Medical Assistant

Graduates of the Medical Assistant program at Wallace State Community College work in doctors’ offices and other healthcare facilities. Medical Assistants are trained to perform a variety of jobs within a medical practice, from administrative duties such as scheduling appointments and telephone triage, to clinical duties such as assisting the provider with a variety of examinations, performing laboratory tests, and administering medication.

Admission Requirements and Curriculum

 

Medical Assistant

The Wallace State Community College-Hanceville Medical Assisting Certificate 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, 2339 N. California Ave. #47138, Chicago, IL 60647, (727) 210-2350. Graduates will be able to sit for the national certification examination for the Medical Assistant administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants Certification Board or the Registered Medical Assistant Examination administered by the American Medical Technologist in addition to other Medical Assistant credentialing examinations. AAMA Disciplinary Standards state that if a person is found guilty of a felony or has pled guilty to a felony, the individual will be ineligible to sit for the Certification Examination. The certifying board may grant a waiver based upon mitigating circumstances. After successful completion of the AAMA exam, the individual will be a Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA).

Admission Requirements and Curriculum
Credentialing Disclosure Statement

Wallace State’s programs boast a top-notch reputation with outstanding job placement rates, small class sizes and an award-winning faculty. Choose Wallace State’s Medical Assistant degree for a career in a highly-rewarding, high-demand field at a fraction of the cost of attending a university.  And if you do choose to continue your education, you’ll be two years ahead on an advanced degree, with employment potential and cost savings to boot.  

Discover your story in Medical Assistant at Wallace State!       

The Medical Assistant curriculum prepares the graduate to work in medical offices, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Clinical duties include preparing the patient for routine and specialty examinations, taking patient histories and vital signs, assisting the provider with examinations and treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures and diagnostic tests, preparing, and administering medications as directed by the physician, and performing electrocardiograms. The associate degree option also includes basic radiography, microscopy and transcription. Assisting with telehealth visits is also included in the curriculum as well as performing first-aid and CPR. Administrative duties including scheduling and receiving patients, data entry, maintaining medical records, performing secretarial skills, handling telephone calls, and writing correspondence. The curriculum also includes serving as a liaison between the provider and other individuals, and assisting with practice finances, medical insurance authorizations and referrals. The Medical Assistant curriculum is an integrated program of study. General education courses and Medical Assistant classes may be taken at the same time.

 

The 2023 Medical Assistant graduates have a positive placement rate of 94% for the years 2018-2022.  

Retention for the August 2021 admission cohort is 70%. The job placement rate for the 2021 graduates is 85%. The credentialing exam pass rate for the 2021 graduates is 80%.

The five-year retention rate for the Wallace State Community College Medical Assistant program is 75%. The five-year employer and graduate satisfaction are 100%. The five-year combined pass rate for the students who graduated from the program on the Certified Medical Assistant Examination administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Exam (CCMA) administered by the National Healthcareer Association is 80%. This includes all graduates, including those who sat for an examination more than one time.

It is the policy of the Alabama Community College System Board of Trustees and Wallace State Community College, a postsecondary institution under its control, that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion, marital status, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender, age, or any other protected class as defined by federal and state law, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, admission treatment or employment. Wallace State Community College does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender or age, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program, activity, admission treatment or employment. Wallace State Community College does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender or handicap unrelated to job performance. Wallace State Community College complies with the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended with the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Act of 1974, with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act of 2008. The commitment to equal opportunity applies to all aspects of recruitment, employment, and education of individuals at all levels throughout the College.

The policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sex is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 USC paragraph 1681, et. seq.) and Title 45, Part 86 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

The College will not retaliate against any person because they have engaged in a protected activity opposing the College or because they have made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding or hearing alleging discrimination on a basis specified above.

Any inquiries or complaints concerning the application of other legislation and its implementing regulations as they relate to Wallace State Community College should be directed to:

Title IX Coordinator
Wallace State Community College
Telephone: 256.352.8340
Address: P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL 35077

 

Program Overview

Medical Assistant


Degrees/Awards Offered

AAS, C


Availability

  • Day

Medical Assistant


Curriculum: Program of Study

Pathway Map: Associate in Applied Science, Certificate