Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. Employers are seeking medical assistants because they are the only allied health professional trained to perform both administrative and clinical duties. Most medical assistants work full-time with benefits. Medical assistants usually work weekdays during normal business hours when physician's offices are open to see patients.

The Medical Assistant Program at Iowa Central Community College prepares students with theory and entry-level competence in the performance of administrative and clinical duties. The diploma program includes two semesters of theory and lab, followed by a 30-day summer practicum. The program begins in the fall and concludes in the summer. Students must earn a passing grade (as outlined in individual course syllabi) in all Medical Assistant curriculum courses and meet the prerequisites to progress in the program. Students may opt to continue their education to obtain an AAS degree in Medical Assisting, completing an addition 13 credit hours of required coursework and 6 credit hours of elective coursework beyond the diploma requirements.

After successful completion of the medical assistant diploma program, students are eligible to take a national certification exam. After qualifying for and passing the exam, graduates can work as certified medical assistants (CMA, AAMA) in the following states: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,  Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Scholarship Opportunities

• Iowa Central general, foundation, and external scholarship opportunities
• Maxine Williams Scholarship Fund
• Medical Assistant Program Scholarships (The Program Coordinator selects six students during spring semester to receive $500 for the upcoming academic year).
• Last-Dollar Scholarship is an award that covers the remaining tuition and institution-wide mandatory fees after non-repayable state and federal financial aid are applied. The Last-Dollar Scholarship focuses on increasing opportunities for more Iowans to acquire the skills to fill high-demand jobs and meet workforce needs, so it is not based on income but you must fill out a FAFSA to be eligible. This scholarship is available for any student who wants to earn a post-secondary credential, up to an associate degree, that leads to a job designated as high-demand by the Iowa Workforce Development Board. The Medical Assistant Program qualities for this award!: https://www.iowacentral.edu/last_dollar

Course Schedule

More Information

Iowa Community colleges have developed the following Core Performance Standards for all applicants to Health Care Career Programs.  These standards are based upon required abilities that are compatible with effective performance in health care careers.  Applicants unable to meet the Core Performance Standards are responsible for discussing the possibility of reasonable accommodations with the designated institutional office.  To view the full Iowa Core Performance Standards, click here.

Accreditation

Based on the Annual Report, the Iowa Central Medical Assistant Diploma Program has exceeded all Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) established thresholds for outcome assessment in medical assisting programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) for enrollment, retention, graduation; graduate and employer satisfaction; job placement; and credentialing exam outcomes during the most recent reporting time-frame. 

• The medical assisting program at Iowa Central Community College had a retention rate of 85% for the admission cohort(s) that entered in 2017, and there are a number of support services available to students so that they can successfully complete the program.

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org

Based on the most recently submitted MAERB Annual Report, the Iowa Central Community College Medical Assistant Program has exceeded all Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) established thresholds for outcome assessment in medical assisting programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). 90% of students who enrolled in the program during 2018 were retained and graduated from the program!

Potential Careers

• Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities such as medical offices and clinics
• Medical assistants can choose to work in either in primary care or medical specialties such as obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, dermatology, urgent care, general surgery, internal medicine, nephrology, cardiology, neurology, occupational medicine, and others
• Additional potential job opportunities include working at blood donation centers as phlebotomists, assisting with insurance physicals, and health coaching