GET THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO SHINE
Clinical duties vary, but may include:
- medical history and physicals
- vital signs
- patient education
- preparing and assisting patients for examinations
- phlebotomy
- electrocardiography (EKG)
- injections
Administrative duties include, but are not limited to:
- telephone triage
- patient reception and discharge
- electronic medical records
- insurance
- medical billing and coding
- correspondence
- inpatient and outpatient appointment scheduling
Students complete the following courses, preparing graduates for immediate employment as a medical assistant:
- Anatomy & Physiology I & II
- Business Communications
- Disease
- Electronic Health Records
- Intro to Medical Assistant
- Medical Coding
- Medical Math
- Medical Office Procedures
- Medical Terminology I & II
- Clinical Procedures
- Clinical Externship
Theory, on-site clinical experiences, and an externship are integrated into this intensive 11-month full-time program.
Upon successful completion of the Medical Assistant program, students are awarded a diploma. Students are eligible to sit for the national certification examination through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Additionally, students are also eligible to sit for the national certification examinations in phlebotomy, EKG, medical billing and coding, medical administrative assistant and medical assistant through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
From the August 2024 graduating class, 88% of the graduates secured employment in the healthcare field.
Of our 2021 graduates, 87.5% passed the Certified Medical Assistant exam through AAMA or the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam through National Healthcareer Association. For the 2020 admission cohort, 66.67% were retained through the completion of the Medical Assistant program at the GACTC.
Of the graduates from our 2022 cohort, all obtained employment as medical assistants, and all graduates passed the Certified Medical Assistant exam through the AAMA.
Occupational Risks
Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. Medical assistants are an integral part of the healthcare team and work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety.
Medical assistants can perform both administrative and clinical duties, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 14 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.
As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a medical assistant, and those hazards include the following:
- Exposure to infectious diseases
- Sharps injuries
- Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards
- Chemical and drug exposure
Graduates of the Medical Assistant program have been employed at local facilities including:
- Advanced Regional Center for Orthopedics and Podiatry
- Allegheny Pain Management
- Cardiology Associates of Altoona
- Conemaugh Nason Hospital
- EyeDoc Associates
- Oasis LifeCare
- Pediatric Care Specialists
- Reinhardt Family Practice
- UPMC Altoona Hospital
- UPMC Blair Medical Associates
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
- U.S. Digestive
Articulation Agreement
Students that successfully completed a health-related program in either CIP code 51.0899 or 51.9999 at a career and technology center or high school in Pennsylvania may be eligible to exempt from 9 credits (3 courses) in the Medical Assistant diploma program. Visit https://www.collegetransfer.net/ (select PA Bureau of CTE SOAR Programs under the Search menu) to learn more, or contact the Adult Education Office at (814) 941-8324 for more information.
Program Accreditation
The GACTC Medical Assistant Diploma program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), located at 25400 US Highway 19N, Suite 18, Clearwater, FL 33763, upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation. Graduates from the GACTC Medical Assistant Diploma program are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants (www.aama-ntl.org). CAAHEP accredited programs are have been reviewed and approved “to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.” (2022 CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines)
Our Medical Assistant program had a 80.95% job placement rate of graduates from the 5-year period of 2018 – 2022.
Choose the program format that is best for you!
We offer two options to participate in the Medical Assistant diploma program! Review the program options below, and contact us to discuss which format is best for you!
- The traditional, in-person program is offered at the GACTC. The schedule for the in-person program is Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. The next session of our in-person program will begin in September 2025 and conclude in August 2026.
- We offer a hybrid format for the Medical Assistant program. Students will participate in courses asynchronously and remotely, and will attend in-person classes in the evenings at the GACTC once or twice per week (depends on the term). The in-person classes in the hybrid program allows students to participate in hands-on learning through simulation labs to learn and master competencies specific to the scope of a medical assistant. The program includes the same 240-hour internship as the in-person program, completed in the final term of the program at a local medical facility. Students in the hybrid program may utilize the student services provided to adult students at the GACTC including access to the facility’s computer labs, study areas, advising, student activities, career assistance, and more! The next session of the hybrid program is expected to begin in January 2025 and conclude in December 2025.
Applicant Information
The GACTC welcomes all interested individuals to apply for admission into our career training programs. Review the admissions requirements and apply now at https://www.gactc.edu/adult-education/how-to-enroll/.
Health Examination Form, completed by a licensed medical professional. Students are required to be screened for Tuberculosis by having a mantoux (2 Step PPD) test, IGRA blood test, or, if deemed necessary, a chest X-ray. Negative results must be submitted to the Continuing Education Office prior to the first day of the required internship. Students are required to have a physical including a Hepatitis B vaccination and other certain immunizations.
“I feel that the updated curriculum will fully prepare any graduating students to enter their field of employment.”
“The students from the Phlebotomy and Medical Assistant programs have been spot on when arriving to clinical rounds. They are well taught, ask questions, and are always willing to learn. These programs have provided quality individuals to facilities as employees at a time when healthcare needs them most.”
The medical assistant program is very personal. I worked one on one with Mrs. Zurenko and the other staff, and they accurately lead in a direction for the most successful education. This allowed me to be able to expand my knowledge and find what I liked in my career. I learned so much about myself taking this program. I didn’t know the medical field was for me until I took the chance. It was the best decision I could have made.
The MA program helped me not only with gaining medical skills, but also professional skills. I was taught how to present myself professionally, how to apply my skills accurately, and how to be confident in myself. It grew me as a person immensely. You have to be disciplined to complete and absorb so much information in a short amount of time.
Mrs. Zurenko was the best thing about the MA program. She got to know me in a personal way and pushed me to succeed when I needed it. She taught me to be
confident in myself and my education. While the program was very demanding, Mrs. Zurenko was always willing to help in any way possible.
-Sarah Murphy
Medical Assistant Graduate
Student Testimonial:
Medical Assistant
POSSIBLE CERTIFICATIONS
- American Heart Association CPR & First Aid
- OSHA 10-hour Healthcare certification
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through AAMA
- Certifications through the National Healthcareer Association:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant
- Certified Phlebotomy Technician
- Certified EKG Technician
- Certified Medical Billing and Coding Specialist
PROGRAM INFORMATION
Estimated Tuition & Fees for 2024-2025:
$17,870*
*Includes an optional laptop. If laptop is not needed through the GACTC, the cost of the laptop is deducted from the fees. Please see the program flyer to view detailed tuition and fees.
Program Hours:
1,380
Schedule:
- In-person program: Next session is September 2025 through August 2026. Schedule is Mondays through Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. Classes are held at the GACTC.
- Hybrid program: Next session is January 6, 2025 through November 21, 2025. Students will participate in courses asynchronously and remotely, and will attend in-person classes in the evenings at the GACTC once or twice per week (depends on the term). In-person class sessions will be two weekday evenings per week, 4:30 to 8:30 pm.
Contact the Adult Education Office at (814) 941-8324 to learn more!
TAKE THE
NEXT STEP
Please contact us to schedule a tour and to meet with a career counselor to discuss your career goals and this program. Complete this short form to request more information and to schedule a tour, or call us at 814.941.TECH.
We welcome your application to the Medical Assistant program.
