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Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this fast-growing field. The program blends flexible online coursework with in-person laboratory training and supervised clinical experiences, ensuring you build both strong foundational knowledge and practical, hands-on skills. With experienced faculty, hands-on training and a focus on real-world applications, you'll be prepared for a rewarding career as a medical assistant. Enroll now and take the first step toward a brighter future in healthcare.

This program can be completed in its entirety at Kent State's Ashtabula or Geauga Campuses.

Program Contact

Katie Sanguedolce
Medical Assisting Program Director
Phone: 440-834-3721
Email: kblaha@kent.edu

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Medical Assisting Undergraduate Certificate

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate provides students with the experienced faculty, hands-on training, and a focus on real-world applications to gain the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in this fast-growing field and prepare for a rewarding career as a medical assistant.

Program Information for Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

Program Description

Full Description

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate prepares graduates to gain knowledge needed for the national certification examinations. Medical assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics. They perform administrative and clinical duties in addition to serving as a patient liaison and a member of the Patient-Centered Medical Home team.

The program is delivered in a blended format, combining asynchronous and synchronous online learning with traditional in-person laboratory practice, competency validation and supervised practicum experiences, consistent with CAAHEP accreditation standards. This blended delivery approach integrates online didactic coursework with hands-on laboratory instruction and supervised clinical experiences to ensure students develop both theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

The certificate's curriculum is guided by national standards and covers 12 content areas: anatomy and physiology, applied mathematics, infection control, nutrition, communication, administrative functions, basic practices finances, third-party reimbursement, procedural and diagnostic coding, legal implications, ethical considerations and protective practices.

Admissions for Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Transfer students or current Kent State students declaring the program must have a minimum 2.000 GPA for admission.

Prior to acceptance into the program, each applicant must meet with the program director to review program prerequisites and requirements.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Identify, administer and document medications safely utilizing the six rights.
  2. Collect and process and diagnostic specimens with appropriate documentation and follow up.
  3. Apply current up-to-date quality control and safety principles in the workplace.
  4. Skillfully perform and document routine clinical procedures.
  5. Perform and document routine administrative procedures.
  6. Effectively utilize verbal, nonverbal and written communication principles and skills in the workplace.
  7. Maintain ethical and legal standards and maintain confidentiality and patient privacy.
  8. Communicate with professionalism in the medical assistant role and function as a valued member of the health care team.
  9. Effectively utilize the electronic health record for documentation and insurance purposes.
  10. Identify medical law and regulatory guidelines as it pertains to the ambulatory setting.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Certificate Requirements

Certificate Requirements (min C grade in all courses)
AHS 24010MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 1
or IHS 14020 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
BSCI 10001HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS) 3
or BSCI 11010 FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
MA 10001FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL ASSISTING 1
MA 10002MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10003PHLEBOTOMY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10004ELECTROCARDIOGRAM FUNDAMENTALS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10005BASIC CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING PROCEDURES 3
MA 10006REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES 3
MA 10007ADVANCED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING 4
MA 10092MEDICAL ASSISTING PRACTICUM (ELR) 13
OTEC 26635ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:24
1

Students must be 18 years old or older prior to enrolling in the clinical practicum experience course.

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Minor GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum C grade required in all courses.
Roadmap

Roadmap

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester OneCredits
AHS 24010
or IHS 14020
 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
or MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
1
BSCI 10001
or BSCI 11010
 HUMAN BIOLOGY (KBS)
or FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB)
3
 Credit Hours4
Semester Two
MA 10001 FUNDAMENTALS OF MEDICAL ASSISTING 1
MA 10002 MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10003 PHLEBOTOMY FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10004 ELECTROCARDIOGRAM FUNDAMENTALS FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANTS 1
MA 10005 BASIC CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING PROCEDURES 3
OTEC 26635 ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT 3
 Credit Hours10
Semester Three
MA 10006 REIMBURSEMENT FOR PHYSICIAN SERVICES 3
MA 10007 ADVANCED CLINICAL MEDICAL ASSISTING 4
MA 10092 MEDICAL ASSISTING PRACTICUM (ELR) 3
 Credit Hours10
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:24

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • Geauga Campus

Accreditation for Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (https://www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of MAERB.

Essential Functions of a Medical Assistant
The minimum acceptable cognitive, affective and psychomotor qualifications of a professional medical assistant include:
  1. Regularly work in a standing position and walk often.
  2. Physically assist patients from surface to surface.
  3. Apply manual pressure of up to 10 pounds to control bleeding or during CPR.
  4. React promptly to spoken commands and auditory signals from monitors and conduct auscultation without difficulty or interference.
  5. Maintain efficiency and accuracy throughout a 12-hour clinical shift.
  6. Demonstrates visual acuity for close and distant activities and the ability to perceive depth and colors.
  7. Must be able to accurately identify sharp, dull, hot, and cold sensations with both hands.
  8. Accurately perform dosage calculations and safe medication preparation and administration.
  9. Communicate effectively in both oral and written forms, demonstrating proper grammar, vocabulary, and professional interpersonal skills.


 

Examples of Possible Jobs and Salaries for Medical Assisting - Undergraduate Certificate

Those who complete the Undergraduate Certificate in Medical Assisting Certificate at Kent State University can benefit from specialized career opportunities in the medical assisting certificate industry.

Healthcare support workers, all other

3.5%

about as fast as the average

109,700

number of jobs

$46,050

potential earnings

Additional Careers
  • Front desk coordinator/receptionist
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Additional Resources

Accreditation

The Medical Assisting undergraduate certificate is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (https://www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of MAERB.

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