Medical Assisting A.A.S.
Students in Medical Assisting are cross-trained with skills and knowledge in front office administrative, clinical, and limited laboratory procedures that are designed to assist healthcare practitioners in administering to the needs of patients. Selected administrative skills include scheduling, medical office accounting systems, medical coding and billing, and electronic medical records. Some of the clinical skills the student will learn include assisting with medical examinations, vital signs, administering medications and injections (under supervision), sterilizing instruments and electrocardiography. Laboratory skills will include venipuncture (under supervision), and performing selected CLIA-waived laboratory tests. Additionally, Medical Assisting students will become acquainted with the laws and regulations governing medicine in the ambulatory setting, as well as ethical issues being confronted in the health care arena. The program is designed to prepare the student for an entry-level position in Medical Assisting.
Students may apply for admission by meeting with the program director. Prior to entry, the student must be able to show competency in computers. Each Spring students will have to provide documentation of vaccines, background check, etc. as posted on the program's web page. Because some classes are only offered in a specific semester, plus some courses have pre-requisites or co-requisites, meeting with the program director before each semester is necessary to avoid problems.
Students must earn a C or better in all courses in order to progress and complete the program. This includes being able to pass 100% of psychomotor and affective competencies required in laboratory/procedure courses. A course may be attempted a maximum of two times. At the end of the program the student will perform a 200-hour externship/practicum in an ambulatory facility, such as a clinic or doctor's office. The site must be approved by the Program Director. This provides the student with the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills learned in a real world setting. Students successfully completing the program will be awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree.
Graduates are encouraged and prepared to take the Registered Medical Assisting exam upon graduation.
GENERAL ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Additional requirements for graduation can be found on the Degree/Certificate Requirements for Graduation page.
Unless otherwise noted in individual program requirements, a minimum grade point average of 2.00 in all work attempted at the University of Montana-Missoula is required for graduation. Please see the Academic Policies and Procedures page for information on how your GPA is calculated.
Courses taken to satisfy the requirements of a major, minor, or certificate program must be completed with a grade of C- or better unless a higher grade is noted in the program requirements.
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE - MEDICAL ASSISTING
- A minimum grade of C in each Medical Assisting core course is required.
- Medical Assisting core courses must be completed in no more than 2 attempts.
- The student must show competence in computer applications to enter the Medical Assisting program.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Complete all of the following courses: | ||
| ACTG 101 | Accounting Procedures I | 3 |
| AHMA 201 | Medical Assistance and Clinical Procedures I | 4 |
| AHMA 203 | Medical Assistance and Clinical Procedures II | 4 |
| AHMA 280 | Medical Assisting Exam Prep | 3 |
| AHMA 298 | Medical Assisting Externship | 5 |
| AHMS 144 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| AHMS 156 | Medical Billing Fundamentals | 3 |
| AHMS 216 | Pharmaceutical Products | 3 |
| AHMS 220 | Medical Office Procedures | 4 |
| AHMS 252 | Computerized Medical Billing | 3 |
| AHMS 270E | Medical Ethics | 3 |
| BGEN 215 | Career Readiness | 3 |
| BIOH 104N | Basic Human Biology | 3 |
| BIOH 105N | Basic Human Biology Laboratory | 1 |
| CAPP 154 | MS Word | 3 |
| COMX 115S | Introduction to Interpersonal Communications | 3 |
| HIT 265 | Electronic Health Records | 3 |
| M 105 | Contemporary Mathematics | 3 |
| or M 115 | Probability and Linear Mathematics | |
| PSYX 100S | Intro to Psychology | 3 |
| WRIT 101 | College Writing I | 3 |
| Total Hours | 63 | |