Medical Assisting Program

The medical assisting (MA) degree/certificate program is designed to train students to work as a member of an ambulatory health care team, performing a broad range of clinical and administrative tasks under the supervision of a physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner. Program space is limited and a special application process is required (see below). Students accepted into the MA degree and certificate programs take the same clinical training and administrative skill coursework. The degree requires additional general education/related instruction courses. Upon graduating from the MA degree or certificate program, students are eligible to take a national board exam to become certified medical assistants with the CMA (AAMA) credential. Additionally, the MA degree and certificate programs are aligned with Washington state laws for MA credentials and scope of practice.

Whatcom Community College’s medical assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP, 25400 US Highway 19 N, Suite 158, Clearwater, FL 33763, (727) 210-2350.

To increase the opportunity for program success for all students, many of the medical assisting program courses are paired with an optional I-BEST program. I-BEST stands for Integrated Basic Education and Skills Training.

Special application process

Admission to the medical assisting program is by special application. For details about the application process, application materials and deadlines, visit the medical assisting program page on the College’s website or contact entry & advising or the medical assisting program coordinator.

Additional requirements during/after course of study

• Courses must be taken in sequence as assigned in the program schedule. Any deviation from the program schedule must have the written approval of the program coordinator.
• All program courses must be passed with a “C” (2.0) grade or better. If courses are not passed with a C or better, students will be dismissed from the program and advised to reapply the following academic year if they so choose.
• Occupational exposures - The medical assistant may be exposed to various chemicals used in disinfecting and sterilization, laboratory testing reagents, biohazard wastes, blood borne pathogens, and communicable diseases. While in the medical assisting program students have similar occupational exposures. Program students should refer to the Informed Consent for Coursework Requiring Human Subjects document in the medical assisting student handbook for specific information (available to students accepted into the MA program). Safety issues and concerns when dealing with occupational exposures are a major focus within the medical assisting program curriculum.
• Students accepted into the medical assisting degree or certificate programs will need to show documentation that indicates they have begun the required immunization series. Immunizations and tuberculosis screening are required in accordance with CDC recommendations, and OSHA requirements for health care workers. Program students should refer to the Immunization Policy document in the medical assisting student handbook for details.
• Prior to practicum, medical assisting students are required to obtain/maintain provider level CPR certification and the 7-hour HIV/AIDS education certificate.

Dismissal/Re-entry regulations

Students will be dismissed from the medical assisting program for the following reasons:

1. Earning an unsatisfactory grade in any medical assisting course.
2. Failing to satisfactorily complete any probationary contract in the allotted time.
3. Placement on suspension by the College for violations of the Students Rights and Responsibilities policy.
4. Dismissal from practicum.

Students who are dismissed from the program will be sent a certified letter indicating the reason for the dismissal. If the student wishes to appeal this action, he/she may do so by following the appropriate student grievance procedure as stated in the college catalog.

A student dismissed from the program may apply to re-enter the program by completing and submitting an “Application for Re-admission” form to the program coordinator at least two quarters prior to the quarter he/she intends to re-enroll. The program coordinator will review the application and inform the student of the outcome of the review no more than ten (10) days after receiving the application. Re-admission is dependent on space availability and whether the student has demonstrated that the problems that led to dismissal have been corrected. The program coordinator may request additional documentation from the student to support the application for re-admission. If the student is re-admitted to the program, he/she must complete the requirements that led to the dismissal before continuing the program sequence.

Any subsequent failure to meet the standards of academic progress will result in automatic dismissal. A student wishing to re-enroll after a second dismissal must apply as a new student to the program and repeat all MA courses.

Visit whatcom.edu/medicalassisting for more information.