Certificate in Medical Assisting
Certificate in Medical Assisting
Program Description
The Medical Assisting program provides a stimulating academic environment that will prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. The integration of knowledge and skills will prepare the student so that they may function as contributing members of the health care team, positively impacting their patients, the community and the profession upon successful completion of the program.
Saint Luke's Health System employees and their dependents receive a $300/credit discount.
Why Choose a Certificate in Medical Assisting?
- 16% projected job growth by 2030*
- 9 months to obtain your certificate
- 16 months to obtain your associate degree
- 80% of Saint Luke's medical assisting grads are employed within 6 months (national average 73%**)
- 91.66% RMA exam pass rate (national average 73%)
- 96.8% course pass rate
- 100% course completion rate
If you like helping others and are interested in becoming a registered medical assistant, this is the program for you. As the premier medical assistant program in KC, you'll learn the valuable skills health care employers want and be prepared to sit for the Registered Medical Assisting (RMA) Exam.
The stackable format of the program allows you complete flexibility to earn the degree you want, in the time you want, for the career you want. Either jump into your career immediately, or stick around to earn your bachelor's degree – it's completely up to you!
*Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022
**Source: Comprehensive Research Study of the Medical Assisting Profession, Gray Associates
Advantage of Saint Luke's™ College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Whether you are a new high school graduate or a working adult, our program offers flexible online courses that work with a variety of schedules, along with two immersive campus sessions providing hands-on experience.
Why do students choose Saint Luke’s College?
- Earn transferrable college credits into nursing or other health care bachelor programs
- 100% of our students find employment in the field upon graduation
- Fully online courses that start every 8 weeks. Each session students are required to complete two immersive on-campus weekend experiences (Saturday & Sunday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
- Flexible plans of study tailored to your career goals
- Affordable medical assistant program. Financial aid, work-study, and scholarships available for those who qualify
- Pell grant-eligible
- Medical assistant faculty with industry, clinical and teaching experience
- Academic advising available through the Student Resource Center
- Accredited medical assistant program (Higher Learning Commission)
- Campus located in Kansas City’s urban core close to the Plaza, Westport, Brookside, shopping, and restaurants
- Competitive tuition rates compared to other local not-for-profit institutions.
Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to: Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to: Communicate effectively nonverbally, orally, and in writing; Perform medical business practices and clinical skillsets, including but not limited to, basic office (CLIA waived) laboratory testing, patient care and management, organizational and financial aspects of office management.
- Communicate effectively nonverbally, orally, and in writing
- Perform medical business practices and clinical skillsets, including but not limited to, basic office (CLIA waived) laboratory testing, patient care and management, organizational and financial aspects of office management
- Provide patient care in accordance with regulations, policies, laws, and patient rights
- Demonstrate quality control and safety measures
- Prepare patients and assist physicians with medical procedures
- Possess a thorough understanding of health-related ethics
- Demonstrate foundational medical office and laboratory practice skills
- Accept the responsibility for continuing growth as a person and as a professional
Looking for something else? See our Frequently Asked Questions.
Course Map
Experiences
- Hands-on experiences and skill building
- Clinical placements in diverse settings
- Small class sizes
- Financial planning and counseling (in partnership with the Prosperity Center)
- Academic advisors and peer tutoring available
- Nearly 100% job placement in a high-demand market
Outcomes
A certified medical assistant is trained in a variety of areas and can do the following jobs:
- Accession Technician
- Administration
- Admissions Clerk
- Billing Specialist
- Clinical Laboratory Technician
- EKG Technician
- Emergency Room Technician
- Health Educator
- Hospital Sitter
- Medical Office Administrator
- Medical Office Manager
- Medical Records Director
- Medical Sales Associate
- Patient Care Technician
- Patient Navigator
- Phlebotomy Specialist
- Rehabilitative Services
- Sterilization Technician
By earning the associate in medical assisting degree, a student can then increase their ability to be promoted in the workplace, or the student can choose to pursue a baccalaureate degree in a variety of subject areas. Median annual income for students with a certificate in Medical Assisting is $37,190.
Disclaimer / Disclosure
Graduates of the Medical Assisting Program at Saint Luke’s College of Health Sciences (SLCHS) will be eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists (AMT) certification examination. Passing this examination is required to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). The Medical Assisting Program is not programmatically accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Because the Medical Assisting program at SLCHS is not programmatically accredited, graduates of the program are currently not eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The Medical Assisting Program at SLCHS will be working to obtain CAAHEP accreditation, but cannot guarantee accreditation will be gained at any point in time. The CMA and RMA are both optional and nationally recognized certifications for the medical assistant career.
