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Program facts 
Harper College's 36-credit-hour Medical Assistant Certificate program provides training in a variety of administrative and clerical tasks to facilitate physicians’ work. You'll gain skills in patient communication, computer functions, and record keeping, along with clinical skills such as assisting with examinations, treatments, diagnostic testing, patient education and preparation/administration of medications. Other areas of study include legal and ethical issues in health care, maintaining patient confidentiality and principles of insurance billing.
After successfully completing the program, you will be eligible to take the examination necessary to become a Certified Medical Assistant. Credit earned for the Medical Assistant Certificate can be applied to the Health Care Office Manager AAS degree.
This concentrated 36 credit-hour certificate program is designed for the individual who is interested in becoming a medical assistant in a physician's office or other outpatient health care setting. The curriculum provides training in a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to facilitate the work of the physician. Administrative duties include patient communication, computer skills and record keeping. Clinical duties include assisting with examinations, treatments, diagnostic testing, patient education, and preparation and administration of medications.
The program may be taken part-time and many courses are available on an evening schedule. An orientation and planning session is recommended by the coordinator. Detailed information is available on the website harpercollege.edu
The Medical Assistant certificate program at Harper College has been accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Educational Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB). Graduates of the programs are eligible to sit for the national certification examination sponsored by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The MOA graduate who successfully completes this national examination is credentialed as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA-AAMA).
Please contact the program coordinator for current name(s) and pertinent information regarding the national professional organization(s) affiliated with the programs in the Medical Office Administration department.
| Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 135 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | 4 |
Description: Surveys the human body, with emphasis on basic physical and chemical concepts, anatomy, physiology and embryology. Designed to meet the needs of students in certain allied health career programs. Knowledge of high school biology assumed. (NOTE: Not science lab credit.) Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| ENG 101 | Composition I | 3 |
Description: Emphasizes the writing of expository prose. Introduction to the critical reading of nonfiction prose. IAI C1 900 Prerequisite: ENG 096 with a grade of P or other placement options. https://www.harpercollege.edu/testing/english-placement-grid.php ESL students need one of the following options: ESL 073 and ESL 074 with grades of B or better; ESL 073 with a grade of B or better and required writing placement test score; or ESL 074 with a grade of B or better and required reading placement test score. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: N/A Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| HSC 112 | Medical Terminology | 2 |
Description: Emphasizes the origin and the basic structure of medical words, including prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms and plurals. Offers pronunciation, spelling, and definition of medical terms based on the body systems approach. Emphasis on rendering a professional vocabulary required for work in the health care field. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 100 | Introduction to Medical Assisting | 3 |
Description: Provides an introduction to the profession of medical assisting. Emphasizes communication, professionalism, pharmacology and introduction to medical specialties. Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 145 | Health Care Records Management | 2 |
Description: Introduces types of patient-care records prepared and maintained by health care personnel. Includes elements of records, record keeping, medical record confidentiality, privacy, security, administrative and clinical use of the electronic health record. and reimbursement, Electronic Medical Records (EMR) are utilized for the course. A basic knowledge of computers is necessary to complete this course. Prerequisite: Prior or concurrent enrollment in ENG 101 and HSC 112 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 150 | Math Applications in Health Care | 1 |
Description: Develops skill necessary to calculate medication dosages and solutions using the metric system. A basic math ability, including decimals, fractions and percentages, is necessary to be successful in this course. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 1 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 195 | Principles of Health Insurance Billing | 3 |
Description: Explores and compares major types of health insurance contracts and describes benefits and limitations. Provides practice in processing insurance claim forms (CMS-1500). Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding techniques are introduced. Emphasis is on insurance rules and regulations, claim submission, reimbursement and collections. Prerequisite: BIO 135 and HSC 112 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 215 | Clinical Procedures 1 | 8 |
Description: Offers basic and advanced clinical procedures in the physician's office or clinic. Includes diagnostic and laboratory testing procedures, principles of medications, and assisting the physician in specialty examinations and minor surgical procedures. Demonstration of clinical skills in outpatient care is emphasized, with maintenance of proper patient and technician protection guidelines. Includes a clinical rotation in a health care facility. (NOTE: The program's health requirements and American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate must be completed prior to placement in clinical rotation.) Prerequisite: MOA 145 with a grade of C or better. Lecture Hours: 4 Lab Hours: 8 Contact Hours: 12 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 235 | Health Care Office Procedures | 3 |
Description: Offers development of skills in medical front office procedures used in a health care facility. Emphasizes patient relations in health care by using office simulations including computer programs with introduction to electronic medical records. Strong emphasis on cultural diversity issues and application in the health care field. Prerequisite: HSC 112 and MOA 145 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 2 Lab Hours: 2 Contact Hours: 4 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 280 | Medical Assistant Externship 1 | 3 |
Description: Provides 160 hours of supervised experience in a health care facility to enhance the student's administrative and clinical skills. One-hour seminars throughout the semester are devoted to externship issues. NOTE: The program's health requirements and American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate must be completed prior to placement in an on-site externship. Prerequisite: MOA 215 and MOA 235 with grades of C or better. Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 10 Contact Hours: 21 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| MOA 291 | Certified Medical Assistant Exam Review | 1 |
Description: Prepares students with study skills and tips necessary to successfully pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. Provides assistance and guidelines for submitting the CMA exam application, reviews content on the CMA exam, develops resume writing and interviewing skills. NOTE: This course is not offered in the fall. Prerequisite: Prior or concurrent enrollment in MOA 280 with a grade of C or better. (NOTE: The prerequisite is being waived for Fall 2020.) Lecture Hours: 1 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 1 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| PSY 101 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
Description: Investigates human and animal behavior with an emphasis on the scientific nature of contemporary and classic psychological investigation. Emphasizes psychological theories, principles, and research applications. Introduces the divisions of the American Psychological Association. References biological processes, sensation, perception, learning, memory, thinking, emotional life, mental disorders, intelligence, aptitude, personality, development daily life and everyday problems. IAI S6 900 Lecture Hours: 3 Lab Hours: 0 Contact Hours: 3 Class Schedule: Spring 2025 | Summer 2025 | Fall 2025 | ||
| Total Hours | 36 | |
Students must submit an American Heart Association Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for the Health Care Provider (CPR) certificate before entering externship.
Harper College provides annual statistics on retention rates and outcomes for the Medical Assistant Certificate program:
| Date | Retention | Job Placement | Exam Passage |
|---|---|---|---|
|
2023 |
85.71% |
64.00% |
90.00% |
|
2022 |
79.31% |
61.54% |
93.33% |
|
2021 |
87.50% |
80.00% |
92.31% |
|
2020 |
75.00% |
66.67% |
100.00% |
|
2019 |
100% |
70.37% |
83.33% |
|
Five-year Average |
86.36% |
69.91% |
88.41% |
All students must be able to complete all technical standards and understand occupational risks for the medical assistant externship as outlined by the medical assistant handbook.
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Program
9355 113th Ste N #7709 Seminole, FL 33775
www.caahep.org
Students interested in medical office administration may also be interested in:
For more information about medical assisting courses at Harper College, contact Admission Outreach at 847.925.6700, or submit a request information form. You can also apply online.