Sandburg offers a medical assisting certificate and degree to prepare students to perform administrative, clinical and laboratory duties in a variety of healthcare settings as competent entry-level medical assistants. The medical assisting program is offered at the Galesburg campus, with coursework also available at the Carthage Branch Campus.
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 a healthcare provider CPR certification that is taken during the program and is good through the program. You must show proof of Hepatitis B immunization, MMR & Varicella immunizations and titers, Tdap, TB test, physical examination, criminal background check and 10-panel drug screen.
Although the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccines are not an admission requirement, some clinical sites require the flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Please 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
Retention and job placement rates by year
Five-Year Average (2020–2024):
77.42%
Five-Year Average (2020–2024):
53.85%
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 medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
ACCREDITATION & LICENSURE
Accreditation
The Sandburg medical assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the 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 the 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 associate vice president of nursing and 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 in 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
Asynchronous
ALH 130
Asynchronous
ALH 135
Asynchronous
ALH 140
Asynchronous
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
In-person
ALH 135DC
1–2:45 p.m. In-person
ALH 140DC
Asynchronous
ALH 130
Asynchronous
ALH 135
Asynchronous
ALH 140
Asynchronous
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
In-person
ALH 135DC
4–5:50 p.m. Virtual
MDA 116
Asynchronous
ALH 130
Asynchronous
ALH 135
Asynchronous
ALH 140
Asynchronous
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
In-person
ALH 135DC
1–2:45 p.m. In-person
ALH 140DC
5–6:50 p.m.
MDA 114 Lab
4–4:50 p.m.
MDA 116 Lab
Asynchronous
ALH 130
Asynchronous
ALH 135
Asynchronous
ALH 140
Asynchronous
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
In-person
ALH 135DC
1–2:45 p.m. In-person
ALH 140DC
4–6:20 p.m. Virtual
MDA 114
Summer session — eight weeks
Class Schedule
ALH 150
MDA 220
ALH 150
MDA 220
ALH 150
MDA 220
ALH 150
MDA 220
Program total: 34
AAS program
First year: Fall semester — 16 weeks
Asynchronous
ALH 130
ALH 135
ALH 140
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
ALH 135DC
1–2:45 p.m. ALH 140DC
Asynchronous
ALH 130
ALH 135
ALH 140
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
ALH 135DC
MDA 116 (4–5:50 p.m.)
Asynchronous
ALH 130
ALH 135
ALH 140
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
ALH 135DC
ALH 140DC
MDA 114 Lab (5–6:50 p.m.)
MDA 116 Lab
Asynchronous
ALH 130
ALH 135
ALH 140
MDT 100
In-person
ALH 130DC
ALH 135DC
ALH 140DC
MDA 114 (4–6:20 p.m.)
Spring semester — 16 weeks
Asynchronous
ALH155
MDA 112
3:20–3:50 p.m. Lab
ALH 155
4–4:50 p.m. Lab
MDA 112
Asynchronous
ALH 155
MDA 112
4–6:50 p.m. Virtual
MDA 125
Asynchronous
ALH 155
MDA 112
5–8:50 p.m.
MDA 127
5–6:50 p.m. Lab
MDA 125
4–4:50 p.m. Lab
MDA 216
Asynchronous
ALH155
MDA 112
4–6:50 p.m. Virtual
MDA 216
Summer session — eight weeks
Online / Externship
Online
ALH 150
Externship (TBA)
MDA 220
Online
ALH 150
Externship (TBA)
MDA 220
Online
ALH 150
Externship (TBA)
MDA 220
Online
ALH 150
Externship (TBA)
MDA 220
Second Year: Fall Semester
8–9:15 a.m.
BIO 101 – General Biology
11–12:15 p.m.
SOC 101 – Intro to Sociology
8–9:15 a.m.
PSY 101 – Intro to Psychology
8–9:15 a.m.
BIO 101 – General Biology
9:30–10:45 a.m.
ENG 101 – Freshman Composition
11–12:15 p.m.
SOC 101 – Intro to Sociology
8–9:15 a.m.
PSY 101 – Intro to Psychology
Spring semester
8–9:15 a.m.
ENG 102 – Freshman Composition 2
Online
PHL 103 – Biomedical Ethics
BIO 111 – Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals
1–2:15 p.m.
SPE 110 – Interpersonal Communication
Online
PHL 103 – Biomedical Ethics
BIO 111 – Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals
8–9:15 a.m.
ENG 102 – Freshman Composition 2
Online
PHL 103 – Biomedical Ethics
BIO 111 – Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals
1–2:15 p.m.
SPE 110 – Interpersonal Communication
Online
PHL 103 – Biomedical Ethics
BIO 111 – Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals
Medical assisting certificate
Estimated program costs and tuition breakdown
$9,095
Estimated total cost
Includes tuition, books, supplies and fees
$8,675
Based on 34 credit hours
$420
Program and administrative fees
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.
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.