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Health, Wellness & Fitness Pathway Options
Medical Assistant
The demand for medical assistants and related jobs is high. Projected growth is 16%, much faster than reginal job averages. In greater Seattle/King County, starting pay averages $22-25/hour, which is higher than the national average. This industry also offers flexible hours and scheduling. (U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Highline College graduates work at HealthPoint, CHI Franciscan, St. Anne’s, Children’s Hospital, UW Neighborhood Clinics, Valley Medical, MultiCare, SeaMar, and other prestigious healthcare clinics. Highline College medical assistant graduates in this program have close to 100% job placement after passing the NCCT Exam.
Medical Assistant Degree Options
Associate in Applied Science AAS
- Program Length: Two years for full-time students. (Full-time is 12 credits or more)
- Costs per year: $4,740 tuition and fees
- Program Map: Associate in Applied Science – Medical Assistant
- Catalog: Associate in Applied Science – Medical Assistant
Career
What is a Medical Assistant? Medical Assistants are healthcare professionals who work
directly with doctors and nurses in healthcare clinics. Learn more about the program
from one of our graduates.
The certificate program is nationally accredited and is a requirement for the Medical Assistant AAS degree. It can be completed in six quarters, while the AAS can be completed in eight quarters, including summer quarters.
In this program, you will learn the practical skills you need for a rewarding, challenging position in the healthcare field. You will learn to work with physicians to increase productivity in medical offices by performing a wealth of administrative and clinical tasks. Our objective is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the Medical Assistant profession. Our students also gain work experience through a required externship course. This is an unpaid, supervised, 180 hour on the job externship.
Our degree program is cohort-based, which means you will be with the same group of students throughout the program. Our cohorts start in the fall and spring. A part-time option is available for students who cannot attend full-time.
Our Medical Assistant program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board, MAERB. As a graduate of the program, you will be eligible to take the national certification examination (NCCT) to become a Certified Medical Assistant – CMA (AAMA). Our medical assistant program includes the NCCT exam preparation, and the exam itself is administered as part of the program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification exam, or three other national exams that meet the requirements of the Washington State Department of health to become a Medical Assistant-Certified.
Agencies may require students to complete a criminal background check prior to being offered an internship or employment.
The certificate program is nationally accredited and is a requirement for the Medical Assistant AAS degree. It can be completed in six quarters, while the AAS can be completed in eight quarters, including summer quarters.
In this program, you will learn the practical skills you need for a rewarding, challenging position in the healthcare field. You will learn to work with physicians to increase productivity in medical offices by performing a wealth of administrative and clinical tasks. Our objective is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the Medical Assistant profession. Our students also gain work experience through a required externship course. This is an unpaid, supervised, 180 hour on the job externship.
Our degree program is cohort-based, which means you will be with the same group of students throughout the program. Our cohorts start in the fall and spring. A part-time option is available for students who cannot attend full-time.
Our Medical Assistant program is nationally accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board, MAERB. As a graduate of the program, you will be eligible to take the national certification examination (NCCT) to become a Certified Medical Assistant – CMA (AAMA). Our medical assistant program includes the NCCT exam preparation, and the exam itself is administered as part of the program. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification exam, or three other national exams that meet the requirements of the Washington State Department of health to become a Medical Assistant-Certified.
Agencies may require students to complete a criminal background check prior to being offered an internship or employment.
Certificates of Achievement (45 credits and above)
Medical Assistant Certificate C
- Program Map: Medical Assistant Certificate
- Catalog: Medical Assistant Certificate
- Career Information: See Associate in Applied Science – Medical Assistant above
Clinic Service Representative Certificate C
- Program Map: Clinic Service Representative Certificate
- Catalog: Clinic Service Representative Certificate
Professional Healthcare Interpreter Certificate C
Medical Assistant-Registered to Medical Assistant-Certified Pathway Certificate C
Additional Degree offered through the Healthcare Professions Department
Community Health and Wellness, AAS
Community Health and Wellness provides students with a working knowledge of healthcare systems and practices, with specialization in their area of interest. Students will gain general knowledge of fitness, nutrition, social and emotional development with a focus on healthcare and human services systems as well as navigation and advocacy skills.
Learn more about the Community Health and Wellness, AAS
After Highline College
The certificate program is nationally accredited and is a requirement for the Medical Assistant AAS degree. AAS degrees are generally designed to provide direct workforce skills and are not designed for transfer.
Complete a Professional Technical Certificate in one year or less and start work immediately or transfer to an AAS degree option.
Top Transfer-To Institution
- Seattle Central College BAS
- University of Washington MEDEX
- University of Washington Tacoma BAS
Get In Touch
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| Location: Building 26 |
| Phone: (206) 592-3489 |
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