San Joaquin Valley College

Program Highlights

SJVC’s Clinical Medical Assisting classes prepare graduates to work in medical offices and specialty clinics in as few as 9 months. Training helps students learn the skills to be a valuable member of the healthcare team.

SJVC’s Clinical Medical Assisting program is designed to introduce students to the core skills and competencies needed to work as a medical assistant in California. You will graduate with the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to provide administrative and/or clinical support in healthcare settings such as medical offices, clinics, and hospitals.

Learn

• Clinical skills
• Administrative duties
• Laboratory procedures
• Pharmacology and Medication Administration

Our Clinical Medical Assisting (CMA) students can earn a certificate of completion in as few as 9 months.

Graduates earn a Certificate of Completion in Clinical Medical Assisting and may choose to apply for a certification exam from the organization of their choice (see organization’s requirements for eligibility with SJVC’s Clinical Medical Assisting program)*. Students also prepare for and take certification exams within their program courses that include HIPAA, CPR, and First Aid. SJVC prepares students to take appropriate certification and licensure exams related to their individual majors. The College does not guarantee students will successfully pass these exams or be certified or licensed as a result of completing the program.

Students residing outside of California are encouraged to take a certification examination recognized by their state medical board or an independent certification organization.

*Graduates may qualify for other certifications depending upon location and placement requirements

Medical secretaries and administrative assistants have a range of clerical duties and responsibilities, including:

• Schedule and confirm patient appointments
• Compile and record medical charts
• Complete insurance or other claim forms
• Schedule tests or procedures for patients
• Transcribe dictation
• Prepare reports or correspondence for physicians or medical scientists.
• Arrange hospital admissions for patients

SJVC’s Medical Office Administration program is designed to help students develop the actual skills employers are looking for. An externship component exposes students to hands-on, real-world experience under the direction of a medical office manager or director in an actual healthcare setting. Externships allow students to experience what it’s like to be a medical secretary and learn practical skills in the types of places they may work in after graduation.