Dress Code

All students in the Medical Assistant program are required to follow the professional appearance code while attending on-campus laboratory classes as well as while at a clinical site participating in the practicum component of the program. A neat, clean, and professional appearance is expected at all times. Working closely with medical equipment, as well as with other staff members, requires that students maintain strict personal hygiene standards. Students will be working on making a lasting impression at the clinical site, and maintaining a professional appearance is an important part of making a good impression.

Failure to adhere to the professional appearance code will result in a warning, and if not corrected, can result in dismissal from the clinical site and possibly the program.

The following are the guidelines of the professional appearance code: 

• Hair must be clean. Long hair must be pulled back and cannot fall forward in front of shoulders while providing patient care. Hair accessories must maintain a professional appearance, safety, and hygiene. Hair of an unnatural color of fad designs is not permitted. Avoid highly colored sprays and maintain only natural-looking hair color. Male students must be neatly shaven and well groomed. Facial hair should be kept trimmed and neat.
• No hats or head coverings are permitted; however, exceptions for religious requirements will be made.
• Fingernails must be kept short, clean, and filed. Artificial nails, nail polish, and added stick-on jewels are not permitted as they harbor microorganisms.
• Dangle earrings or other visible body jewelry (nose rings, lip rings, tongue piercing, bracelets, necklaces that can become entangled in equipment) are not permitted.
• Cosmetics should be worn in moderation. Students are not permitted to wear fragrant products (cologne, perfume, aftershave, lotion, etc.) in clinical settings due to potential patient allergic response. Strong odors, including the odor of a smoker, can be apparent and offensive to patients who are ill.
• Wedding rings may be worn. Avoid large stone rings. Rings can cause injury to patients and can also harbor microorganisms. Earrings (one pair) must be small. No other body piercing jewelry is permitted. If a large medal or chain is worn it should be tucked inside the uniform. Students are required to wear a watch with a sweep second hand.
• Unless other facility-specific guidelines are provided, students are required to wear a clean and pressed medical assistant uniform with the Berkeley College insignia. Appropriate undergarments are to be worn and be undetectable through the uniform.
• Shoes must be professional in nature; solid black or white sneakers are permitted. No sandals, flip flops, clogs, open-toed, or slingback shoes are permitted.
• Students are required to wear their Berkeley College IDs at all times while on campus and at the clinical sites. If a student is employed at the same facility, the employment name badge may not be worn during clinical assignments.