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Medical Assistant
Degree Program

The Associate of Science Degree in Medical Assistant is a combination of medical and general education courses designed to prepare a graduate to become a Medical Assistant and to obtain an entry-level position in a health care facility.

Occupation Outlook

Employment of medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2012 as the health services industry expands because of technological advances in medicine, and a growing and aging population, according the U.S. Department of La bor. Increasing utilization of Medical Assistants in the rapidly-growing healthcare industries will result in fast employment growth for the occupation. In fact, medical assistants is projected to be the Number One fastest growing occupation over the 2002-2012 period, according the Occupation Outlook Handbook.

Training Objectives

The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner's specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually are "generalists," handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.

Medical assistants perform many administrative duties, including answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients' medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical duties vary according to State law and include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.

Medical assistants also may arrange examining-room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.

Why Choose FTC?

Graduates will earn a full Associate's Degree in Medical Assisting and be encouraged to sit for the exam to be a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). In addition, small class size and personal student attention are among the advantages that the Florida Technical College Medical Assistant Program has over competing schools. FTC has a dedicated career services office that will help with externship placement as well as post-graduate job placement. Among our other assets is our Medical Advisory Board consisting of members of the medical community that give insight into the training needed to succeed in today's Medical Assisting careers. The Advisory Board also serves as a connection to externship and job placement. Also, Florida Technical College is a registered testing site for the National Center for Competency Testing and will proctor exams to certify students in such skills as Phlebotomy, Medical Office Assistant, and other areas once the pertaining course has been completed by the student.

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