Medical Assistant
Become an integral member of a medical team.
Medical Assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. A medical assistant takes vital signs, prepares patients for and assists physicians during examinations, collects and prepares laboratory specimens, performs basic laboratory tests on the premises, schedules appointments, bills patients, fills out insurance forms, and much more.
Berkeley College’s Medical Assistant Associate in Applied Science degree and Certificate programs prepare students to enter the high-demand field of healthcare and to work in a variety of settings, including physicians’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes, and other professional healthcare facilities. Graduates are prepared to meet both the clinical and administrative challenges of today’s rapidly changing healthcare environment.
The Associate in Applied Science degree program is an extension of the career-track certificate program. Graduates of the A.A.S. degree program are also issued a certificate in Medical Assisting.
Graduates of the Medical Assistant programs are eligible to sit for a variety of certification examinations, including:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)*
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Certified Electrocardiography (CET)
- Certified Phlebotomy (CPT)
- Certified Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Students gain experience in a wide variety of areas, including:
- Clinical procedures such as electrocardiography (EKG), venipuncture, and specimen collection
- Medical office administration
- Medical terminology and coding
- Medical law and ethics
Benefit from:
- A strong foundation in both the theory and practice of clinical care
- Hands-on learning using modern equipment in simulated healthcare environments
- Instruction in the use of relevant medical devices and software
- Valuable, practical experience through a program-related, faculty-monitored internship
- Eligibility to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)* or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) examination
*Pending accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Certification
Berkeley College is seeking accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) in connection with this program. Only graduates of CAAHEP-accredited Medical Assistant programs are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam. The CMA designation is a national credential awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), indicating that the Medical Assistant meets certain standards of competence as determined by the AAMA. In the State of New Jersey, Medical Assistants who hold the CMA credential are permitted to administer injections.
Programs
(Program availability is subject to regulatory approval.)
