Medical Assistant Programs
Associate Degree and Certificate
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does a Medical Assistant do?
   Medical Assistants participate in the operation of a physician office or other healthcare settings by performing routine clinical skills and administrative tasks. Administrative duties may include, but not limited to, greeting patients, answering phones, updating and filing patients’ medical records, completing insurance forms and handling billing. Clinical duties may include, but not limited to, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, assisting the physician during procedures, giving vaccinations and performing basic laboratory tests. For more information about Medical Assistants and their duties performed, go to the American Medical Technologists website at www.amt1.com.
    
2. What is the employment outlook for a Medical Assistant?
   Healthcare is a fast-growing industry. Medical assisting will be one of the fastest growing occupations through 2014! In addition, there will be a projected need for 273,000 additional Medical Assistants in the time frame 2004-2014.
   **Information based on Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and Occupational Outlook Network data**
    
3. What is the estimated salary for a Medical Assistant?
   Earnings vary depending on experience, education and skill level. The following stated earnings is a median base salary range and is not specific to experience or additional skills.
                           Medical Assistant                    $28,097
   **The above information is reported data as of May 2007, specific for Hagerstown, MD, and obtained from Salary.com.**
    
4. What kind of job opportunities are available for a Medical Assistant?
   Medical Assistants work in hospitals, physician offices, clinics and other healthcare settings.
    
5. Are there advancement opportunities for a Medical Assistant?
   Medical Assistants may advance to an office managerial position or other administrative positions. In addition, some decide to continue their education to become nurses, radiologists, and other allied health professionals.
    
6. Is HCC’s Medical Assisting program accredited?
   Yes. The College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges. This accreditation enables the Medical Assistant student to sit for a medical assisting national certification exam.
    
7. Upon completing the program am I able to take a national certification exam?
   Yes. Students who successfully complete the program are eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologist (AMT) national certification exam in medical assisting. AMT is a well-respected national certification and professional membership association. The Medical Assistant is considered a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) or RMA certified, upon passing the AMT certification exam.
    
8. Is a Registered Medical Assistant considered certified?
   Yes. If you are registered, you are certified. AMT’s Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) is certified as such.
    
9. Is state licensing required in Maryland or Pennsylvania for Medical Assistants?
   No. Currently there are no licensing requirements. However, employers do prefer to hire certified applicants who have passed a national examination, indicating the Medical Assistant meets certain standards of competence.
    
10. Is HCC’s Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy Department responsible for job placement?
    No. The Career Center, located in the College Center building, provides information to students on career choices and assists them with their job search skills. However, exposure to a healthcare site during the externship may lead to a job opportunity.
     
11. What is a clinical externship?
    The student is assigned to an actual healthcare workplace to demonstrate the skills and knowledge learned during the program. The Medical Assistant student can choose one of the two following options for the externship:
     
    1. Divide the total externship in half. Perform the administrative externship (80 hrs.) after completing the administrative courses and then perform the clinical externship (80 hrs.) at the end of the program as the last course.
                                                     OR
    2. Complete the whole program and perform both the administrative and clinical externship (160 hrs.) at the end as the last course.
        
    The student must have completed the required courses prior to performing the externship of choice. The student’s externship hours are uncompensated.
     
12. Am I allowed to choose a location for my externship site?
    No. Hagerstown Community College is contracted with certain healthcare facilities that offer a site where you demonstrate your clinical and administrative skills. There are sites available in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. The Externship Coordinator meets with you to discuss your options and site availability.
     
13. When should I prepare for my externship?
    Terri-Lee Hall, the Externship Coordinator, meets with you during a class the semester beforehand to give instructions on the process. Then you will schedule an individual meeting with Ms. Hall. At this time, she will give you permission to enroll in the externship. You will not be able to register for the externship without this permission. In addition, there is a MANDATORY meeting the week before the semester starts for your externship. Contact Terri-Lee Hall at ext. 286 with any externship questions.
     
14. What are the externship requirements?
    The requirements need to be completed prior to starting the externship and/or when determined by the Externship Coordinator. Each externship site has its own specific requirements for students. Most require a two-step PPD test, a record of certain immunizations (ex. MMR, Varicella, DTP, Hep B), and a criminal background check. The student also has to provide a health record that includes a history and physical. In addition, the student must obtain CPR and First Aid certifications.
     
15. At what point in the program should I obtain my CPR and First Aid certification?
    Certification has to be obtained and up to date prior to starting your externship. CPR and First Aid certification is valid for two years. In conjunction with Washington County Hospital, HCC offers CPR and First Aid courses. Contact HCC’s Continuing Education Department at ext. 236 about upcoming course offerings.
     
16. Does the program require that I wear a uniform?
    Yes. During the externship, students are required to adhere to the externship sites’ specific dress code policies. In addition, courses MAP 202 and MAP 209 require the student to wear scrubs.
     
17. What is the difference between the certificate program and degree program in Medical Assisting?
    The degree requirement is 70 credits and the certificate requirement is 40 credits. Both programs require the same amount of externship time. Having an associate degree has advantages in the workplace. Employers may require a degree for advancement opportunities. The choice depends on your long-term career goals. A Medical Assistant with a degree may earn more. However, there is minimal data available on the salary difference between the two options. If undecided on which program, obtain the certificate first, find employment, and continue taking the general education requirements to reach your degree goal.
     
18. How long does it take to complete the programs?
    Completion time depends on whether the student attends full-time or part-time. Most students are part-time because they attend HCC while still being employed. Because of this, completion time is specific to each student enrolled. However, if the student attends full-time, the degree program can be completed in 6 semesters. The student seeking the certificate can be completed in 4 semesters. The above time frames are based on the student meeting the prerequisite standards of Math 98, English 100, and IST 101 prior to starting the program.
    **The above timeframes are based on courses being offered each semester**
     
19. Why should I choose Hagerstown Community College’s Medical Assisting Program?
    The benefits of enrolling in Hagerstown Community College’s Medical Assisting Program are:
    • Lower tuition fees compared to other area programs.
    • HCC’s Middle States accreditation allows students to transfer their credits to another educational institution.
    • Networking advantages - members of the programs faculty are employed from a variety of medical practices and healthcare sites in the area.
    • Externship Coordinator available to assist students in their clinical externship experience.
    • Required courses are needed in other allied health programs enabling the student to work toward multiple certificates at one time.
    • Classes and labs will be offered in the newly renovated Career Programs Building.

Hagerstown Community College Contact Information:

• Terri-Lee Hall
  Externship Coordinator
  Medical Assisting/Phlebotomy Programs
  301.790.2800 Ext. 286