Medical Assistant

  • Overview
  • Enrollment Deadlines & Forms
  • Standards & Risks
  • Outcomes
  • Accreditation

Greenfield Community College’s nationally accredited Medical Assistant Certificate program provides a comprehensive introduction to the field of medical assisting in just 8 months—with the majority of classes offered online and required lab sessions offered on Wednesdays in Greenfield. Our program provides the knowledge and skills necessary to work as a medical assistant in ambulatory healthcare or urgent care settings; include hands-on experience performing both clinical and administrative procedures in a medical office; and prepares you for a career as a medical assistant. You will be eligible to sit for a national certification exam upon successful completion of the program.

What You'll StudyCourse Sequencing
MAC
Curriculum Documents

To plan certificate completion, see the course descriptions in the academic catalog which specify the planned semester(s) in which required classes are to be scheduled.

This is just one way you might complete the Medical Assistant Certificate Program in 2 semesters over 1 year of full-time study, or 4 semesters over 2 years of part-time study. (Sample course sequences assume that all pre-requisites have been satisfied and the student is prepared for college-level work.) For a detailed list of required courses, optional electives and program information download the Medical Assistant program description from our official academic catalog.

Course descriptions are also available in the catalog. Find courses

Sample 1 Year Sequence of Courses
FallSpring

MAC 101
MAC 105
MAC 112
MAC 113
MOM 110
MAC 114

MAC 115
MAC 103
MAC 111
MAC 120
MAC 271
BUS 102

Sample 2 Year Sequence of Courses
Fall 1Spring 1Fall 2Spring 2

MAC 101
MOM 110
MAC 112

MAC 103
MAC 120
MAC 115

MAC 105
MAC 113
MAC 114

MAC 111
BUS 102
MAC 271

Program Goal

Our Medical Assistant Certificate program goal is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Program Learning Outcomes

Students completing a course of study in this program will be able to:
  • Describe the role of the medical assistant and scope of practice
  • Identify styles and types of verbal and non-verbal communication
  • Document patient care accurately in the patient record and understand types of documentation
  • Perform venipuncture and capillary puncture
  • Compare structure and function of the human body across the lifespan
  • Incorporate critical thinking skills when performing patient assessment
  • Accurately use and convert between International System of Units (SI), apothecary and household systems
  • Define medical terms and abbreviations related to all body systems
  • Demonstrate sensitivity to patient rights
  • Identify critical elements of professionalism such as: integrity, empathy, self-motivation, appearance & personal hygiene, teamwork & diplomacy and patient advocacy
  • Demonstrate critical thinking skills, respect of culture and diversity matters, active listening, tactfulness and self-awareness
  • Administer immunizations per MGL c.112 section 265

What's Next

Upon graduation from the program, the medical assistant will be prepared in patient care skills, phlebotomy and electrocardiography (EKG). They may then seek entry-level work in a medical office or ambulatory healthcare setting and are eligible to sit for one or more of the following exams:

  • Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam given by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
  • Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam given by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
  • Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam given by the American Medical Technologists (AMT)

Technical Standards

All students participating in the Medical Assistant Certificate Program shall be capable of performing the Programmatic Technical Standards with or without reasonable accommodation as follows:

  • must be ambulatory;
  • be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs.;
  • possess fine motor coordination required to perform technical skills such as preparation and administration of lab & equipment related testing;
  • have visual acuity to perform technical skills such as physical assessment and proper use of medical instruments;
  • have auditory perception allowing effective use of stethoscope and communication;
  • have emotional stability required to exercise sound judgment & appropriate responses;
  • have emotional maturity to develop appropriate therapeutic relationships.

Occupational Risks for Medical Assistants

Medical assisting is a healthcare profession with many rewards. Practitioners work directly with providers and patients, performing various administrative and clinical duties, with the goal of providing health care and ensuring patient safety. Healthcare professionals can be exposed to several occupational risks. The following is a list of the primary risks a medical assistant may encounter while performing their duties:

  • Exposure to Infectious Diseases: Medical assistants may come into contact with infectious diseases while providing patient care or handling medical equipment and specimens.
  • Sharps Injuries: Accidental needlestick injuries while handling needles, syringes, or other sharp medical instruments can pose a significant risk.
  • Bloodborne Pathogens and Biological Hazards: Medical assistants may be exposed to bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards, including handling bodily fluids and tissues.
  • Chemical and Drug Exposure: Exposure to hazardous chemicals and medications can occur while preparing and administering treatments.
  • Ergonomic Hazards: Lifting, sitting for extended periods, and repetitive tasks can lead to ergonomic hazards, resulting in musculoskeletal injuries.
  • Latex Allergies: Some medical assistants may develop latex allergies due to prolonged exposure to latex-containing medical gloves and equipment.
  • Stress: The high-pressure healthcare environment can lead to stress and burnout among medical assistants.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has established protections for healthcare workers and patients in the form of a set of standards, and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. As an accredited program, Greenfield Community College Medical Assisting Certificate program teaches students about the hazards they face on the job and protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.

Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)—Annual Report Form (ARF) 2023 Outcomes

We are pleased to have a student and employer satisfaction rate of 100% for 2023 as well.

The Medical Assisting program at GCC was developed and admitted the first class in September 2013 and will graduate our 11th class on May 25, 2024. We received Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accreditation in February 2016.

Graduation Year Retention Exam Passage Job Placement
2022 80% 100% 66.67%
2021 84.62% 100% 81.25%
2020 87.5% 92.59% 81.82%
2019 97.14% 91.3% 91.67%
2018 80.65% 100% 45.45%
Cumulative* 87.27% 95.12% 78.12%

* Cumulative results calculated with a MAERB formula

The Medical Assistant Certificate program of Greenfield Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB)
2020 N. California Ave., #213 Suite 7
Chicago, IL 60647
(312) 392-0155

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 - 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350