
Medical Assistant
Medical assistants work primarily in medical clinics, physician offices or ambulatory care clinics. The medical assistant is trained in all aspects of the medical office. Responsibilities might include preparing the patient for physical examination, obtaining a health history, assisting the physician with the exam as well as assisting with minor surgery, performing routine tests independently, and disinfecting and sterilizing instruments. Some medical assistants manage the office, arrange and confirm appointments, register patients, keep treatment records, send bills, receive payments, file insurance forms, handle the mail, and keep inventory records.
Program Outline
Course # | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
3150930100 | Medical Asst Admin ProceduresDescriptionIntroduces Medical Assistant students to office management and business administration in the medical office. Students learn to schedule appointments, perform filing, record keeping, telephone and reception duties, communicate effectively with patients and other medical office staff, and keep an inventory of supplies. Students apply introductory medical coding skills and managed care terminology. |
2.00 |
3150930200 | Human Body in Health and DiseaseDescriptionIntroduces students to basic anatomy and physiology of the human body. Focuses on wellness and disease prevention. Students identify diseases that are frequently first diagnosed and treated in the medical office setting. Students learn to recognize the causes, signs, and symptoms of diseases of the major body systems as well as the diagnostic procedures, usual treatment, prognosis, and prevention of common diseases. Prerequisite(s): 1050110100 Medical Terminology (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed). |
3.00 |
3150930300 | Medical Asst Lab Procedures 1DescriptionIntroduces Medical Assistant students to laboratory procedures commonly performed in a medical office setting. Students perform routine laboratory procedures commonly performed in the ambulatory care setting under the supervision of a physician. Students follow laboratory safety requirements and federal regulations while performing specimen collection and processing, microbiology, and urinalysis testing. |
2.00 |
3150930400 | Medical Asst Clin Procedures 1DescriptionIntroduces Medical Assistant students to the clinical procedures performed in the medical office setting. Students perform basic examining room skills, including screening, vital signs, patient history, minor surgery, and patient preparation for routine and specialty exams in the ambulatory care setting. 3150930200 Human Body in Health and Disease (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed) |
4.00 |
Course # | Course Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
3150130800 | Pharmacology for Allied HealthDescriptionIntroduces students to classifying medications into correct drug categories and applying basic pharmacology principles. Students apply basic pharmacodynamics to identifying common medications, medication preparation, and administration of medications used by the major body systems. Prerequisite(s): 3150930200 Human Body in Health and Disease (C or better) or 1080617700 General Anatomy and Physiology (C or better). |
2.00 |
3150930500 | Med Asst Lab Procedures 2DescriptionPrepares students to perform laboratory procedures commonly performed in the ambulatory care setting under the supervision of a physician. Students perform phlebotomy, immunology, hematology, and chemistry laboratory procedures. Prerequisite(s): 3150930300 Medical Asst Lab Procedures 1 (C or better). |
2.00 |
3150930600 | Med Asst Clin Procedures 2DescriptionPrepares Medical Assistant students to perform patient care skills in the medical office setting. Students perform clinical procedures including administering medications, assisting with minor surgery, performing an electrocardiogram, assisting with respiratory testing, educating patients/community, and maintaining clinical equipment in an ambulatory care setting. Prerequisite(s): 3150930400 Medical Asst Clin Procedures 1 (C or better) and 3150930300 Medical Asst Lab Procedures 1 (C or better). |
3.00 |
3150930700 | Medical Office Insurance and FinanceDescriptionIntroduces Medical Assistant students to health insurance and finance in the medical office. Students perform bookkeeping procedures, apply managed care guidelines, and complete insurance claim forms. Students use medical coding and managed care terminology to perform insurance-related duties. 1050110700 Digital Literacy for Healthcare (C or better) and 3150930100 Medical Asst Admin Procedures (C or better) |
2.00 |
3150930900 | Medical Law Ethics and ProfessionalismDescriptionPrepares students to display professionalism and perform within ethical and legal boundaries in the health care setting. Students maintain confidentiality, examine legal aspects of the medical records, perform risk management procedures, and examine legal and bioethical issues. |
2.00 |
3150931000 | Medical Assistant PracticumDescriptionRequires Medical Assistant students to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from all previous Medical Assistant courses in actual patient care settings. Learners perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory duties under the supervision of trained mentors to effectively transition to the role of a medical assistant. Prerequisite(s): (1050110400 Culture of Healthcare (C or better) or 1080119500 Written Communication (C or better)) and 3150930500 Med Asst Lab Procedures 2 (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed) and 3150930600 Med Asst Clin Procedures 2 (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed) and 3150930700 Medical Office Insurance and Finance (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed) and 3150930900 Medical Law Ethics and Professionalism (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed). |
3.00 |
At A Glance
How You'll Learn
A highly flexible, comprehensive program offering open labs five days/nights per week. With theory based content online you can focus on skills practice and assessment during your lab time. Exams are scheduled and taken at the Assessment Center to simulate the National Certification exam taken to become a CMA (AAMA).

