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Kathleen McNamara, BA, RN, CMA
Director - Medical Assistant Program
Tidewater Community College 
1700 College Crescent 
Virginia Beach, VA 23453 

The Tidewater Community College Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org), upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment  (AAMAE-CRB)

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
727/210-2350

These pages will provide the following information about the Medical Assistant program:

Medical Assistant Badge

Information packets containing the information on these pages can be downloaded at this site, or copies of the necessary documents may be requested at (757) 822-7255.

If you have any additional questions, please call Vickie Rogers in the Counseling Center (757) 822-7211, or attend the Division of Health Professions "Open House" which is held on the third Thursday of each month from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Lynnhaven Building on the Virginia Beach Campus. Please check with the secretary in room E-113 for the information session's room number.

Download the Health Professions Programs and Open House Information flyer.Get Acrobat Reader now.

If not already enrolled at Tidewater Community College, please call the Admissions Office at (757)822-7172 or stop by any campus to receive an application for general admission.

The deadline for applying to the program is June 15 for the class beginning in August. Depending upon the number of applications, only selected applicants, based on fulfillment of prerequisite requirements and technical standards for medical assisting, will be contacted in July to attend orientation and take a computer typing test.

To improve chances of being accepted into the program, it is strongly suggested that students complete assessment testing in Math and English and take the appropriate classes, if any are required, to meet the course prerequisites to the program. It is recommended that the student demonstrate computer literacy by evaluation of past experience, transcripts, interactive video, or by successful completion of ITE 115. All transcripts should be sent before June 15. Contact the Counseling Office at (757)822-7212 to set up your placement test(s).

Information about grants, loans, and scholarships is available from the Financial Aid Office at 757-822-7292. The Veterans Affairs Office can assist those who are eligible for Veterans educational benefits; dial 757-822-7235.


Introduction to Medical Assistant Program

The Medical Assistant Program will prepare medical assistant students for work in the pre-hospital and hospital environment in addition to physicians' offices, urgent care facilities, and nursing homes. Graduates will be prepared to perform traditional medical assistant responsibilities including administrative and clinical duties.

The program will prepare twenty medical assistants annually. Students will rotate through a variety of clinical settings during the medical assistant externship. Clinical affiliates for medical assistants will include nursing homes, urgent care centers, hospital and physician's offices.

Students will be given the opportunity to complete an Associate of Science degree which will facilitate transfer to the Bachelor of Science in Health Science at Old Dominion University.


Program Goals

  • To provide the community with multi skilled health care practitioners that are prepared at a national standard.
  • To provide a multi skilled health care practitioner who is competent in the urgent care, physician's office, hospital, and long-term care environment.
  • To provide the students with a career that is easily articulated with other established health care careers, i.e., nursing, paramedic, respiratory therapy, and medical technology.
  • To prepare graduates to take the national exam for Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).

Program Requirements

1. Entrance

  • Student must complete the college placement test for english, reading, and math or have equivalent transfer course work. Placement into ENG 111 and MTH 126 are required.
  • Student must have completed the following high school courses:
    • 3 years high school english
    • 2 years high school math including Algebra I
    • 1 year high school biology (Chemistry is recommended)
  • Student must be able to type 35 wpm.
  • Student must have CPR-C certification before beginning the clinical portion of the program - by January 1. This can be obtained by taking the CPR 1 credit course, a non-credit CPR class, or have your current CPR card evaluated for credit. You must be certified from January through August.
  • Student must submit a physical examination that certifies the student is physically able to participate in the clinical portion of the program.
  • Student must follow college guidelines for articulated programs.
  • Students must meet technical standards for medical assisting.
2. Continuation Requirements
  • Student must maintain an average of "C" overall. A student who receives one "D" in a core course will be permitted to remain in the program at the program director's discretion. A student who receives two "D's" in core courses will be withdrawn from the program.
3. Exit Requirements
  • All medical assistant competencies must be completed.
  • Student must have completed a 320-hour internship in a doctor's office, nursing home, hospital, and/or urgent care center.


Accreditation:  The Tidewater Community College, Virginia Beach Campus, Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), on recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (AAMAE).

20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 1575
Chicago, Illinois 60606-2903
    (312) 899-1500


Criminal Background Check

Health Professions students assigned to clinical rotations or internships at some healthcare facilities are personally responsible for completing the required background checks or screenings and assuring that results are obtained by the healthcare or medical facility that asks for them. Prospective Medical Assistant students should check to see if a background check is required. Students are required to bear the costs of such tests. It will be the decision of the clinical affiliate (healthcare or medical facility) whether the student will be allowed to participate in the clinical activities should there be positive criminal or sex offender results. Tidewater Community College does not assume any responsibility for obtaining or evaluating the results of a criminal background check, drug screen or other check, maintaining the records of results or for delivering them to clinical sites. Students may not request to be assigned only to those sites that do not require such checks. Students who refuse to undergo a criminal background check or drug screen or other required check may not be able to be placed at another facility and consequently may not be able to complete program requirements and graduate. Tidewater Community College will make reasonable efforts to place all enrolled students in clinical training.

Students are also reminded that licensing boards for certain health care occupations and professions may deny, suspend or revoke a license or may deny the individual the opportunity to sit for an examination if an applicant has a criminal history or is convicted or pleads guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or other serious crime. Successful completion of a health professions program of study at Tidewater Community College does not guarantee licensure, the opportunity to sit for a licensure examination, certification or employment in the relevant heath care occupation.

The vendor for criminal background checks is Certified Background.

Procedure
1. Please complete the vendor information and make direct payment to the vendor. The vendor will provide you with a passcode and a PDF file of the results.

2. It is your responsibility to provide your CBI results to the agency requesting it within 24 hours after the first day of classes (which is also the day of final notification of clinical placement sites). To initiate completion of your CBI please contact the selected vendor, provide the required data, sign the release and provide payment to the vendor.

3. Please be sure to keep a hard copy of your own PDF file for your personal records.

Instructions:
1. Go to www.certifiedbackground.com.
2. Click on "Students"
3. In the Package Code Box, enter id71
4. You will see a page with information about our package and its contents, costs, etc.

Download instruction sheet.Get Acrobat Reader now.


Printable Information Packet

To download the packet you will need to have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, its free.

Information Packet & Program Application



Tidewater Community College maintains and promotes equal opportunity without regard to ethnicity, color, gender, age (except where gender or age is a bona fide occupational qualification), religion, handicap, national origin, or other non-merit factors.  Disclosure of social security number, age, gender, and ethnicity is optional.

Contact: kmcnamara@tcc.edu
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