The Medical Assistant program prepares graduates to work in physicians’ offices where they perform both administrative and clinical skills.
The Bossier Parish Community College Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
727-210-2350
www.caahep.org
Goal
To prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skill), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Learning Outcomes
Recipients of the Technical Diploma in Medical Assistant will be able to demonstrate:
- effective communication in the medical office environments through utilization of active listening, interviewing, instructing, and documenting skills with patients, families, and health care professionals in recognition of diverse cultures;
- utilization of critical thinking to identify, analyze, and problem-solve in the clinical and administrative medical assistant work place;
- application of concepts of anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, medical dosage calculation, laboratory testing, computer skills and other current technologies to perform as a medical assistant;
- the ability to think and act as a professional by using effective time management, organization, provisions for safety and legal/ethical principles; and
- competency in the performance of administrative and clinical skills appropriate to the role of a medical assistant.
This program includes a required clinical component. Persons interested in pursuing this degree should be aware of all information concerning clinical programs described on the Division of Science, Nursing, and Allied Health page.
Specific Requirements:
Students pursuing a Medical Assistant technical diploma or degree must first meet College admission requirements. Students are selected into the Medical Assistant Program upon the successful completion (minimum of “C”) of qualification courses, ALHT 201 or ALHT 203 , and submission of completed program application and signed essential requirement form. BPCC must have received official copies of all transcripts from all colleges attended, prior to being considered for admission to the program.
Program classes are scheduled to begin in the fall and spring of each year. Up to twenty students are selected for each program class. Medical Assistant students are assigned to practicum sites during the spring or fall semester. Practicum training (a minimum of 220 hours) is completed at physicians’ offices and clinics throughout Northwest Louisiana. Prior to graduation, the student must take the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination conducted by the Certifying Board of the AAMA. Successful completion of the practicum experience, completion of CMA (AAMA) certification exam, and required course work leads to the awarding of the Technical Diploma or the Technical Diploma with Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assistant. As of January 2001, felons are not eligible to take the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) Certification/Recertification Examination.
ALHT 203 is offered only during the fall semester and ALHT 201 is offered only during the spring semester. The student should successfully complete ALHT 201 and ALHT 203 during the last 2 semesters of the program. With unsuccessful completion in either one of the above two courses, when the other course has been completed successfully; the student may repeat the unsuccessful course a maximum of one time. The unsuccessful course must be completed the next semester it is offered. The Externship/Practicum must be taken within one year of beginning the second course. The Externship/Practicum is the last program course completed. The student must successfully complete ALHT 209 or MOS 107 with a “C” or higher, either prior to or with the Externship/Practicum.
During ALHT 210 , the student will be assigned to a physician’s office or healthcare setting, generally for eight hours per day, three to five days a week for 8-14 weeks. Credit for experiential learning is not allowed for the following courses: ALHT 201 , ALHT 209 , MOS 107 , ALHT 203 , or ALHT 210 .
Students must submit required information for programs with a clinical component (described earlier in this section) prior to beginning ALHT 210 . Program students are required to pay a clinical fee and a CMA (AAMA) certification fee in addition to regular tuition.
Required Courses for the Technical Diploma in Medical Assistant:
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