On Campus

OnLine
Start Dates
Fall 2020: September 7 | Spring 2021: January 11 | Summer 2021: May 10 |
Approximate Cost
$3,930*
Financial Aid Eligible
*Based on 10-level courses—materials, books, and fees may be additional
What You'll Learn
- Perform medical office administrative functions
- Provide patient care in accordance with regulations, policies, laws, and patient rights
- Perform medical laboratory procedures
- Demonstrate professionalism in a healthcare setting
- Demonstrate safety and emergency practices in a healthcare setting
Your Potential Careers
- Medical Office Assistant
- Laboratory Assistant
- Medical /Surgical Office Assis
- Phlebotomist
- Optometric Assistant
- Podiatric Assistant
- Pharmacy Assistant
- Chiropractic Assistant
Median Annual Salary
$35,252 | $37,148 | $34,542 |
Local | State | National |
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EMSI 2020.1
Get Started
Your application can be submitted online, it takes just a few minutes to complete.
Accreditation
The Nicolet Area Technical College Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB) of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE), 35 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1970, Chicago, IL 60601-2208, (312-553-9355).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
25400 U.S. Highway 19 North, Suite 158
Clearwater, FL 33763
Telephone: 727-210-2350
Fax: 727-210-2354
Students graduating from the Medical Assisting program at Nicolet College are satisfied with the education that they receive at Nicolet College, as there is an average 100% graduate satisfaction rate over the past five years.
Employers hiring medical assistant graduates from Nicolet College are satisfied with the education that the graduates receive at Nicolet College, as there is an average 100% employer satisfaction rate over the past five years.
The 2017 American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) National Certification Examination pass rate of the Technical Diploma Medical Assisting program at Nicolet College, Rhinelander, WI was 100%, based on the most recent Annual Report Form submitted to the Medical Assisting Education Review board (MAERB) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
"100% of graduates need to have successfully completed all of the psychomotor and affective domain objectives (meeting the cut (passing) score established by the program as a minimum standard to be met)" (from the Outcome Assessment Threshold requirements).
The medical assisting program at Nicolet College has a retention rate of 92.31% for the admission cohort(s) that entered in 2016, and there are a number of support services available to students so that they can successfully complete the program.
Students shall not receive compensation/payment, monetary or otherwise, from the practicum site. Students will work directly under the supervision of licensed health care professionals.
Program Admission Requirements
- Complete a Nicolet College application form
- Submit official high school transcripts or equivalent
- Complete Accuplacer entrance test with following scores:
Reading: 90+
Writing: 103+
Math: 79+ - Demonstrate keyboarding skills at a minimum of 30 wpm
- Acceptable Caregiver Background Check
- Current CPR certification
- Physical examination and specified health requirements including immunization status.
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Gainful Employment Disclosure
This program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
This program will cost $5,111.00 if completed within normal time. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed.
Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with $5,444.00 of debt.
Program meets licensure requirements in the following States: Wisconsin
For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/search/?name=Nicolet%20Area%20Technical%20College&sort=salary:desc