Medical Assisting Certificates of Achievement
Merritt College Medical Assisting Department offers three Certificate of Achievement Programs for those interested in early entryway into the Allied Health Career Path. Each of these programs are less than a year to complete. Beginning in Fall 2021 there will be some synchronous times expected of students to attend Zoom Meetings or Face-to-face Skills Labs. See also Programs in New Catalog for 2021-2022 Academic Year and thereafter.
Synchronous times will vary with the courses, but most courses are fully online.
Our Certificates are:
- Clinical Medical Assisting
- Administrative Medical Assisting
- Health Navigator (also known as Patient Navigator)
The most popular Certificate is the Clinical Medical Assisting. However, we recommend a course or two of the Administrative Medical Assisting to supplement your Clinical Certificate. You do not need to complete both certificates. It is strongly recommended you take one or more of the MEDAS Administrative Classes also so you can be more marketable by adding front office skills to your experience. If you enjoy both front and back office MA duties then both Certificates are recommended. The Administrative Courses are usually offered in the Spring and listed as MEDAS 103A, B, &C. That series will supplement the Clinical Certificate-to improve hiring opportunities.
You do not need a special Application for Medical Assisting Programs, but we strongly recommend:
- Eligibility for English 1A or for English Learners to be at ESOL 4 Level.
Medical Assisting and Health Occupations Programs
Now Offering Three Certificates of Achievement
Certificate of Achievement
Clinical Medical Assisting (Most Popular Tract)
Program Description
The Clinical Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement is a Career Education program that delivers quality instruction within a comprehensive curriculum that provides students with enhanced employment opportunities and/ or upward career mobility in the areas of healthcare, public health, and “back office” medical assisting duties. The program prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary for obtaining work in the health care field as a Medical Assistant. Graduates of this program are prepared to work with physicians and other team members and facilitate office visits for patients to be seen by the health care provider. Under the direction of the Medical Doctor, graduates assist with many procedures and often assist in health education to support clients’ health and disease management. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all requirements.
Program Goals and Objectives
The Clinical Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement program is a Career Education program. Its goal is to provide quality instruction within a comprehensive curriculum that provides the student enhanced employment opportunities and/or upward career mobility in the areas of healthcare, public health, and “back office” duties. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all major requirements.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities may include Medical Assistant (MA), Certified Medical Assistant (C-MA), Administrative Medical Assistant (AMA), Certified Administrative Medical Assistant (C-AMA), Medical Office Assistant, Chiropractic Assistant, Client Services Coordinator, Medical Support Assistant, and Patient Services Specialist, and Patient Navigator or Health Navigator.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Clearly communicate via writing, speaking, listening, and reading.
- Acquire Reasoning Skills-to evaluate and interpret information during patient encounter. Students will be able to solve problems relevant to the Medical Assistant Job Duties as outlined by community employers.
- Demonstrate Professional Behaviors- timeliness and interpersonal skills, teamwork and embracing cultural diversity whilst performing clinical skills.
- Enhance Technical Skills- emphasis on mastery of assistive clinical medical skills and charting. Program offers hands on skills lab supplemented by demonstrating mastery of clinical skills with use of vetted software for medical office simulation.
Clinical Medical Assisting
Certificate of Achievement Requirements
| Major Core Courses for Certificate of Achievement
and proposed Schedule |
|||
| Subject # | Course Title | Units | Sequence |
| Proposed for Summer 2021: | |||
| HTLOC 101 or HLTOC 201 | Medical Terminology
Medical Terminology I |
3 or
2 |
Year 1, Summer |
| Total Summer Session Units | 3 or 2 | ||
| Proposed for Fall 2021: | |||
| MEDAS 101A
MEDAS 101B MEDAS 102A MEDAS 102B MEDAS 102C |
Introduction to Medical Assisting
Disorders of the Body Systems in Primary Care Clinical Medical Assisting I Clinical Medical Assisting II Clinical Medical Assisting III |
2
3 3 3 2 |
Year 1, Fall.
|
| Special Notes:
MEDAS 101A & 101B replaces MEDAS 201A (from the old program) MEDAS 102A, 102B, & 102C replaces MEDAS 201B (from the old program) MEDAS 101A (2Units) also replaces COUNS 207C requirement from the old program |
|||
| Total Semester Units | 13 | ||
| Proposed for Spring 2022: | |||
| HLTOC 110 or
HLTED 11 HLTOC 260 COPED 470F |
CPR and First Aid for Allied Health Programs or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Emotional Intelligence Occupational Work Experience in Medical Assisting (Externship Class-Special Admission) |
1 or
0.5 2 2
|
Year 1, Spring
|
| Total Semester Units | 5.5 – 6 | ||
| Major Requirements | 19.5 ─ 21 | ||
Certificate of Achievement #2
Administrative Medical Assisting
Program Description
The Administrative Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement program prepares students to perform “front office” duties via the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Systems. Students will demonstrate proficiency in the following skills and more: medical records documentation, patient intake, electronic medical records management, patient reception, scheduling appointments, medical insurance, and introduction to billing and coding and collections. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all major requirements.
