Medical Assisting

What is Medical Assisting?

Medical Assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks. The duties vary depending on office location, size, and specialty. Administrative duties may include answering telephones, greeting patients, scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, and completing insurance forms. Clinical duties may include obtaining medical histories from patients, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting the physician during examinations. Medical Assistants may also collect and prepare laboratory specimens, sterilize instruments, and perform venipunctures and EKGs.

Program Description

The curriculum is a nine-month certificate program which prepares students to be important members of the medical team. Formal instruction is integrated with invaluable field experience. The program requires an eight-week Clinical Externship in a physician’s office, health care agency, or hospital. Other courses include Anatomy and Physiology Terminology, Medical Law and Ethics, Basic Laboratory Procedures, Pharmacology, and Medical Office Management.

Upon successful completion of the program, graduates are eligible to become nationally credentialed by passing a certification exam through the NHA, AMT or AAMA. The college and its programs are accredited under New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).

Graduates from the Massasoit Medical Assisting program receive a certificate of course completion. Once course work is completed, graduates must take a national certification exam to become certified medical assistants. Requirements regarding certification for employment vary by practice and state. Scope of practice laws by state web site.

Medical Assisting Program Handbook (PDF)

The Medical Assistant program is a selective admissions program.
Please visit our Selective Admissions page for more information on admissions requirements.

Career Opportunities
Graduates are in demand in physician offices, health maintenance organizations, hospitals, and clinics. Employment opportunities in this field are projected to grow 16 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Related Professions
Our graduates have also been employed as Administrative Assistants, EKG Technicians, Medical Receptionists, Phlebotomy Technicians, and Clinical Assistants.

Salary Outlook
For more information on salary and occupational outlook, please visit the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic’s Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Advisory Committee – Medical Assistant