Administrative Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement

Description

The Administrative Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement enhances career opportunities as a Medical Assistant, providing students with the opportunity to develop the necessary administrative skills needed to be an effective medical assistant. The Program provides students with secretarial skills with specific knowledge of medical terminology, scheduling patient appointments, billing patients, and compiling and recording medical charts, reports, and correspondences. The coursework provides the necessary proficiencies to work safely and competently within direct patient contact occupations.

Administrative medical assistants can work after acquiring this Certificate of Achievement, but if students want state or national certification they need to take the additional clinical medical assisting training. This Program prepares students for the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) Examination. To qualify for the CCBMA Examination, students must also successfully complete both the Certificate of Achievement in Administrative Medical Assisting Program and the Certificate of Achievement in Clinical Medical Assisting Program. 

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical assisting is one of the nation’s fastest growing careers. “Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 15 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 119,800 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.” 1 

Earnings Potential

A certificate in medical assisting offers you the salary potential of $37.526 at five years, based on five-year studies of graduates by California Community Colleges.2

According to the BLS in 2024, the median annual salary for Medical Assistants is $44,200.3

1 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 2024. www.bls.gov/ooh. Accessed 4 May 2025.

2 California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Salary Surfer. 2021. https://salarysurfer.cccco.edu. Accessed 4 May 2025.

3 “Occupational Outlook Handbook.” Accessed 4 May 2025.

 

Licensure/Certification Eligibility

For Medical Assisting certification, students must pass the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) Examination.  For additional information on requirements, please visit the CCBMA website.

The CCBMA Examination requires both certification in clinical and administrative medical assisting. This Certificate of Achievement in Administrative Medical Assisting partially completes the requirements. To qualify for the CCBMA Examination, students must also successfully complete the Certificate of Achievement in Clinical Medical Assisting Program. 

Note: Misdemeanor/Felony convictions may affect employment opportunities in medical facilities.

Program Requirements

Students in the Administrative Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement Program must complete the following courses with a grade of ‘C’ or higher:

First term 12 units

Second term 11.5 units

MEDA 1101 1.0 unit

CIS 1603 1.5 units

MEDA 1102 2.0 units

CIS 1703 1.5 units

MEDA 1103 1.5 units

MEDA 1105 3.0 units

MEDA 1104 1.5 units

MEDA 1106 3.0 units

HLED 1541 3.0 units

MEDA 1107 1.0 UNITS

SPAN 1501 3.0 units*

MEDA 1201 1.5 UNITS

*Elective/Optional Course

Application Requirements

Enrollment is limited in the Administrative Medical Assisting Program. 

A maximum of 24 students meeting the application requirements are accepted in each certificate program. Students not accepted are placed on an alternate list. We highly recommend reapplying each year for students who do not get into this Program.

Applicants must complete immunizations requirements. As a condition of enrollment, students are required to submit proof of the following immunizations:

  1. Hepatitis B vaccination with a positive titer (or declination)
  2. TDAP or TD within the past 10 years
  3. Varicella (2 doses) and MMR (2 doses) vaccination or titer positive for immunities
  4. COVID-19 immunization or completed exemption* (*May be required to be in medical facility)
  5. TB skin, blood test, or chest x-ray showing negative TB result
  6. Flu-shot (flu season October 1-April 30) Based upon Medical Facility Requirement

 

Program Learning Outcomes

  1. Research online and traditional reference materials effectively to stay informed about emerging trends and breakthroughs in healthcare issues related to the medical assistant's role in healthcare. Analyze emerging trends and breakthroughs regarding healthcare issues related to the role of a medical assistant.
  2. Perform Medical Assisting procedures competently, such as OSHA standards, electronic technologies, and medical records.
  3. Achieve entry level Medical Assisting competencies, such as verbal communication, medical and surgical aseptic, and physical assessments which satisfy industry needs.
  4. Apply State of California regulations that govern the healthcare industry for Medical Assistants.

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