Health Professions: Medical Assistant Program

Program Requirements

1. Entrance into the Medical Assistant Program

• Prerequisites, placement tests, and/or transfer credits
  • Student must complete the college placement tests for english, reading, and math or have equivalent transfer course work. Placement into ENG 111, successful completion of MTE 4, BIO 100, and take a 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, or by successful completion of ITE 115.
• All transcripts should be received by May 15.
• Contact the Counseling Office at (757) 822-7212 to set up your placement test(s).
• The deadline for applying to the program is May 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.
• Student must have completed the following high school courses:
  • 3 years high school english
  • 2 years high school math including Algebra I
  •  BIO 100
• Student must be able to type 35 wpm.
• Student must have CPR for Health Care Providers 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.

• 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 A student who receives two "D's" in core courses will be withdrawn from the program.
• 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.

• All medical assistant competencies must be completed.
• Student must have completed a 320-hour externship in a doctor's office, nursing home, hospital, and/or urgent care center.

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.

Background Check

Prospective students are hereby notified that certain medical facilities require both criminal/sex offender background checks as well as drug screens prior to being authorized to attend clinical. The cost of the background check is the responsibility of the student.