Campus Location: Calmar, Peosta
Program Entry: Enrollment may occur during any term. Fall term is the start of the program course sequence.
Award: Diploma
Description: Medical Assistants are allied health professionals who perform administrative and clinical functions that support physicians and other health practitioners in a medical office setting. Duties vary depending on the practice and scope of practice in the state. Clinical duties can include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, sterilizing medical equipment, doing blood draws, taking electrocardiograms and preparing patients for x-rays. Administrative functions include patient scheduling, patient registration, performing billing services and purchasing and maintaining supplies. Medical Assistants, if directed by a physician and state law, might instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications, authorize drug refills and telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy.
The goal of the Medical Assistant program is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive, psychomotor and affective learning domains. Upon successful completion of the program, students are eligible to take the national credentialing exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).
The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), www.caahep.org.
Program Admission: In addition to the College enrollment process , applicants must achieve a minimum ACCUPLACER CLASSIC® reading score of 70 or ACCUPLACER NEXT GENERATION® reading score of 250. (ACT® or ACT Compass® scores are also acceptable) and a minimum ALEKS® score of 15.
Academic Requirements: Students enrolled in health occupations programs must complete all required coursework with a “C-” grade or above and earn a minimum 2.0 grade point average to graduate from the program.
Program Requirements: The College has contracted the services of CastleBranch to review and monitor background checks, health records, training requirements and drug testing. Students will submit the following documentation to their website prior to the designated date:
- Background check - includes a nationwide criminal history search and child, dependent adult and sex offender registry checks. Background checks will be evaluated per NICC’s Background Check policy. Practicum participation is dependent on this evaluation.
- Health records - physical and immunizations (MMR, varicella, Hepatitis B, 2 step TB, Tdap and influenza).
- Training - CPR (American Heart Association Health Care Professional BLS or American Red Cross CPR for Healthcare Providers), mandatory reporter of child and dependent adult abuse, HIPAA, and bloodborne pathogens.
- Drug testing - prior to practicum, random, post incident/accident and suspicion. Students are required to be substance free throughout the program.
- Health insurance - students are required to maintain health insurance throughout the program.
In addition to meeting the above listed requirements, students must maintain these requirements throughout the program. Failure to remain compliant will result in denial for practicum participation. Practicum participation is required for program completion.
Students must be aware of the physical demands during the practicum course. Daily activities require bending, stooping, reaching, squatting, pushing and pulling in all directions. You will be asked to lift and carry objects weighing up to a minimum of 35 pounds and also shared weight. Clinical tasks can include repetitive actions, such as simple and firm grasping and fine manipulation and walking, including stair stepping. You may also be in contact with communicable diseases and chemical/bio hazardous materials and odors.
Class Hours: Classes are scheduled at the campus and include lab hours. After completion of required prerequisite coursework, a practicum experience is scheduled in a clinical setting for six weeks/forty hours per week. This is a total of 240 hours unpaid practicum experience.
Minimum Credits: 42
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