Medical Assistant 

The Medical Assistant Certificate is currently being offered on the Harrisburg Campus. Students start in the Fall and complete at the end of the Spring Semester. All students who complete the program sit for the RMA credentialing exam through American Medical Technologists (AMA). 

The entire Medical Assisting CREDIT program is offered during the day and in the evening at our Harrisburg Campus.

What does a medical assistant do?

How much does the program cost?

Download Estimated Expenses (pdf). 

Am I eligible for credentials? 

• Students in the Medical Assisting Program sit for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam through America Medical Technologists.

  American Medical Technologists is a nationally-recognized, not-for-profit certifying agency for health practitioners who meet entry-level education, experience, and examination requirements. Compliance with eligibility requirements results in the issuance of a certificate and membership in American Medical Technologists (AMT). © 1992, American Medical Technologists.

• Harrisburg Area Community College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
   

What are the required courses? How long does the program take to complete? Where are the clinical classes held?

• Download a list of required courses (pdf). This includes an approximate time commitment.
• The medical assistant certificate program is 30 credits completed in two semesters. The complete program is available at the Harrisburg campus.
• An externship (160 hours – minimum 23 hours per week) is required and scheduled during spring semester. It is arranged by the college in a local physician’s office or clinic during normal daytime business hours Monday through Friday. The college attempts to find a site that is close to the student’s place of residence but there are no guarantees.
• We require students to practice phlebotomy and injection skills on simulators and on each other.
   

Can I advance my education in this field?

• Graduates have options to pursue additional education. A degree in management or administration would qualify you to work as an office manager.
• Certificate program graduates who obtain the RMA credential and gain employment in the field can pursue HACC's Health Science associates degree or those with the credential can pursue the General Concentration in the Allied Health degree.

What are the program goals?

Program goals are to prepare students to:  

• become competent entry-level medical assistants
• demonstrate competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains