Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assistant
and Technical Diploma in Medical Assistant

Career Description

Medical Assistants (MAs) are the only allied health professional trained specifically for the ambulatory care setting. The career is identified by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the fastest growing through 2012. Part of the reason is the increase in the number of health care facilities demanding a flexible medical assistant who can perform a variety of skills. Skills acquired in the MA Program include (but not exclusively) administrative such as answer telephones, greet patients, file, complete insurance forms, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for other health care services, treatments, procedures, handle billing and bookkeeping; and clinical based on state law such as taking medical histories, obtaining/recording vital signs, prepare and administer medications as directed by the physician, preparing/assisting in client examinations, collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, sterilize medical instruments, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, change dressings, and educate clients in treatments/procedures. MAs who specialize may perform additional skills.

Medical assistants interact with a variety of people in pleasant-physician office/clinic environments typically during day hours Monday through Friday. The Medical Assistant is not limited to clinical practice with the potential for advancement in areas such as office manager, administrative support occupations, or teaching future medical assisting.

For a more complete description of careers in medical assisting, refer to the website of the American Association of Medical Assistants.Will open new browser window or tab

Program Overview

BPCC's MA Program consists of Qualification Courses, Program Courses, and Additional Required Courses. Students may work at any pace (part time/full time) to complete the qualification and additional required courses. When the qualification courses have been completed (with a "C" or better), students may apply for admission to the program component. Applications for the program component are taken each spring, with a new clinical class beginning each fall. The additional required courses may be completed at any time prior to graduation. The program is designed so that a student may complete the MA program in 5 semesters including summer prior to clinical courses.

Admission to the Program

The selection process for the program component begins each spring. Students should be aware of the following requirements and procedures regarding clinical program selection:

  • Students must submit a completed MA Program Application Packet by the application deadline of April 1.
  • Qualification courses must be completed by the end of the summer semester in the application year. In some situations, however, up to 3 credit hours may be completed in the first fall session when available and with prior approval of the academic advisor.
  • Cumulative GPA must be 2.0 or higher and students must earn a "C" or better in all qualification courses to be eligible for application.
  • Selected applicants will be notified by mail of their acceptance status. In addition, selected students will be notified of the day/time of the MA program orientation meeting.
  • 20 students per year are selected for the program component of the program.
  • Students selected for the program component must adhere to the BPCC Allied Health Clinical Requirements related to additional tests/immunizations required, documentation submission and policies/procedures of the division/program.

Specific Requirements:

Students pursuing the Associate of Applied Science must first meet College admission requirements. Students are selected into the Medical Assistant Program upon the successful completion (minimum of "C") in qualification courses, submission of completed program application and signed essential requirement form.

The selection process is in the spring. Program classes are scheduled to begin in the fall of each year. Up to twenty students are selected for each program class. Medical Assistant program courses and laboratories are scheduled in the fall and spring semester. Students selected for the program classes must be available for daytime, evening and possible weekend classes. Upon the successful completion (minimum of "C") of the program training courses and laboratories, Medical Assistant students are assigned to practicum sites during the spring semester. Practicum training (a minimum of 220 hours) is completed at physicians' offices and clinics throughout Northwest Louisiana. Successful completion of the practicum experience and required course work leads to the awarding of the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assistant. Graduates of the BPCC Medical Assistant Program are eligible to take the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant Examination conducted by the Certifying Board of the AAMA. As of January 2001, felons are not eligible to take the AAMA certified Medical Assistant examination.

ALHT 201, ALHT 209, and MOS 206L are offered only during the fall semester. These courses must be taken concurrently during the fall semester immediately prior to the enrollment in Medical Assistant Practicum (ALHT 210). If a student fails to complete ALHT 201, ALHT 209, or MOS 206L with a "C" or higher, the student will not be allowed to continue in the program. If the student withdraws from one of the program courses (ALHT 201, ALHT 209, MOS 206L), the student will be withdrawn from all the program courses. The student can reapply for the next program class. During ALHT 210, the student will be assigned to a physician’s office or healthcare setting, generally for eight hours per day, three to five days a week for 10 weeks. Credit for experiential learning is not allowed for the following courses: ALHT 201, ALHT 209, MOS 206L, ALHT 203 or ALHT 210.

Students must submit required information for programs with a clinical component (described earlier in this section) prior to beginning ALHT 210. Program students are required to pay a clinical fee in addition to regular tuition.