Medical assistants are health care professionals who work in physicians' offices or other ambulatory care settings as part of the health care team. Medical assistants are trained to competently perform a broad range of administrative, clinical and laboratory duties required by modern medical practices. Because of the versatility of the medical assistant profession, the specific duties performed on a daily basis may vary by place of employment.
All medical assistants must work under the supervision of a medical provider. Most employers require medical assistants to obtain their medical assistant credential upon completion of their education, and maintain it throughout employment. Successful medical assistants display a devotion to serving others, a passion for learning, and a commitment to professional excellence.
The Medical Assistant Program at Greenville Technical College is designed to prepare students for professional success through hands-on training, practicum experience in physicians' offices, and curriculum designed to enhance knowledge and proficiency. Graduates of this program are eligible to pursue the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
If you're seeking a career in a high-demand field, we can help make your education even more affordable.
The Career Pathways Scholarship may cover the cost of tuition, fees and books if you're enrolled in a qualifying program at GTC.
Please note: Pre-Health Sciences and Pre-Nursing students who are currently enrolled as Associate of Science students are not eligible for the scholarship until they are accepted and enrolled into the Health Sciences/Nursing program they have selected.
Well-trained and credentialed medical assistants are in high-demand and are actively recruited by employers, both locally and nationwide.
National Outlook
Medical Assisting is projected by the Department of Labor to be one of the fastest growing careers in health care, expected to grow 18% from 2020-2030. National career information for medical assistants is available from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Occupational Risks
Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards, as practitioners can perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics clearly outlines that it is a growth field, with an anticipated 18% growth from 2020 to 2030. Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.
As with any healthcare position, there are certain occupational risks that come into play with being a medical assistant, and those hazards include the following:
At the same time, there are protections set up with the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), and those protections are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
Accredited medical assisting programs are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THE PROGRAM
The Medical Assistant program curriculum has been developed to meet the requirements of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board. Successful students are able to competently demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills and professional behaviors necessary to provide quality patient care. Areas of focus include:
Below you will find examples of curriculum topics covered in our program, in preparation for performing the typical duties of entry-level medical assistants:
Additional program information can be found in the section Program Goals and Outcomes below.
The Medical Assistant Program at Greenville Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (http://www.maerb.com).
CAAHEP
9355 - 113th St. N. #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Phone: 727-210-2350
http://www.caahep.org
Published annual program outcomes can be found below under the tab PROGRAM OUTCOMES.
Credentialing
Graduates of the Greenville Technical College Medical Assistant program are eligible to pursue the Certified Medical Assistant - CMA (AAMA) credential through the American Association of Medical Assistants. Initial certification is awarded to graduates who successfully complete the certification examination.
The value of the CMA (AAMA) credential is recognized by employers across the country. CMA (AAMA) skills are in demand in a wide range of health care delivery settings, and the credential is valid wherever the CMA (AAMA) goes. For more information, visit the AAMA website: http://www.aama-ntl.org/
Professional Licensure and Certification Requirements
Students who are considering an academic program that may allow them to pursue professional licensure in another state are strongly encouraged to check that state’s information and contact the appropriate licensing agency for additional information and guidance before beginning the program.
Greenville Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Degree-granting institutions also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.
Questions about the accreditation of Greenville Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Medical Assistant
Certificate in Applied Science
This program trains students to become versatile medical assisting professionals who work in various roles in outpatient clinics.
This 38-credit hour program is designed as a 1 + 1 program.
Medical Assistant program details from our current catalog »
Click the program below to view the ideal grouping of courses in order by semester. This plan assumes a full-time schedule. Note, however, that many variables can affect this plan, and not every course is offered every semester. Please see your advisor to map out your own personalized progression toward graduation.
In addition to the Greenville Technical College admissions process outlined in these Enrollment Steps, students interested in the Medical Assistant program must also
The Medical Assistant program strictly adheres to all School of Health Sciences policies, which are detailed on the Health Sciences admissions information page.
Participating in a Career Talk session for your program is a requirement for all Health Sciences students. Career Talk is an information session that covers all program information, the admissions process and all aspects of the career. Due to the complex nature of the weighted admissions process, students are encouraged to review the career talk as soon as they have an interest in the program to make sure they have a clear understanding of the career and the acceptance process.
View the Medical Assistant Career Talk (pdf) »
Students who have Phase I courses in progress or due to be completed prior to cohort start are eligible to apply for a provisional seat in the next cohort. Eligibility will be reevaluated once grades for pending Phase I courses are posted.
Questions related to the Gated Admission process may be directed to MEDadmissions@gvltec.edu.
Program Orientation
Students accepted into Phase II are required to attend an orientation session held prior to cohort start.
Mandatory Unpaid Practicum Experience
Medical Assistant students must complete two mandatory practicum experiences for a total of 200 hours during their education. During this time, students must not receive compensation/payment, monetary or otherwise, from the practice providing the practicum experience. Practicum placements occur within the following courses: MED 107 and MED 156.
The Medical Assistant Program at Greenville Technical College, working with all communities of interest, will provide quality, outcomes-based education and training in a secure environment conducive to learning.
Instruction will be structured to meet all required curriculum standards for training the entry-level medical assistant.
The program will work to instill the qualities of professionalism, integrity and responsibility in our students to prepare them to be outstanding members of the medical assisting community.
The Medical Assistant Program at Greenville Technical College values learning, integrity, diversity, cooperation, excellence and accountability. Communities of interest strive to successfully prepare entry-level medical assistants who exemplify these qualities. Graduates will demonstrate critical thinking, commitment to safe practices, effective communication, empathetic and professional patient care, and are able to competently perform the core administrative and clinical skills required by medical practices and other ambulatory care environments. The program's goal is as follows:
To prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains required to enter the profession.
Upon completion of the medical assistant program, a successful student will:
Highlights from the 2024 Annual Report to the Medical Assistant Educational Review Board indicate that:
Academic Program Director
Sophia Shorter, MS, CMA (AAMA)
864-250-3663
Sophia.Shorter@gvltec.edu
Practicum Coordinator
Melissa Hester, BA, CMA (AAMA)
864-250-3662
Melissa.Hester@gvltec.edu
Administrative Assistant
Lisa Patterson
864-250-3660
Lisa.Patterson@gvltec.edu