Medical Assisting, A.A.S.

The Medical Assisting program at Erie Community College offers a comprehensive curriculum to equip students with administrative and clinical skills essential for roles in health care settings.

Key Skills Taught:
- Administrative tasks such as managing medical records and insurance forms
- Clinical duties including recording vital signs and preparing patients for examinations
- Laboratory work involving specimen collection and preparation
- Front desk responsibilities like answering calls, scheduling appointments, and billing

Program Features:
- Curriculum covers anatomy/physiology, clinical microbiology, psychology, and medical terminology
- Includes a 160-hour supervised practicum in a physician's office for practical experience
- Prepares students for the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) certification exam

Admission Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Minimum 85% grade in high school biology or equivalent course
- College GPA of 2.5
- Completion of developmental English and math courses

Graduation Requirements:
- Completion of all Medical Assisting courses within four years
- Overall GPA of 2.0 with a minimum grade of "C" in Medical Assisting courses

Program Competencies:
- Graduates will demonstrate proficiency in administrative and clinical tasks
- Competencies include appointment scheduling, patient education, laboratory techniques, and professional conduct standards

Program Effectiveness:
- Graduates can take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) AAMA certification exam
- Aims for a >60% pass rate on the CMA exam as per the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).