Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Program

This program prepares medical assistant students to perform patient clinical skills in the medical office setting. Students perform clinical procedures including administering medications, assisting with minor surgery, performing an electrocardiogram, obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients, and maintaining clinical equipment in an ambulatory care setting. Medical assistants perform routine clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly.

Clinical duties may 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. They instruct patients about medication 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, and change dressings.

Employment & Education
Upon successful completion of the Clinical Medical Assistant program you will have the skills necessary to gain employment in a number of capacities. Job opportunities will be prevalent in physician’s offices, clinics, chiropractor’s offices and outpatient facilities. The occupational outlook handbook, states that employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average.

Educational requirements
People who are interested in becoming a Clinical Medical Assistant must possess a high school diploma or GED/HES, and be 18 years old prior to last class session.

Admission & Completion

No formal admission to VU is required. Upon successful completion of the program students will receive a VU Certificate of Completion. To receive the certificate students must have a good attendance record, and successfully pass lab exercises, quizzes and exams.

Financial Aid

Typical student financial assistance through Pell Grants and other financial aid programs do not apply to this noncredit program. Tuition assistance may be available through your local Indiana Workforce Development office.

Program Fee

$2,995.00, includes textbooks and national certification test fee. Full payment required before first day of class. For students that drop the class prior to the beginning of the second week, a full refund will be issued. Tuition does not include Hepatitis B vaccine, TB test, scrubs or background check.

This program will provide the necessary training and skills required to challenge the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national examination. This 220 hour program includes 140 classroom hours (lecture and labs) and an optional 80 hour clinical externship. Students must successfully complete the 140 hour classroom requirement to be eligible to participate in the 80 hour clinical externship rotation. Although the externship is optional, students are highly encouraged to participate in the workplace experience.

This comprehensive Clinical Medical Assistant program provides training in the following areas:

function of the clinical medical assistant in a medical office
introduction to health care facilities
medical terminology
anatomy of each of the body systems to include the heart, conduction system, circulation of the heart & blood vessels
care & safety of patients, medical & legal aspects & work ethics
effective verbal and non-verbal communication
interpersonal skills and human behavior
phone in prescriptions to various pharmacies
confidentiality and HIPAA
take patient medical histories
update patient medical files
instruct patients on proper usage of medications
vital signs and documentation
phlebotomy including venipuncture and capillary sampling
collecting non-blood specimens and point of care testing
performing 12 lead EKGs, EKG strip analysis (P,Q,R,S,T wave form)
prepare and assist with medical examinations
take blood pressure and body temperatures
apply sterile dressings
prepare patients for x-rays
perform various injections
perform peripheral IVs
administer oral medications
aseptic technique and infection prevention
assist with minor surgeries
proper use and disposal of biohazards and sharps

When: 14-week program meets 3 times a week, from 6 – 9:30 PM, plus 80 hour clinicals.

Request Information about this Program

For additional information on this program call Jennifer Underhill at 812-888-4125 or email JUNDERHILL@VINU.EDU.