complete ALH 102 with a grade of “C” or higher. Complete ENG 101; or AP English/Language and Composition, with AP Exam grade of “3” or higher, to count as ENG 101. Complete PSY 101; or AP Psychology, with AP Exam grade of “3” or higher, to count as PSY 101.
Introduction to Medical Terminology	ALH 102	F/S/SU	3	Placement into college level English
Composition I	ENG 101	F/S/SU	3	Placement into college level English
Introduction to Psychology	PSY 101	F/S/SU	3	Placement into college level English
		Total	9
Semester 2 (Fall) Register as soon as possible each semester for all Medical Assisting courses, which are first come, first served and fill before most courses. Meet with a QCC Career Services Representative and attend Workshops. See www.QCC.edu/career-services. Complete ALH 107, ALH 151, and MSS 151 with grades of “C” or higher.
Medical Coding and Billing	ALH 107	F/S	3	ALH 102, Placement into college level English
Medical Office Administration I	ALH 151	F/S	3	ALH 102, ENG 101, PSY 101
Pre Cooperative Education Seminar	CPS 298	F/S	0
Clinical Procedures I	MSS 151	F/S	4	ALH 102, ENG 101, PSY 101
		Total	10
Semester 3 (Spring) Complete ALH 152, MSS 251, and MSS 252 with grades of “C” or higher. Submit an Intent to Graduate Form, located on The Q.
Medical Office Administration II	ALH 152	F/S	3	ALH 107, ALH 151, CPS 298, MSS 151
Clinical Procedures II	MSS 251	F/S	4	ALH 107, ALH 151, CPS 298, MSS 151
Principles of Pharmacology for Medical Assistants	MSS 252	F/S	3	ALH 107, ALH 151, CPS 298, MSS 151
		Total	10
Semester 4 (Summer) Meet with a Career Services Representative for Job Search Assistance services. Complete MSS 299 with a grade of “C” or higher.
Fieldwork Experience	MSS 299	F/S/SU	4	ALH 152, MSS 251, MSS 252
		Total	4
Total Credits Required:			33

Elective Information

Outcomes

Program Outcomes:
Program outcomes are defined as performance indicators that reflect the extent to which the purposes of the Quinsigamond Community College Medical Assisting program are achieved and by which program effectiveness is documented. Program outcomes are measurable, consumer-oriented indexes designed to evaluate the degree to which the program is achieving its mission and goals. Examples include, but are not limited to, program completion rates, licensure/certification examination pass rates, and job placement rates.

Program Statistics:
Program Completion:

Expected Level of Achievement developed by QCC Medical Assisting Faculty (and reported to MAERB accrediting body) are that 75% of students complete the program.
- 2015 admission cohort: 76.92% have graduated from the Medical Assisting Certificate program
- 2016 admission cohort: 75.00% have graduated from the Medical Assisting Certificate program
- 2017 admission cohort: 92.31% have graduated from the Medical Assisting Certificate program

Medical Assisting Certification Passing Rate:

Expected Level of Achievement developed by QCC Medical Assisting Faculty (and reported to MAERB accrediting body) are that 75% of test takers will successfully complete one of these exams: CMA (AAMA), RMA (AMT), NCMA (NCCT), CCMA (NHA), or CMAC (AMCA).
- 2015 admission cohort: 80% have passed at least one exam
- 2016 admission cohort: 100% have passed at least one exam
- 2017 admission cohort: 100% have passed at least one exam

Graduates Obtaining Jobs:

Expected Level of Achievement developed by QCC Medical Assisting Faculty (and reported to MAREB accrediting body) are that 75% of graduates seeking employment are employed within one year of graduation.
- 2015 admission cohort: 70% of graduates have obtained employment
- 2016 admission cohort: 100% of graduates have obtained employment
- 2017 admission cohort: 40% of graduates have obtained employment

Cost & Requirements

Program Admissions Requirements:

Students should note that some first semester courses carry minimum prerequisites. Refer to the program grid.

High School Diploma or GED/HiSET.
Attendance at a Health Information Session or complete FYE 102 with a grade of “C” or higher.
Must show evidence of being compliant with the immunization requirements specified by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Additional immunization requirements will be required for clinical experiences.
Required TEAS V or TEAS composite score of 45% or higher (cannot be a combination of multiple tests) must be achieved within five years of applying to the program.
- Applicant must obtain composite score of 45% or higher in no more than three attempts within a three-year period.
- Grade of “C” or higher in ENG 101 and PSY 101 will also count as TEAS requirement.

Admissions Process:

Admissions inquiries should be directed to admissions [at] qcc.mass.edu. Prospective students may apply to the program of their choice by following the enrollment steps at www.QCC.edu/enrollment-steps.

Technical Performance Standards:

See the Technical Performance Standards page. (Note: Not all programs have technical performance standards).

Credit for Prior Learning:

Students with certifications or over five years of major-related work experience may be eligible to earn credit for prior learning. To apply students must complete a profile at myexperiencecounts.mass.edu

CORI, SORI, Finger Printing & Drug Testing:

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI), Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI), and National Background checks are required in the program, either annually or every semester. Finger printing and drug testing may be required. Finger printing and drug testing results must meet clinical requirements. An issue with CORI/SORI, National Background, finger printing and/or drug testing could prevent a student from participating in a clinical/field rotation, which could result in dismissal from the program.

Additional Cost:

See the Program Fees page.

Students should anticipate additional expenses for uniforms/clinical wear, textbooks, professional liability insurance, licensing exams, and parking fees at clinical sites.

Additional Information:

Students accepted to the Medical Assisting Certificate must:
- Obtain CPR certification, Healthcare Provider (Red Cross), or BLS for Healthcare Provider (American Heart Association), prior to beginning the fieldwork experience (externship).
- Provide documentation of immunization currency and satisfactory health status, and be cleared by the Health Compliance Officer one month prior to the start of the fieldwork experience.
To be eligible to continue in the Medical Assisting Certificate program, students must:
- Achieve a grade of “C” (73-76) or higher in all medical support specialist (MSS) courses. Students will be given two attempts to pass these courses with a grade of “C” or higher. Students who are unsuccessful after two attempts will be removed from the program and must reapply for admission.
- Achieve a grade of “C” (73-76) or higher in ALH 151, ALH 152, ENG 101, and PSY 101. Students with a grade lower than a “C” will be required to repeat the course and obtain the appropriate grade by the end of the semester in which the course is required as a prerequisite.
- Demonstrate satisfactory performance in the Medical Assisting laboratory and in all clinical settings.
- Satisfy all course and program requirements, including regulations on attendance and conduct, in order to be eligible for student roster verification for credentialing.

Career

Career Outlook:

Please consult the Massachusetts Career Information System at https://masscis.intocareers.org/ or the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/ooh/ for specific occupational information. The CIP code for this program is 51.0801.

Transfer Articulations & Opportunities:

Prospective students may learn more about transfer articulation agreements at www.QCC.edu/agreements. More information regarding transfer opportunities is available at www.QCC.edu/transfer.

The Quinsigamond Community College Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), which can be contacted at: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs | 25400 US Highway 19 North, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763 | 727.210.2350 | www.caahep.org. The Medical Assisting program was last granted continuing accreditation upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Apply for Admission Request Information

Contact QCC Admissions at 508.854.4262 for more information.

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