Now Offered at 彩神vlll争霸: Earn your medical assisting certificate
by Jessica Degnan |
With Alaska鈥檚 growing need for healthcare professionals, and medical assistants in general, the 彩神vlll争霸 ( 彩神vlll争霸) is offering a new degree option as a streamlined path for students eager to enter the medical assisting field.
A nationally accredited Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC) in Medical Assisting (MA) is now available at 彩神vlll争霸. This means the MA OEC is operating at the highest level of education, training, and scope of practice while providing students access to an in-demand job, such as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), in less time than a two or four-year degree program. 鈥淥ur program is an affordable and inclusive option for students seeking to embark on a healthcare career. Upon completing 29 credits, our OEC enables you to take the esteemed CMA (AAMA)庐 examination,鈥� says MA Program Director and Practicum Coordinator Lisa Nash. The application for the MA program is quite simple. Students apply to 彩神vlll争霸 and complete two online prerequisite courses to qualify. Many 彩神vlll争霸 students are considered non-traditional, so the program is designed as a hybrid model to reduce barriers. It offers a mix of online and in-person classes, along with flexible scheduling for the in-person clinical courses. Students will complete 240 hours for their practicum at a local clinical site before taking the CMA (AAMA)庐 examination. Nash proudly states, 鈥淎t 彩神vlll争霸, our exam passage rate is higher than the national average, and the majority of our students receive job offers before graduation.鈥� As the Practicum Coordinator, she maintains strong community partnerships to ensure students are matched with clinical sites for their practicum with job placement opportunities in mind. 鈥淚t's figuring out which of my students matches which of the clinics I have relationships with, and I鈥檓 constantly adding new clinics to the list. I get calls all of the time, saying 鈥榃e'd love to host one of your students,鈥欌�� Nash says.
The MA program works closely and collaborates with the 彩神vlll争霸 Interprofessional Health Sciences Simulation Center and other College of Health programs, like the phlebotomy and physical therapist assistant programs, to ensure interdisciplinary education and hands-on experience. Nash explains, 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that students get exposure and feedback from more than one person on technique and the skills they鈥檙e learning.鈥� The program is committed to teaching students the latest medical practices, continually integrating new techniques and focus areas to ensure exceptional patient care in the future. Nash describes the ideal MA student as 鈥渁 people person, someone who enjoys building relationships, and is naturally empathetic,鈥� stating, 鈥淐MAs get to build relationships with patients because we spend more time with them. We do the follow-up phone calls, ask them about their medications, and remind them about upcoming appointments.鈥� CMAs perform a variety of tasks, including greeting patients, taking vitals, drawing blood, preparing patients for procedures, and more. Nash likes to say, 鈥淲e鈥檙e the generalists. A provider can ask us to do anything that鈥檚 within our scope of practice, and we can do it.鈥� No two days are ever the same for CMAs, as each day brings new challenges. They primarily work in ambulatory settings such as medical offices and clinics.
Nash鈥檚 passion for medical assisting and education is unmatched. She shares, 鈥淚f I鈥檓 out to dinner and the wait staff is bubbly and really attentive, I ask them, 鈥楬ave you ever thought about going beyond?鈥欌�� By 鈥渂eyond,鈥� she means becoming a CMA鈥攁nd she鈥檚 not joking. Her love for medical assisting is that strong. Nash goes the extra mile to provide her students with the tools they need to succeed while helping to fill crucial gaps in Alaska鈥檚 healthcare workforce. Before becoming the MA Program Director and Practicum Coordinator, Nash earned her Master鈥檚 in Adult Education at 彩神vlll争霸 and spent 18 years at Providence Hospital, primarily doing computer support, project development, and process improvement. It was there that she discovered her passion for patient care. Encouraged by Providence staff to pursue nursing, she hesitated at the thought of years in nursing school. Instead, she found 彩神vlll争霸鈥檚 MA program, enrolled part-time while working full-time, and now encourages others to do the same. Nash believes, 鈥淚t鈥檚 all about the pathways you open yourself up to, what comes before you and whether you choose to take the risk.鈥� The OEC in MA is an affordable, 29-credit program鈥攍ess than half the credits required for most two-year degree programs.. It鈥檚 an ideal pathway for students eager to enter the healthcare workforce quickly. According to the 彩神vlll争霸 MA Program Annual Report Forms, alumni satisfaction has averaged 100 percent over the last five years.
At 彩神vlll争霸, the Occupational Endorsement Certificate in Medical Assisting equips students with the clinical and communication skills needed to provide excellent patient care. With a strong job placement rate and a flexible hybrid format designed for student success, this program offers an accessible and affordable path into the healthcare field. Medical assisting is an in-demand career with growth potential. To learn more and start your journey today, visit .
Student Stories
Research
Events and Highlights
Alumni
In the News