Overview

Selective Admissions | Medical Assisting Program

Medical Assisting (MEDA) Selective Admissions

The Medical Assisting (MEDA) degree and certificate programs have a Selective Admissions requirement. Submitting a CCCApply application only establishes general admission to Cañada College. Students interested in the MEDA program must also complete the Selective Admissions process.

Selective Admissions Programs help ensure students are prepared for the academic, clinical, technical, and professional expectations of the field.

Required Attestation & Program Requirements

As part of the Selective Admissions process, prospective MEDA students must complete all selective admission requirements. Completion and clearance of these requirements are required before you can register for MEDA courses.

Selective admission requirements may include:

• Attendance at an orientation or information session
• Clearance of a criminal background check
• Meeting health, immunization, and screening requirements
• Completion of additional department or college requirements

Selective Admission applies to the following MEDA programs:

• Medical Assisting Associate in Science Degree
• Medical Assisting Certificate of Achievement
• Medical Coding Specialist Certificate of Achievement
• Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate of Achievement

Clinical Internship Requirements

MEDA 672 – Work Experience Education: Internship requires students to work in a private or public healthcare facility or clinic. Before participating, students may need to complete a background check and/or health screening/immunizations. Students who do not meet these requirements may not be able to complete the internship or earn a MEDA degree or certificate.

Financial Aid

New financial aid regulations require all students to declare a primary Program of Study (POS). Choosing a primary program is necessary to remain eligible for financial aid and other applicable student benefits.

Questions?

If you have questions regarding program requirements or the Selective Admissions process, please contact Alex Kramer, Dean of Business, Design, and Workforce at kramera@smccd.edu.

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Start Your Career in Health Care Today!

The Medical Assisting Program at Cañada College is designed to provide the finest training and experience available. Through the expertise of a talented faculty, and exposure to professionals in the field, students can expect to learn administrative duties such as medical/ financial records management, medical report transcription, patient appointment scheduling, and clinical duties including preparation of patients for examination, assistance with minor surgery, giving injections, and operating electrocardiographs.

Students graduate from the Medical Assisting Program ready to enter the workforce and launch their careers. The job market for medical assistants is very bright for students with a certificate or degree. The Bureau of Labor Market Statistics projects a 24% growth in job openings in San Mateo County, and a 21% increase across the nation, by 2027. Medical Assisting is also the perfect launching pad for other careers in the medical administrative field or in the patient care field.

For additional information on outside accreditations and certifications, please visiting the Certifications Information webpage.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

 A career in Medical Assisting involves lots of coordination in various types of health care, and is a great entryway into a career in nursing. Students in Cañada College’s Medical Assisting Program can specialize either in the administrative or in the direct patient care fields. Both areas involve lots of patient interaction and are great areas for career growth in the health care industry.

Clinical Medical Assisting Responsibilities Include:

• Monitoring patient vital signs
• Taking medical histories
• Preparing patients for examinations
• Collecting laboratory samples

Administrative Medical Assisting Responsibilities Include:

• Scheduling appointments
• Maintaining medical records
• Medical billing
• Coding for insurance claims

The field of Medical Assisting is one of the fastest growing occupations in this decade. Graduates of Cañada College’s Medical Assisting Program can secure employment in physician’s offices, clinics, hospitals, labs, medical publishing firms, laboratories, pharmaceutical firms, public health agencies, and the claims departments of health insurance companies.