The Medical Assistant program is offered as a certificate or two-year associate in applied science degree program that prepares students to work in a medical office and perform both administrative and clinical procedures. The program is offered in both full-time and part-time class schedules. Medical assistant classes include hands-on clinical experience.
Medical Assistant administrative duties include scheduling appointments, patient registration and health insurance duties. Clinical duties include recording vital signs and preparing patients for examination. Medical assistants may also collect blood specimens, perform laboratory tests, sterilize equipment, instruct patients about medication and special diets, prepare and administer medications, authorize drug refills and perform EKGs.
In addition to earning a medical assistant degree or certificate, students also have the opportunity to earn a certificate to become a Health Care Office Assistant. This short-term certificate can be completed in one or two semesters.
Prospective students must follow specific registration criteria before being admitted into the program and follow the registration checklist located in the Medical Assistant registration packet.
Determine Your Path
Medical assistants are one of the ten fastest-growing careers in health care. Medical assistants work alongside physicians and other providers mainly in out-patient or ambulatory facilities such as medical offices.
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Medical Assistant
The Medical Assistant, Associate in Applied Science degree teaches students billing and coding, how to maintain medical records, schedule appointments, record vital signs, collect blood specimens, perform basic laboratory tests and prepare and administer medications.
Medical Assistant
The Medical Assistant, Certificate trains students to work in ambulatory settings such as physicians' offices. These multi-skilled personnel perform administrative and clinical procedures such as billing and coding, maintaining medical records, completing basic clinical assessments, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examination, collecting blood specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, performing EKGs, preparing and administering medications and assisting physicians with treatment and/or minor procedures.
Health Care Office Assistant
A student in the Health Care Office Assistant certificate program will learn appointment scheduling, front office tasks, basic accounting, basic insurance coding and legal and ethical responsibilities as they pertain to administrative office in health care settings.
Most coursework can be completed online and all credits are transferable to the Medical Assistant certificate or degree program.
The College of DuPage Medical Assistant Certificate Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: (727) 210-2350
Fax: (727) 210-2354
Email: mail@caahep.org
The five-year average for the exam passage rate for the years 2018-2022 is 85%.
COD Stories
“I love what I do and helping people. College of DuPage is a great school with great professors and a great environment that helped me achieve my goals.” - Monserrat Garcia
Monserrat's COD StoryCOD Stories
"Medical assistants make a difference in patients’ lives every day. As a medical assistant, you perform clinical duties while managing administrative tasks in a variety of medical offices." - Sara Starodub
Sara's COD StoryCOD Stories
"COD is making me realize that I can do much more than I thought I could. COD has really helped me unfold as a person and become more open to try new things and challenge myself, which is very important in life." - Rocio Mendoza
Rocio's COD StoryGet Started Today
The first step to getting started in the Medical Assistant program is to read the Medical Assistant Registration packet. The packet contains a registration checklist that you will need to follow in order to register for the program.
Academic and Career Pathways give you a roadmap to achieving your career goals. Follow a pathway based on your degree that outlines which classes you need to take and when so you graduate on time or move on to the next phase in your career.
In accordance with program goals outlined by the American Association of Medical Assistants, College of DuPage Medical Assistant Program goals are: To prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Upon completion of the Medical Assistant Program, the graduate will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the subject matters required for competence in the profession and demonstrate competence in the following academic subjects:
Foundations for Clinical Practice
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Applied Mathematics
- Infection Control
- Nutrition
Applied Communications
- Concepts of Effective Communication
Medical Business Practices
- Administrative Functions
- Basic Practice Finances
- Third Party Reimbursement
- Procedural and Diagnostic Coding
Medical Law and Ethics
- Legal Implications
- Ethical Considerations
Safety and Emergency Practices
- Protective Practices
College of DuPage has several medical assistant transfer agreements in place with four-year colleges and universities to save you time, money and make the transfer process easier.
Many of these agreements with other colleges and universities have specific course requirements and a pre-determined course plan that needs to be followed to be eligible to transfer. Contact a program faculty member or academic advisor to learn more as course requirements vary by institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to your frequently asked questions regarding the Medical Assistant program.
Medical assistant jobs vary from office to office, but in general, these health care workers will greet patients, update and file patient and medical records, fill out insurance forms, schedule appointments and handle billing and accounting procedures.
In addition, a medical assistant takes patient medical histories and vital signs, prepares patients for examination, collects blood specimens by both capillary or veripuncture technique, gives injections, removes sutures, performs basic laboratory tests, sterilizes equipment, authorizes and phones in drug refills, perform EKGs and explains treatment procedures to patients.
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
