Medical Assistants take on administrative and clinical duties to support doctors, registered nurses, and other medical professionals in doctors’ offices, clinics, hospitals, and other health care facilities.
Medical Assistants regularly carry out a number of crucial tasks, including:
- Scheduling appointments for patients.
- Taking patients' vitals.
- Giving medications and injections.
- Recording and maintaining important medical information for patients.
- Preparing and handling health care supplies and medical instruments.
- Collecting and readying laboratory specimens for testing.
- Other vital health care duties.
The Medical Assistant program at Glendale Career College equips students with the knowledge and training they need to start working in a health care or medical office, including medical clinics, doctors' offices, HMOs, rehabilitation centers, hospitals and other health care facilities.
*Glendale Career College is not able to guarantee employment.
Enroll at any of our schools and campuses located in Glendale, San Diego, near Burbank, Pasadena, Hollywood, Los Angeles, and more!
The Medical Assistant program can be taken at the following campuses:
Careers for Medical Assistants
Work Environment
The Medical Assistant program at Glendale Career College offers the education and training required to start a career working in a number of different medical and health care facilities. Program graduates regularly find jobs working in:
- Clinics
- Doctors’ offices
- Research facilities
- Hospitals
- HMOs
- Public health organizations
- And other medical facilities.
Quick Facts about Medical Assistants*
- Employment of Medical Assistants is expected to increase by 23 percent nationally from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.
- Medical Assistants mainly work in primary care, a steadily expanding sector of the health care field.
- Doctors are expected to hire more Medical Assistants to handle routine administrative and clinical responsibilities, allowing physicians to see more patients as their practices expand.
- Most Medical Assistants work in doctors’ offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other medical facilities. In 2014, more than half of all Medical Assistants worked in doctors’ offices.
- Most Medical Assistants work full time. Some work during the evenings or on weekends or holidays to cover shifts in health care facilities that are always open.
*Source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm For more information, including median wages and the job outlook for Medical Assistants in California, see the California Occupational Guide published by the State of California Employment Development Department. For the most up-to-date national information, please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Medical Assistant Course Material
The Medical Assistant program is broken down into eight class course modules, along with a 144-hour clinical externship where students have the chance to apply the skills they learn in the classroom in an actual health care setting. Upon successfully completing the Medical Assistant program, the graduate will be qualified to work in physicians' offices, general medical clinics, or urgent care clinics.
The student will be able to perform the duties necessary for examinations, utilize diagnostic equipment, perform laboratory duties, and operate in all phases of the business office, including having a working knowledge of digital data input. Graduates will be qualified to accept entry- or middle-level positions as Medical Assistants.
Program courses include:
- Seminar for Success – This is an orientation and success building course for Career Students. It offers a review of basic math, language, vocabulary, and writing skills. It also covers an introduction to core career classes, the availability of community resources, outlining, summarizing, managing credit, and other life skills. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Medical History and Fundamentals – This course offers an overview of the roles and duties of the medical paraprofessional and introduces students to medical specialties and subspecialties. This course also covers the structures and functions of the human body. Topics center on the history of medicine, the health care team and office environment, interpersonal communications, medical ethics and law, intro to keyboarding, and understanding medical terminology. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Medical Office Administration – This course outlines the basic procedures of the daily management of a medical office. Students will engage in activities and simulation exercises related to practice management throughout the course. Course topics include telephone techniques; scheduling appointments; word processing projects such as resumes and cover letters; processing insurance claims; creating and maintaining patient records; medical office management software; and basic keyboarding. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Anatomy & Physiology A – This course centers on the respiratory and circulatory systems. Students will have the opportunity to learn a number of patient-care skills such as Venipuncture, ECG testing, and specialty exams. Students will also have the chance to practice skills introduced in this course through laboratory exercises. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Anatomy & Physiology B – Students will focus on the lymphatic, immune, digestive, urinary and nervous systems in this course. They will also have the chance to learn related laboratory skills such as urinalysis and microscope use, and practice those skills through laboratory exercises. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Anatomy & Physiology C –Students are introduced to the male and female reproductive systems in this course, along with the endocrine, integumentary, sensory, and muscular and skeletal systems. Students will have the chance to put skills learned in this course into practice through laboratory exercises. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Medical Assisting Skills – Students will learn basic pharmacology and dosage calculation in this course. Along with assisting with medications and injections, students will also assist with minor surgical procedures. This course also introduces practical skills such as surgical instruments and tray sets, medical asepsis, and sterile gloving. Behaviors influencing health, stress reduction, and time management skills are covered, as are alternative related therapies. Lab exercises will give students the chance to practice skills introduced in this course. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
Medical Assisting Skills and Response Training
– Students will cover office emergencies and first aid techniques in this course. Students will also participate in Basic Life Support training for the health care provider—giving them the opportunity to become CPR certified. Lab exercises will give students the chance to practice skills introduced in this course. Students will also have the opportunity to discuss starting their job search. Outside preparation and study time, in addition to regular classroom activities, is necessary to finish the class assignments. The type of outside preparation may include homework assignments, projects, reading, and required studying.
- Clinical Externship – After successfully completing classroom training, medical assisting students will take part in a supervised 160-hour externship experience in a medical setting. This course is required for graduation.
Medical Assistant Course Activities
Medical Assistant program graduates regularly find entry-level positions in health care offices and facilities, including private medical offices, hospitals, clinics, public health organizations, and other health care related organizations.
Medical Assistants usually handle the following tasks:
- Scheduling appointments for patients.
- Getting patients ready for exams.
- Recording patient history and personal information.
- Taking vitals, including blood pressure.
- Assisting doctors with examinations of patients.
- Readying instruments and supplies for doctors.
- Administering patients injections or medications as directed by the doctor and as permitted by state law.
- Getting patient laboratory samples ready for testing.
