Diploma
With an aging population and advances in medicine that allow people to live longer, many health care career opportunities exist. As a result, employment in health care continues to grow. In fact, the job of medical assistant is predicted to be one of the fastest-growing occupations through 2014.* Take advantage of this growing trend and enter this rewarding profession with a Medical Assistant Diploma from Kaplan College. Classes are offered in the morning, afternoon, and evening so you can have a schedule that suits you best.
The Medical Assistant Diploma program places an emphasis on understanding medical terminology, body systems, and clinical procedures. The computer technology and word processing courses are also part of the curriculum to help make you a more attractive job candidate. As for practical training, you will gain on-the-job work experience through an externship at a medical facility. As a graduate of this program, these are some of the tasks that may be given to you by a supervising physician:
- Administering injections
- Drawing blood samples for analysis
- Monitoring vital signs
- Taking EKGs
- Assisting in minor surgical procedures
- Performing basic accounting procedures and fundamentals of charting and documentation
This program can assist students in preparing for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam sponsored by the American Medical Technologists. Students without a high school diploma or GED will not be eligible to take the RMA exam.† You are not required to take this exam for employment as a medical assistant, but it can help you make a more favorable impression as a job candidate.
Once you graduate with your Medical Assistant Diploma from Kaplan College, you may apply for entry-level employment as a medical assistant in doctors' offices, clinics, hospitals, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), or other allied health facilities.