Medical Assisting
Earn a certificate in medical assisting at Chemeketa in less than a year.
Potential Salary$30,000
topics Health Sciences
Skills & InterestHelping People
CareersHealth Sciences
Why choose Medical Assisting?
Are you ready for a fast-growing, entry-level job in the medical field? A medical assisting certificate from Chemeketa will help you get started.
What will you learn?
Medical assistants provide a wide range of roles interacting with patients and assisting healthcare professionals by taking medical histories and checking vital signs.
Through classes offered at Chemeketa's Yamhill Valley Campus in McMinnville, OR, you can begin your path to a career. New enrollment begins in the spring and fall term of each year. Courses are financial aid eligible.
While enrolled in the program, you will acquire American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR certification. Upon successful completion of this certificate program, you will be eligible to take the National Center for Competency Testing National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam, as well as the National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT) exam.
What will you do?
Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Clinical duties for a medical assistant may include –
- Assisting with examinations and treatments
- Obtaining medical histories
- Immunizations and injections
- Performing diagnostic tests and laboratory procedures
A certificate in medical assisting can lead to a great, fast-paced career or provide the foundation for working toward becoming a nurse or physician's assistant.
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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
You must meet these qualifications to be considered for admission into the Medical Assistant program –
Proof of Reading 115 Competency
Completion with a grade "C" or better of RD 080/085 or RD 090; or placement into RD 115+ on Chemeketa placement test OR proof of an Associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution will fulfill this requirement.
Completion or "In progress" of Prerequisites
Completion with a grade "C" or better of –
- HM 120
- MTH 060 (or higher)
- PSY 104
- WR 090 (or higher)
No substitutions for PSY 104 are accepted. All four classes should be completed before you are eligible to apply to the program, but are also accepted as "in progress" at the time of application submission.
See Course Sequences for more information.
Proof of High School/GED Completion
Copy of high school diploma, GED, or high school transcripts showing graduation date
Age
You must be 18 by the date the program starts
Background Check and Drug Test (ordered by the college, and for accepted students only)
All accepted students must-
- Pass a background check
- Pass a 10 panel urinalysis drug test
- Show proof of certain immunizations
- Disqualifying Crimes List (being convicted of any of these crimes would result in background check being declined)
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GENERAL EDUCATION CLASS REQUIREMENTS
The following four classes must either be completed OR in progress when you apply to the Medical Assisting program, and must be passed with a "C" or better to be accepted –
- HM 120: Medical Terminology 1
- PSY 104: Workplace Psychology (no substitutions accepted)
- MTH 060: (or higher) Introductory Algebra
- WR 090 (or higher): Fundamentals of Writing
See Course Sequences for more information.
- HM 120: Medical Terminology 1
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APPLY FOR ADMISSION
Application Instructions: The next time we will start a cohort is Fall Term(Sept 25) 2023.
Application Acceptance period for Fall Cohort: July 17th-30th, 2023.
Fall 2023 Medical Assisting Application
Fall 2023 Medical Assisting Scoring Guide
Applications for the fall 2023 cohort are accepted via electronic submission. If students don't have access to do that, you can drop off in person at the Yamhill Valley Campus Bldg 1.
Address to email/scan application to: yamhillcte@chemeketa.edu
Fax number: 503.584.7546
Mailing Address: 306 NE Norton Lane McMinnville, OR 97128
We offer two cohorts a year- one starts in the fall, and one in the spring terms. The application acceptance period for the fall cohort is during summer, and the application acceptance period for the spring cohort is in early winter of each year.
Additional Points Opportunity
Students who have completed HM 121- Medical Terminology 2 with a grade "C" or better will be eligible for two additional points on their application score sheet. One point will be awarded for HM 121 in progress at time of submission. Must show proof on transcripts.
If you have questions about the application process, please email us.
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ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION
Attend one of our upcoming information sessions where program faculty will talk about the application and scoring process, what it's like to be a medical assistant and answer any questions you might have. NOT REQUIRED prior to submitting your application, but is recommended.
Upcoming Information Session Dates
- In person- Salem Campus Building 8 room 205
2-3pm on June 1, 2023 - Zoom Meeting
3:30-4:30pm on June 6, 2023
Join meeting at: https://chemeketa.zoom.us/j/
94879420071 Or iPhone one-tap :
US: +16694449171,,94879420071# or +16699006833,,94879420071#Or Telephone:
Dial(for higher quality, dial a number based on your current location):
US: +1 669 444 9171 or +1 669 900 6833 or +1 719 359 4580 or +1 253 205 0468 or +1 253 215 8782 or +1 346 248 7799 or +1 360 209 5623 or +1 386 347 5053 or +1 507 473 4847 or +1 564 217 2000 or +1 646 876 9923 or +1 646 931 3860 or +1 689 278 1000 or +1 301 715 8592 or +1 305 224 1968 or +1 309 205 3325 or +1 312 626 6799
Meeting ID: 948 7942 0071
International numbers available: https://chemeketa.zoom.us/u/aGFYvwv5A
- In person- Salem Campus Building 8 room 205
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TUITION & FEES
Total approximate cost for Medical Assisting Program at Chemeketa Community College: 2022-2023
Medical Assisting Classes:
MED 124 (4 credits)- Taken Term 2
Tuition: $396 Universal credit fee: $148
Additional class fees: $325 NR
Total= $869
MED 125 (5 credits) Taken Term 2
Tuition: $495 Universal credit fee: $185
Additional class fees: $325 NR
Total= $1005
MED 130 (5 credits) Taken Term 2
Tuition: $495 Universal credit fee: $185
Additional class fees: $325
Total= $1005TOTAL Tuition/universal/fees for term 2= $2,879. $650 of MED class fees are non-refundable(covers books, CPR class, stethoscope & BP cuff, scrubs and lab supplies) Upon acceptance, there is an additional fee students will be responsible for paying which covers background & drug test.($90+) As well as some required immunizations (cost varies).
MED 131 (1 credit) Taken Term 3
Tuition: $99 Universal credit fee: $37
Total= $136MED 132 (11 credits) Taken Term 3
Tuition: $1,089 Universal credit fee: $407
Additional class fees: $400
Total: $1,896TOTAL tuition/universal/fees for term 3 = $2,032 ($400 class fee covers interactive reviews, lab supplies, and NCCT medical assisting exam fee)
MED Book Cost: Included in your first term fees. Books are handed out on the first day of class, student does not purchase directly.
General Education Classes: This is just for tuition and universal fees. Some classes have additional fees.
HM 120 (3 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $297 Universal credit fee: $111PSY 104 (4 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $396 Universal credit fee: $148MTH 060 (4 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $396 Universal credit fee: $148WR 090 (4 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $396 Universal credit fee: $148Approximate General education classes Tuition/fee total: $2,040
General Ed Classes book/supplies cost: Depending on what source you use to find books, you can look these up on the Chemeketa bookstore website at: http://bookstore.chemeketa.edu/home.aspx
APPROXIMATE tuition/fees program total: $ 6,951. Subject to change and does not include outside expenses like general education class books, immunization costs, or the cost for background/drug test.