Sandburg offers a medical assisting certificate and degree to prepare you to perform administrative, clinical and laboratory duties in a variety of healthcare settings as a competent entry-level medical assistant.
Medical assistants are one of the fastest-growing healthcare occupations. Administrative responsibilities may include front-office reception, billing, bookkeeping, basic correspondence and scheduling of appointments. Clinical duties include taking medical histories, recording vital signs, collecting laboratory specimens, performing basic laboratory tests, taking electrocardiograms, and assisting the physician during the examination and treatment of patients.
Pathways to other health-related programs
Medical assistants can move into Sandburg's other health programs:
Admission requirements
If you're interested in being a medical assistant, meet with a Sandburg academic advisor prior to registering and attend the required program orientation session.
You must have healthcare provider CPR certification throughout the program, show proof of immunizations and required titers, TB test, physical examination, criminal background check and drug screen.
Although the COVID-19 vaccination is not an admission requirement, most clinical sites require vaccination against COVID-19. Check with your program coordinator for more details.
Findings on the criminal background check and drug screen may prevent entrance to the program, and findings on the physical examination and drug screen may prevent placement at the clinical sites.
Program outcomes
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MEDICAL ASSISTING JOBS
The employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 19% from 2019-2029*, much faster than the average for all healthcare professions.
Medical assistants work closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals and office personnel. Although most medical assistants work a regular 40-hour week, they may be assigned evenings or weekends depending on their place of employment. The medical assistant provides both direct patient care and administrative functions.
If you’re considering this field, you should be able to accurately record and keep track of information, maintain confidentiality, deal calmly and professionally with patients, follow medical charts and understand diagnoses, and work with electronic health records, according to these essential skills & abilities.
*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor.
Program goals
- To prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains.
- To safely and effectively perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks as an entry-level medical assistant.
- To display professionalism in the workplace and communicate effectively both verbally and in writing within a work environment.
- To follow standards, policies and procedures of the physician’s office within the medical assistant scope of practice demonstrating ethical and legal behaviors.
ACCREDITATION & LICENSURE
Accreditation
The Sandburg medical assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
CAAHEP
9355 - 113th St. N. #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
727.210.2350
Licensure
Once you graduate from the Sandburg medical assisting program, you’re eligible to take the Certified Medical Assisting (CMA) exam through American Association of Medical Assistants, a nationally recognized certification credential. Upon successful completion of the CMA exam, you’re eligible to work in all 50 states. Upon successful completion of the program, you’re also eligible to take the certification exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (CMA Exam) or the American Medical Technologists (RMA Exam).
Professional licensure disclosures
Postsecondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs are required to make certain disclosures to enrolled and prospective students, parents, employees and the public. The U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (34 §C.F.R. 668.43) requires disclosures by institutions regarding educational requirements for programs leading to professional licensure or certification regardless of modality. The institution must make readily available to enrolled and prospective students information about whether programs leading to professional licensure or certification meet educational requirements.
View licensure information by state for dental hygiene, medical imaging programs, medical assisting and mortuary science. If Sandburg hasn’t determined whether a program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification outside the state of Illinois, contact the licensing entity to determine whether it meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in the state you live or work.
Email the dean of health professions with questions.
SAMPLE COURSE SCHEDULE
This is a sample class schedule, which is subject to change. Courses in this program are offered face-to-face and multiple modalities — meaning students may attend a traditional classroom lecture, through a virtual platform or online. Mandatory attendance is required at all labs and ALH 155 and MDA 125 classes.
Certificate program
Fall semester — 16 weeks
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Online |
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Online |
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Online |
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Online |
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5-7:20 p.m. virtual meeting |
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5-5:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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7:30-9:20 p.m. virtual meeting |
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6-7:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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Spring semester — 16 weeks
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Online |
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4:20-4:50 p.m. in-person lab on campus |
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5-5:50 p.m. in-person lab on campus |
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5-7:50 p.m. virtual meeting |
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5-8:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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6-7:50 p.m. in-person lab on campus |
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8-9:50 p.m. in-person lab on campus |
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Summer session — eight weeks
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Online |
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TBA — externship coordinated with the student and program coordinator |
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Program total: 34
AAS program
First year: Fall semester — 16 weeks
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Online |
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5-7:20 p.m. virtual meeting |
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5-5:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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6-7:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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7-9:20 p.m. virtual meeting |
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Spring semester — 16 weeks
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Online |
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4:20-4:50 p.m. in-person lab on campus |
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5-5:50 p.m. in-person lab on campus |
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5-7:50 p.m. virtual meeting |
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5-8:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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6-7:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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8-9:50 p.m. in-person on campus |
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Summer session — eight weeks
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Online |
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TBA — externship coordinated with the student and program coordinator |
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Second year: Fall semester
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8-9:15 a.m. |
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9:30-10:45 a.m. |
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11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. OR online |
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Spring semester
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8-9:15 a.m. |
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1:00pm-2:15pm |
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Online |
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COURSE INFORMATION
Class formats
Sandburg offers courses in a variety of formats to best fit your needs. Regardless of the format, make sure you have access to a reliable computer with high-speed internet. All courses use online resources and require you to access course information through mySandburg. The Galesburg and Carthage campuses have open computer labs for your use as a student.
Estimated costs
The cost for this 34 credit-hour course is approximately $8,689.
Financial aid, grants & scholarships
Learn how you can take advantage of financial aid, grants and scholarships available to Sandburg students.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) helps job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. Learn more, and complete this form to determine your eligibility.
Career and technical programs/courses follow our equal opportunity & non-discrimination statement [link to 11.4.10]. For more information, email the Title IX coordinator, or call 309.341.5258 or the ADA/504 coordinator at 309.341.5262.