Additional Program Information
The mission of the Medical Assisting Program is to prepare competent entry level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills) and affective (behavior) learning domains.
● With the exception of MDCA 1313 Medical Terminology, MDCA 1302 Human
Disease/Pathophysiology and MDCA 1254 Medical Assistant Credentialing Exam Review,
enrollment in the Medical Assisting Program (MDCA, PHRA) courses is restricted to medical
assisting majors and those students whose program major lists a medical assisting course
as either a requirement or an elective, unless approved by the Program Coordinator.
● Acceptance to the Medical Assisting Program is considered with the completion of Phases
1 - 3 below and with a competitive ranking process with particular attention given to
timely submission of required paperwork and grade point average (GPA).
THE MEDICAL ASSISTING ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE (AAS) PROGRAM IS A FALL-ENTRY ONLY PRPOGRAM WITH LIMITED ENROLLMENT (24).
In addition to meeting the general admission requirements of San Antonio College, all students desiring admission to the Medical Assisting Program in the Fall semester must have met the following requirements:
Phase 1
● Submit a transcript of all previous college work and ACT/SAT scores, if applicable, to San
Antonio College Admissions and Records.
● Apply for formal admission to San Antonio College.
● Report to the Department of Counseling and Student Development for academic
placement assessment.
● Complete the following entry-level skills courses:
1. ENGL 1301 - English Composition I
2. MATH 0320 - Intermediate Algebra
3. PSYC 2311 - Psychology
4. SPCH 1311 - Introduction to Speech
5. MDCA 1313 - Medical Terminology
● Accrue a GPA of 2.75
● Complete the application for the Medical Assisting AAS Program
Phase 2
Submission of the following by the specified deadline (provided by the Program):
● A completed program health assessment packet which includes a history and physical
assessment (physical exam), Technical Standards Form, proof of immunizations i.e., DPT, Td
booster (current within 10 years), MMR, varicella, bacterial meningitis (<22 years of age),
hepatitis series, and current TB screen (within 1 year)
● Background check and drug screen utilizing Alamo Colleges contracted vendors
● Proof of an approved CPR course “C” (adult, infant, child) taken through the American Heart
Association (must be provided prior to the start of MDCA 2267 Practicum (capstone)
Phase 3
● Students completing Phases 1-2 and who have presented their completed packets to the
Program, will receive notification by e-mail from the Program office of their status. If
selected, applicant MUST attend the orientation meeting in the summer prior to
registration for classes.
*Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in all technical courses directly relating to the technical program, in addition, students must successfully achieve 100% of all psychomotor/affective competencies in order to progress and graduate.
* If any course, within the cohort semester, is dropped or a grade of “C” or better is not achieved or any psychomotor/affective competency is not achieved, the next available opportunity to take that course or courses again will be one year from the start of that cohort course.
*Upon completion of all course requirements within the program (including MDCA 2267 Practicum-MA) the graduate will be eligible to take any of the four NCCT certification exams.
*Program must be completed within one and one half the amount of time designated for the program (3 years).
Beginning with the administration of the January 2001 CMA (AAMA) credentialing examination, felons are not eligible to sit for the examination unless the certifying board grants a waiver based on one or more of the mitigating circumstances listed in the disciplinary standards. For a copy of the disciplinary standards, contact the Medical Assisting Program coordinator.
The San Antonio College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) - located at 25400 U.S. Highway 19 N, Suite 158, Clearwater, Florida 33763, phone number: 727-210-2350; www.caahep.org - on recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Students who graduate from the Medical Assisting Program qualify for the CMA (AAMA) credentialing examination conducted by the Certification Board of the AAMA.
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