Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession. 

Core Performance/Technical Standards for Medical Assisting

Upon completion of this program, students will be able to do the following:

1.  Apply proficient knowledge of medical terminology and human anatomy and physiology to health care procedures.
2.  Examine patient charts and perform clinical duties / procedures essential in patient care
3.  Evaluate patient files and perform administrative duties and information management in health care setting.
4.  Analyze workplace decisions to be able to communicate effectively with patients, physicians, and co-workers.
5.  Develop an awareness of and be able to recognize ethical and legal responsibilities of health care.
6.  To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Cleveland State Community College Program Options:

• Medical Assisting A.A.S. degree
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Other related majors

• Medical Office concentration: Administrative Professional Technology A.A.S. degree
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• Medical Informatics A.A.S. degree
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ID Number: 5797

Program Type: Associate Degree

2022 Annual Report; Submitted March 2023

Retention from 2020 Program: 69.23%
Retention from 2021 Program: 100%

Job Placement from 2020 Graduating Class: 71.43%
Job Placement from 2021 Graduating Class: 90%

The Cleveland State Community College Medical Assisting 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, 9355 - 113th St. N., #7709, Seminole, FL  33775, 727-210-2350.  The CSCC Medical Assisting Associate’s degree program has been accredited since 1998.

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.

Students applying for admission to the program must meet the admission requirements for the Medical Assisting program.  Upon successful completion of the Medical Assisting curriculum, students will have acquired the knowledge and skills to establish eligibility for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA [AAMA]) exam.  Upon certification, graduates will have a reasonable opportunity to secure employment in a field related to the profession.

For more information, please contact the Medical Assisting Program Director at 423-614-8702.

Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards, as practitioners can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics clearly outlines that it is a growth field, with an anticipated 18% growth from 2020 to 2030. 

Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.

As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a medical assistant, and those hazards include the following:

     •Exposure to infectious diseases
     •Sharps injuries
     •Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards
     •Chemical and drug exposure
     •Ergonomic hazards from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks
     •Latex allergies
     •Stress

At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.

Accredited medical assisting programs are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.

• Apply for financial aid at www.FAFSA.gov
• A student is encouraged to apply early for financial aid. He/she must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the FAFSA Renewal Application as soon as possible after October 1 to ensure that the Financial Aid Office receives the Institutional Student Information Record and other documents prior to the priority deadline. July 1st is the priority deadline for applying for the fall semester and December 1st for the spring semester.