Program Goals and Objectives
The Administrative Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement program is a Career Education program. Its goal is to provide quality instruction within a comprehensive curriculum that provides the student enhanced employment opportunities and/or upward career mobility in the areas of healthcare, public health, and “front office” duties. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all major requirements.
Career Opportunities
Career opportunities may include Medical Assistant (MA), Certified Medical Assistant (C-MA), Administrative Medical Assistant (AMA), Certified Administrative Medical Assistant (C-AMA), Medical Office Assistant, Chiropractic Assistant, Client Services Coordinator, Medical Support Assistant, and Patient Services Specialist, and Patient Navigator.
Program Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Clearly communicate via writing, speaking, listening, and reading.
- Acquire Reasoning Skills-to evaluate and interpret information. Students will be able to solve problems relevant to the Medical Assistant Job Duties as outlined by community employers.
- Demonstrate Professional Behaviors- timeliness and interpersonal skills, teamwork and embracing cultural diversity.
- Enhance Technical Skills- emphasis on mastery of electronic health record (EHR) charting with use of vetted software for medical office simulation.
Program Learning Objectives
- Provide effective instruction and student learning that results in the successful attainment of educational goals through the completion of a certificate of
- Offer a valuable and relevant curriculum that imparts to the student the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for successful entry-level employment as an Administrative Medical Assistant.
- Maintain a process of assessment and improvement to enhance the teaching/learning process and increase opportunities for student success.
Program Requirements
Administrative Medical Assisting #3
Certificate of Achievement Requirements: 17 Units
| Subject # | Title | Units | Sequence |
| Major Core Courses | |||
| MEDAS 101A
HTLOC 101 or 201 |
Introduction to Medical Assisting
Medical Terminology or Med Terminology I |
2
3 or 2 2 2 |
Year 1, Fall.
Year 1, Fall |
| MEDAS 103A | Administrative Medical Assisting I | Year 1, Fall | |
| HLTOC 260 | Emotional Intelligence | Year 1, Fall | |
| Subtotal Semester Units | 8 or 9 | ||
| HLTOC 110
MEDAS 103B HTLOC 263 |
CPR and First Aid for Allied Health Programs
Administrative Medical Assisting II Communication Skills for Healthcare Professionals |
1
2 3 |
Year 1, Spring
Year 1, Spring Year 1, Spring |
| Subtotal Semester Units | 6 | ||
| MEDAS 103C | Administrative Medical Assisting III | 2 | Year 1, Summer |
| Subtotal Semester Units | 2 | ||
| Special Notes:
MEDAS 103A, 103B, and 103C replaces MEDAS 201D (from the old program)
|
|||
| Recommended Course | |||
| COPED 470F | Occupational Work Experience in Medical Assisting | (1) | Year 1, Summer |
| Major Requirements | 17 | ||
*For Course Descriptions Please see Below.
Health Navigator
Certificate of Achievement
Program Description:
The Health Navigator Certificate of Achievement program prepares students with the knowledge, skills, and attributes necessary for obtaining work in the fields of healthcare, public health, and human/social services. Working with case managers and other team members, Health Navigators provide guidance, health assessments, health education, health outreach, and community resource referrals to support a client’s disease management, lifestyle management, and care coordination. They act as a bridge between the patient, the family, the community, the health care team, and the healthcare system. This program can be completed within one year, culminating in a Certificate of Achievement upon satisfactory completion of all requirements.
Program Goals and Objectives
The Health Navigator Certificate of Achievement program is a Career Education program. Its goal is to provide quality instruction within a comprehensive curriculum that provides the student enhanced employment opportunities and/or upward career mobility in the areas of healthcare, public health, and human/social services.
Program Student Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate job readiness by conducting a client-centered interview and applying health navigator core competencies, emotional intelligence, and effective communication skills to clients with diverse backgrounds and barriers to care.
- Demonstrate job readiness by conducting a client-centered interview using metrics/data for validating value-added services and providing community resources and social service referrals to support formerly incarcerated clients, survivors of trauma, and/or clients with chronic conditions.Program Learning Objectives
- To provide effective instruction and student learning that result in the successful attainment of educational goals through the completion of a certificate of achievement.
- To offer a valuable and relevant curriculum that imparts to the student the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for successful entry-level employment as a Health Navigator.
- To maintain a process of assessment and improvement to enhance the teaching/learning process and increase opportunities for student success.
Program Requirements
Health Navigator
Certificate of Achievement
| Required Course Dept.
Name/# |
Course Name |
Units |
Prerequisite |
Sequence |
| HTLOC 150
HTLOC 101
HTLOC 263
HTLOC 261 |
Introduction to Health Care Careers
Medical Terminology 1
Communication Skills for the Healthcare Professional
Health Navigator 1 |
2
3
3
2 |
None
None
None
None |
Year 1, Fall |
| Subtotal Semester Units | 10 | |||
| HTLOC 260 | Emotional Intelligence | 2 | None | Year 1, Spring |
| HTLOC 262 | Health Navigator 2 | 3 | HTLOC 261 | Year 1, Spring |
| HTLOC 264 | Chronic Condition Management | 2 | HTLOC 201 | Year 1, Spring |
| Subtotal Semester Units | 7 | |||
| Total Program Units | 17 | |||
*For Course Descriptions please see that link under Courses
