Clinical Medical Assisting
SJVC’s Clinical Medical Assisting and Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting programs prepare graduates to work in medical offices and clinics.
This program is no longer enrolling at SJVC
Your future comes first—a commitment shared by both SJVC and our sister school Carrington College. While SJVC is no longer enrolling for this program, our sister school Carrington College is. Students will still have the same faculty, curriculum, and location.
Click below to explore this program.
Program Details
WHAT WILL I LEARN?
Application Process
Military Policy
COST & FINANCIAL AID
There is a financial plan available for everyone, including a broad range of financial assistance options. Visit SJVC’s Net Price Calculator to get personalized information on college costs and financial aid. Check out SJVC’s Academic Catalog to learn about program costs by campus and credential level. You also can talk to an Admissions Representative to discuss the costs of your chosen program, and schedule an appointment with an experienced financial aid officer. Student loans, grants, and scholarships are available to those who qualify.
PROGRAM AVAILABILITY
This program is no longer enrolling at SJVC
Your future comes first—a commitment shared by both SJVC and our sister school Carrington College. While SJVC is no longer enrolling for this program, our sister school Carrington College is. Students will still have the same faculty, curriculum, and location.
Click below to explore this program.
ACCREDITATION & APPROVALS
Institutional Accreditation
San Joaquin Valley College is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, (510)748-9001.
The WSCUC is an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education.
State Approvals
CALIFORNIA
SJVC is a private institution and is approved to operate as an accredited institution by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary Education (BPPE). Approval to operate means that SJVC has been found in compliance with the standards set forth in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act of 2009 (as amended) and Title 5, Division 7.5, – Private Postsecondary Education of the California Code of Regulations. As a prospective student, you are encouraged to review this catalog prior to signing an enrollment agreement. You are also encouraged to review the School Performance Fact Sheet, which must be provided to you prior to signing an enrollment agreement.
A student or any member of the public may file a complaint about this institution with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education by calling (888) 370-7589 or by completing a complaint form, which can be obtained on the Bureau’s internet website (www.bppe.ca.gov).
CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR GRADUATES
What Will I Learn?
Drawing blood
Maintaining patient records
Preparing patients for exams
Lab Work protocols
Ready to Do This?
Discover What It’s Like to Train at SJVC to Become a Medical Assistant
Check out our guide on becoming a Medical Assistant in California.
Have you always wanted to work in the medical field, and are looking for a faster way to get started? If so, a job as a medical assistant might be the perfect career for you. You could be prepared to start your new career in as few as 9 months. Read our career guide on how to become a medical assistant in California.
Successful Grads
Ask one of our 60,000+ graduates about their SJVC experience and they’ll likely describe it as life-changing.
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Clinical Medical Assisting FAQ
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HOW LONG DO YOU GO TO SCHOOL TO BE A MEDICAL ASSISTANT?
Those who wish to become medical assistants can do so with either a certificate of completion in a qualified medical assistant program, or an associate degree. At SJVC’s Clinical Medical Assisting program, students can earn a certificate of completion in as few as nine months, or an associate of science degree in Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting in as few as 15 months.
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IS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT BETTER THAN CNA?
Certified nursing assistants (CNAs) and medical assistants may seem similar, but they’re incredibly different healthcare careers. A CNA may help patients with daily hygiene and personal tasks, like bathing and using the bathroom, under the supervision of a nurse. A major distinction is that medical assistants work in more clerical capacities than CNAs, though medical assistants also help patients, fulfilling duties such as taking vital signs and sterilizing equipment. Ultimately, it is up to you to decide which is better for us, a medical assistant or a CNA.
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DO YOU NEED A DEGREE TO BE A MEDICAL ASSISTANT?
One benefit of medical assisting is that you do not need a degree to be a medical assistant. While you can get an associate degree, you can also complete medical assistant training in as few as nine months and receive a certificate of completion.
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WHAT IS A MEDICAL ASSISTANT?
A medical assistant is a vital part of a healthcare team. Medical assistants help support physicians, nurses and other health professionals in a clinical setting. Medical assistants may be tasked with both clinical and clerical work.
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WHAT DOES A MEDICAL ASSISTANT DO?
Medical assistants typically do the following:1
- Record patient history and personal information
- Measure vital signs, such as blood pressure
- Help physicians with patient examinations
- Give patients injections or medications as directed by physicians and as permitted by state law
- Schedule patient appointments
- Prepare blood samples for laboratory tests
- Enter patient information into medical records
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WHERE CAN I TAKE THE CERTIFIED MEDICAL ASSISTANT EXAM?
Graduates of the Clinical Medical Assisting program earn a Certificate of Completion and are eligible to sit for the American Medical Technologists – Registered Medical Assistant Certification exam* and the National Healthcareer Association – Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam*. Students also prepare for and take certification exams within their program courses that include HIPAA and CPR; Online Division students also earn certification in First Aid. Students residing outside California are encouraged to take a certification examination recognized by their state medical board or an independent certification organization.
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DOES A MEDICAL ASSISTANT REQUIRE A DEGREE?
You do not need a degree to become a medical assistant. SJVC offers a certificate of completion for their Clinical Medical Assisting program. This program can be completed in as few as nine months.
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WHAT CLASSES DO MEDICAL ASSISTANTS TAKE?
Some Clinical Medical Assisting courses you may take when attending SJVC include:
- HCP 103 Foundational Office Skills
- HCP 203 Medical Office Management
- MAP 115 Pharmacology and Medication Administration
- MAP 126 Clinical Applications
- MAP 205 Front Office Procedures
*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.
