Description and Outcomes
The Medical Assistant Certificate program at Purdue Global Online is meticulously designed to equip aspiring medical assistants with the essential knowledge, skills, and professional behaviors needed to excel in today’s healthcare environment. This comprehensive online certificate program focuses on developing your competence in performing both clinical and administrative tasks within a medical office or ambulatory care setting. Through rigorous coursework and hands-on experiences, you will gain the expertise necessary to confidently enter the medical assisting profession.
Upon successful completion of this program, you will be well-prepared to pursue national certification. Purdue Global Online’s Medical Assistant Certificate program makes you eligible to sit for several prominent certification exams, including the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) examination from American Medical Technologists (AMT), the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) examination administered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) examination from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), and the Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) examination offered by the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA). The program conveniently includes the cost of one of these national credentialing exams, which you will complete during the MA295 Medical Assisting Externship and Evaluation course. It is crucial for both prospective and current students to review Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for detailed information regarding program and state-specific licensure requirements. Further details about program disclosures can be found in the Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams section below.
As a certified medical assistant, your responsibilities may encompass a wide range of duties, including taking patient medical histories, managing appointment schedules, handling telephone communications, collecting and processing specimens, conducting basic laboratory tests, performing venipuncture and electrocardiograms, and preparing and administering medications as directed by a physician. You will also play a vital role in patient education, explaining treatment procedures, and providing assistance to physicians during examinations.
Clinical Experiences
Purdue Global Online understands the importance of practical experience in healthcare education. That’s why this Medical Assistant Certificate program blends flexible online coursework with essential on-ground clinical experiences. You will participate in clinical experiences at approved healthcare facilities as part of the MA280 Clinical Competencies III course. Furthermore, the program culminates in a supervised externship, requiring 160 hours of hands-on practice in a real-world medical office or ambulatory care setting. For important information regarding criminal background checks, please refer to the General Policies section, and for additional program requirements, consult the Progression Requirements section.
Program Length
The Purdue Global Online Medical Assistant Certificate program is designed to be completed efficiently, requiring a minimum of 47 quarter credit hours. Upon successful completion of all program requirements, you will be awarded a valuable Medical Assistant Certificate, signifying your readiness to enter the healthcare field.
Program Outcomes
Upon graduation from Purdue Global Online’s Medical Assistant Certificate program, you will achieve the following key learning outcomes:
- Clinical Proficiency: You will demonstrate mastery of the core clinical competencies essential for effective medical assisting practice.
- Administrative Expertise: You will be proficient in performing the clerical and administrative functions that are integral to the smooth operation of a medical office.
- Ethical and Legal Standards: You will uphold professional, ethical, and legal standards in all healthcare settings, ensuring patient safety and well-being.
- Professionalism: You will consistently exhibit professional behavior that aligns with the expectations of the healthcare industry, fostering positive patient interactions and teamwork.
Program Availability
To determine the availability of the Medical Assistant Certificate program in your location, please consult the U.S. State and Other Approvals section and the Program Availability Information document provided by Purdue Global Online.
Policies
Admissions Requirements
To be eligible for the Medical Assistant Certificate program at Purdue Global Online, you must meet the general admission requirements of Purdue Global, in addition to the specific requirements outlined for this program. Notably, enrollment in the Medical Assistant Certificate program is currently exclusive to students who are enrolled through approved educational or employer partnerships with Purdue Global.
Progression Requirements
To ensure patient safety and maintain program integrity, Purdue Global Online has established the following progression requirements for the Medical Assistant Certificate program:
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CPR Certification: If you are not an employee of a Purdue Global-authorized partner organization, you must provide documentation of current certification in an approved health care provider CPR training course before commencing your first clinical experience. Acceptable certifications include those from the American Heart Association (Basic Life Support for the Healthcare Provider), the American Red Cross (BLS for Healthcare Providers), and ProCPR (Healthcare BLS).
