Medical Assisting

Are you interested in a career in health care, but are not sure where to begin? Medical assistants play a unique role, combining clinical training with administrative skills to work in the office, exam room, and medical lab. They work closely with patients and medical staff to provide excellent service and ensure a patient’s stay is as comfortable and beneficial as possible. Medical assistants are able to start working in the health care field with a shorter amount of formal training compared to a 4-year degree or medical school.

What’s Different at SPSCC?

Workforce Funding. Some students may qualify for workforce funding to help pay for tuition, fees, books, tools, supplies, and more. You can complete one easy online application and be considered for eligibility for the Worker Retraining, BFET, WorkFirst, and Opportunity Grant programs: SPSCC Workforce Funding Application

Be prepared for your certification exam. SPSCC’s medical assisting certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). As a graduate of this program, you’ll be eligible for the national certification exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).

Program Outcomes

As outlined in MAERB Policy 210, CAAHEP-accredited programs are required to submit an Annual Report Form that contains outcomes outlined in CAAHEP Standards and Guidelines. Accreditation is a public status, and the outcomes provide valuable information to the program and the public to demonstrate success and accountability. In accordance with this policy, CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting programs are required to publish the cumulative 5-year average. 

These outcomes are from the 2024 Annual Report Form for the 5-year average for years 2019-2023: 

• Exam Passage Rate: 95%
• Retention percentage: 74.79%
• Employer Satisfaction 2023: 100%
• Graduate Satisfaction 2023: 100%

Accreditation

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), the Medical Assisting Program Director at South Puget Sound Community College has obtained the legal opinion of the CEO and Legal Counsel for the American Association of Medical Assistants, relating to education requirements for medical assistant licensure in the United States.

There are six states that require completion of formal medical assisting education as a prerequisite for working as a medical assistant, or to be delegated certain tasks while working as a medical assistant: Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, and Arizona.

The South Puget Sound Community College Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). All CAAHEP-accredited medical assisting programs meet the education requirements in these six states.