Medical Assistant

Degree Types
Certificate
Mode of Study
Hybrid, On Campus

Tuition-Free Medical Assistant Vocational Program

The Medical Assistant Program is geared toward the adult learner who desires vocational training in a clinical setting. In the first part of the student’s program they will learn Microsoft Windows as well as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Students will also take the Internet & Computing Core (IC3) test in Key Applications. 

In the Medical Assisting course students learn to work in a medical office and clinical setting assisting physicians with patients and maintaining the office. In the administrative side of the course, students will learn medical terminology, administrative office procedures, the computer program Medisoft, and Electronic Health Records (EHR). In the clinical side, students will learn vital signs, medications, clinical office procedures, laboratory procedures, injections and EKGs.

Our medical assisting program prepares the students for today’s medical office workplace. Our students are very versatile gaining training in both back and front office skills. Students will gain computer skills, record keeping skills, medical terminology and electronic health records. The clinical side of the course includes training in vital signs, medications, clinical office procedure, laboratory procedures, injection and EKGs. At the end of the course students gain practical experience during their internship working in a medical facility.

Students will also take a one day Blood-borne Pathogens course. It is a National Safety Council instructor led certification course that helps to safeguard employees who face potential occupational exposure to blood or other potentially infectious materials and what to do if an exposure occurs. 

Students will have the opportunity to gain work experience through an externship. Completion of the Medical Assistant Program prepares the student for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CCMA), the Medical Administrative Assistant Certification (CMAA), and the Electronic Health Records Specialist Certification (CEHRS). Students are also eligible to take the California Certified Medical Assistant Exam (CCMA).

Students must be 18 years or older to enroll.

Certifications Available:

National Health career Association (NHA)
Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)
Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

Contact us for more information

Locations

Business Resource Center

630 W. 19th Street, Merced, CA 95340

  • The MA program will take 10 months to complete
  • The first half of the program can be completed either synchronously online or in-person, minus the first two weeks will be mandatory in-person
  • The second half of the program will be completely in-person
Email us for more information

Los Banos Campus

22240 Highway 152, Los Banos, CA 93635 

  • The MA program will take 10 months to complete
  • The entire program has a mix of in-person and synchronous modalities

Orientation

Obligation-free, but mandatory. Orientation sessions are in person or via Zoom on Tuesdays at 10:00 AM

  • At Merced College Business Resource Center on 630 W 19th St. Merced, CA 95341 in room-206
  • Join via Zoom or use the Meeting ID: 862 5073 2036

During orientation, you will receive information on how the program works, the courses that you will take, and how to enroll.
There is no child care provided for the in-person orientation sessions for the MA program.

Required Coursework:

Course # Course Name
BUSN-756 OFFICE OCCUPATIONS
MED-717 MEDICAL ASSISTING
EDU-112C BLOOD-BORNE PATHOGENS

Merced Full-time Instructors

BRC Adjunct Faculty & Training Assistants
Chris Carroll
Andrea Lawrence
Jan Vitato
Kim Mattos
Los Banos Adjunct Faculty
Ana Sanchez Urzua
Marilelle Valdez
Raj Mehat
Christina Chacon