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Health Clearance and Immunizations: For students not employed by a University-authorized partner, a health clearance form signed by a qualified healthcare provider (MD, DO, nurse practitioner, or physician’s assistant) is required prior to the first clinical experience. You will also need to provide proof of specific immunizations, including: two MMR vaccines or a positive blood titer; tetanus vaccination within the last 10 years; varicella vaccination, positive titer, or documented history of the disease; a negative tuberculin test within the past year; and completion of the three-dose Hepatitis B vaccine series, a positive titer, or a signed written waiver opting out of vaccination. Furthermore, completion of a COVID-19 vaccine or an approved medical or religious exemption is mandatory. Failure to submit the required immunizations and health clearance will result in removal from the course before the term begins.
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Course Completion Policy: To maintain academic progress and program standards, students are allowed a maximum of two attempts to successfully complete the following courses. Failure to pass these courses within two attempts will result in withdrawal from the program:
Code Title Credits MA280 Clinical Competencies III 1 MA295 Medical Assisting Externship and Evaluation 5 -
Coursework Currency: If a medical assisting student withdraws, is dismissed, or takes a leave of absence exceeding 6 months after starting clinical coursework (MA250 Professionalism in Health Care, MA265 Clinical Competencies I, MA275 Clinical Competencies II, MA280 Clinical Competencies III, and MA295 Medical Assisting Externship and Evaluation) but before completing it, they will be required to retake one or more of these courses. This retake policy ensures the student’s clinical skills remain current and aligned with industry best practices.
Certification, State Board, and National Board Exams
Purdue Global Online is committed to transparency regarding certification and licensure. Certification and licensure boards have specific state-level educational requirements for programs that lead to professional credentials necessary for employment. Prospective and current students are strongly encouraged to review Purdue Global’s dedicated State Licensure and Certifications website for detailed program and state-specific licensure information.
Please be aware that licensure-track programs may have enrollment limitations based on student location. Refer to Purdue Global’s Program Availability Information to confirm enrollment eligibility in your state.
It is your responsibility to fully understand the requirements for any optional certification exams you may wish to pursue. These requirements are subject to change by the certifying bodies. While Purdue Global Online’s Medical Assistant Certificate program is designed to provide comprehensive preparation for various optional certification exams, Purdue Global cannot guarantee eligibility for these exams or guarantee certification upon program completion. Eligibility may be contingent upon factors such as work experience, completion of specific education and/or degree requirements, background checks (absence of a criminal record), and other criteria established by the certifying organization.
Certification Examinations
The Medical Assisting Certificate program at Purdue Global Online is meticulously structured to provide you with both clinical and administrative skills, empowering you to deliver exceptional patient care. The curriculum is specifically designed to provide robust academic preparation for pursuing national certification as a medical assistant. As previously mentioned, graduates of this program may be eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination, the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) examination, the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam, the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam, and the Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) examination. The program includes one of these national credentialing exams to be completed during the MA295 Medical Assisting Externship and Evaluation course. We reiterate the importance of reviewing Purdue Global’s State Licensure and Certifications page for the most up-to-date information regarding state-specific licensure and certification details.
The 🌐 icon indicates traditional courses that are also offered as module courses, with availability potentially limited to specific academic calendars. For more information about module courses, please see Course Types.
Program Requirements
Course List
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Major Requirements | ||
| HS101 | 🌐 Medical Law and Bioethics | 5 |
| HS111 | 🌐 Medical Terminology | 5 |
| HS200 | Diseases of the Human Body | 5 |
| HS210 | Medical Office Management | 5 |
| HS220 | Medical Coding and Insurance | 5 |
| MA250 | Professionalism in Health Care | 1 |
| MA265 | Clinical Competencies I | 5 |
| MA275 | Clinical Competencies II | 5 |
| MA280 | Clinical Competencies III | 1 |
| SC116 | Survey of Human Structure and Function | 5 |
| MA295 | Medical Assisting Externship and Evaluation | 5 |
| Total Major Requirements | 47 | |
| TOTAL CREDITS | 47 |
