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Medical Assisting Associate

Program at a Glance

15 Month Associate's Degree
61 Total Credits

5-Week Externship
Built into Program


Certification Prep
Phlebotomy, EKG. and more


Medical Assisting Associate Degree Overview

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting degree is designed to prepare students for entry-level clinical and administrative roles in medical settings such as physician offices, hospitals, and clinics. The program combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory training, and an externship at a local medical facility to provide a well-rounded educational experience.

Graduates of the program are trained in key competencies, including patient care, medical office procedures, and basic laboratory techniques. Students will also receive CPR training during the program. Upon graduation, students may be eligible to pursue certifications such as Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), or EKG Technician, subject to certification-specific requirements.

Through ECPI’s year-round accelerated schedule, students can earn their Associate degree in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting in as little as 15-months.

Knowledge and Skills

Graduates should grow in the following areas:

  • Clinical Competency
    Prepare patients for exams, conduct lab tests and EKGs, administer injections, and uphold a sterile medical environment.
  • Administrative Proficiency
    Oversee appointment scheduling, electronic medical records, insurance processing, billing tasks, and inventory management.
  • Professional Skills
    Enhance communication to engage effectively with patients and providers and apply critical thinking to deliver effective patient care.

University Benefits

Hands-On Experience

Includes labs and an externship to build practical healthcare skills.

Cert Icon Program Template White Certification Preparation

Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant Exam (offered through AAMA) and/or the RMA exam (by AMT). Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) or EKG Technician are eligible at course completion.

Graduate Faster

Our year-round, accelerated, programs let you earn your degree in just 15 months.

Medical Assisting Curriculum

The Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting degree

Featured Courses

Medical Ethics MED149

Topics investigated may include but are not limited to: malpractice suits and how to avoid them, legal system, confidentiality and truth telling, abortion, critically ill neonates, death and dying, mental illness, human experimentation, justice, surrogate motherhood, stem cells and human cloning.

Medical Office Procedures I MED160

Students will learn office procedures including: safety in the medical office, records management, mail processing, ergonomics in the office, maintenance of office equipment and policies and procedures of the medical office.

Program Requirements

To receive the Applied Science in Health Sciences-Medical Assisting degree, students must earn 61 semester credit hours. The program requires a minimum of 4 semesters, which is equivalent to 15 months or 60 weeks of instruction.

This program includes a total of 1,170 contact hours and program courses may be offered via Remote Synchronous Delivery. (see Remote Synchronous and Hybrid Delivery)

The program requirements are as follows:

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

*For allowable substitutions of arts and sciences courses, see the Arts & Sciences Department page. The following courses are available online for Medical Assisting students: course, course, course, course, course, and course.

Course IDCourse NameCredit Hours
BIO101Human Anatomy and Physiology I3
BIO104Human Anatomy and Physiology II3
COM115Principles of Communication3
ENG110College Composition3
HUM205Culture, Thought, and the Human Experience3
MTH120College Mathematics3
PSY105Introduction to Psychology3

Complete ALL of the following Courses:

*The following courses are available online for Medical Assisting students: course, course, and course.

Course IDCourse NameCredit Hours
CIS108Office Applications2
COR191Career Orientation1
FOR110Essentials for Success3

Programmatic Accreditation

The Health Science/Medical Assisting programs at ECPI University are accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) at the following ECPI University campuses: Newport News, Northern Virginia, Richmond, Roanoke and Virginia Beach, Virginia; Charlotte, Greensboro and Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charleston, Columbia, and Greenville, South Carolina and San Antonio, Texas. This is a programmatic accreditation by ABHES, a recognized accrediting agency for allied health programs, including medical assisting. For more information, visit www.abhes.org.

Institutional Accreditation

ECPI University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees. ECPI University also offers credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels.

Questions about the accreditation of ECPI University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).

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