The Medical Assistant program prepares students to work within a medical office with valuable skills in office administration as well as clinical and patient care skills. Medical assistants are commonly employed in outpatient physician offices, clinics, health maintenance organizations, and hospitals. The program consists of three quarters of coursework followed by an externship with a local employer.
The Medical Assistant program is taught by certified medical assistants and is supported by additional administrative staff as well as a physician medical director. 
Employment Demand
Medical assistants continue to be in high demand. Columbia Basin College’s Medical Assistant program has maintained excellent placement of graduates throughout the community. CBC’s Medical Assistant students have also received higher wages than other competing Medical Assistant programs in the region.
Facilities and Equipment
The Medical Assistant program is offered at CBC’s new Health Science Center. The program enjoys the latest in technology and equipment utilized throughout the medical field. Students also benefit from technology enabling them access to their instructors and lecture 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students have access to the specialized medical library in the Health Science Center and get valuable skills in computer charting used throughout the industry.
Accreditation
Both Columbia Basin College and the Medical Assistant program are independently accredited. CBC is accredited through the premier regional accrediting body, Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and the Medical Assistant program is nationally accredited.
The Columbia Basin College Medical Assistant Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
1361 Park Street
Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 210-2350
Only students completing a Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or an Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) accredited program are eligible to become certified medical assistants.
To find other accredited Medical Assistant programs, see Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Tuition and Fees
The Medical Assistant Certificate program costs approximately $7,000 for tuition, fees, books, and other materials required for completion of the program. These costs are often covered by financial aid and grants.
Program Offerings
Medical Assistant Certificate
Medical Assistant Associate of Applied Science Degree
Students completing the certificate program can continue their studies through campus or online classes to obtain their associate’s degree. These can be done flexibly to meet the needs of each student.
Admissions
Students are currently accepted starting fall of each academic year. The program is also preparing for a second start each year to meet student and employer demand. The program is preparing students to be able to complete their basic education (GED or equivalent) while they complete the program requirements for Medical Assistant, too. This integrated approach is meant to support students with limited English and basic skills to get valuable employability skills at the same time as they improve their English proficiency and complete their GED.
Students planning on entering the Medical Assistant program should take HIT 147 Medical Terminology and HIT 115 Legal Aspects of the Medical Office to prepare for admissions.
Financial Assistance
The Medical Assistant program is eligible for federal financial aid, grants, and other assistance. Please contact the CBC Financial Aid office for additional information. For additional information and resources on paying for college, see CBC's Paying for College page.
Articulation and Career Pathways
The Medical Assistant program is a part of CBC’s health sciences career pathways. The program was developed knowing students commonly want to continue their education into other career areas, including nursing. The program’s certificate and degree requirements were designed to support articulation into other health programs for the benefit of each student’s future career needs.
The program is also one of CBC’s professional/technical programs that will articulate into the new bachelor degree program. Students completing the Medical Assistant program will be able to continue their studies in the field of applied business with the Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Management degree program.
Application
2010-2011 Medical Assistant Application
Medical Assistant Courses
Program Outcomes
Faculty
- Heidi Clarke
Medical Assistant Instructor
Location: Richland Campus, Health Science Center
Phone: (509) 544-8322
Email: hclarke@columbiabasin.edu
Education: Certificate, Pima Medical Institute – Seattle; Registered and Certified Medical Assistant
Courses taught at CBC:
Medical Assistant courses
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For questions or comments about this page, please contact
Jill LaGrange, Program Support Supervisor, 509-544-8302
