Medical Assistant/CCMA Certificate (0018)

You will be prepared to enter the workforce as a Medical Assistant within

• physicians’ offices
• hospitals
• outpatient clinics
• other healthcare facilities. 

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Our Medical Assistant certificate prepares you to enter the workforce as Medical Assistant and sit fo the National Healthcare Association’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification exam, an industry-recognized certification. (Exam cost is included in tuition.) 

This certificate includes 336 hours of classroom/lab instruction and concludes with a 160-hour, unpaid clinical/externship experience. .

Our part-time, evening program can be completed in approximately eight months (depending upon clinical site availability) attending class four evenings a week, the full-time, day program can be completed in approximately five months attending classes four-days a week.

Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

• Define, correctly spell, pronounce and use medical terminology as it relates to anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology and diagnostic testing
• Describe the functions of the principle body systems including anatomy and physiology
• Review the concepts, etiology, symptoms and treatments of most common disorders and diseases
• State the essential qualifications of a successful Medical Assistant in the Ambulatory Care Setting, including professionalism, communication, healthcare law and ethics, cultural diversity and safety in the workplace
• Demonstrate competency to perform contemporary office medical laboratory services, including venipuncture and basic specimen interpretation
• Identify medication classifications, drug actions and interactions, administration of medication principles and competencies and measurement and dosage calculations
• Define necessary clinical procedures for the Ambulatory Care Setting and perform and pass competencies related to skills such as vital signs, performance of an EKG, assisting in minor office surgery, patient interview, preparation and assistance during an examination, wound care, emergencies in the office and leadership
• Describe the importance of effective revenue cycle management, assign CPT and ICD-10 codes per official guidelines and the explanation of their purpose for reimbursement
• Perform administrative duties related to scheduling, billing, coding, finance practice, healthcare information management and leadership
• Participate in an externship to define the role of the medical assistant in a real world clinical setting, complete and pass competencies, shadow an experienced Medical Assistant in the Ambulatory Care Setting and work closely with a preceptor to improve and refine skills

• View summaries of our noncredit courses at HACC by browsing our schedule.

• Review our program guide (pdf) to view a list of required courses, recommended course sequencing and program competencies.

This certificate is designed to lead you directly into the workforce.  However, once you are certified and working in the healthcare field as a Medical Assistant, you may then continue your education by enrolling into HACC’s Health Science Associate in Applied Science degree in which you can be awarded up to 30 credits towards this 61-credit program.

For your convenience, you can complete the entire course at our Harrisburg, Lancaster and York campuses through various modalities (e.g., on-campus/in-person instruction, hybrid, synchronous remote instruction and/or aysnchronous instruction). Classes are held in both a full-time day and an evening format.

Yes! We offer many scholarships through the HACC Foundation. Each scholarship has specific eligibility requirements. To learn how to apply, please visit hacc.edu/Scholarships.

You can complete spring, summer and fall classes at HACC. Please use the information listed in the "How Can I Learn More" section to contact us to learn start dates and enrollment deadlines.

Future students, we are excited to connect with you and answer your questions. Please choose the option that works best for you to meet with us.

Current HACC students, please contact our Advising Department with any questions.