Associate of Applied Science in MEDICAL ASSISTING

Northwest State’s medical assisting program is a 2-year, associate degree program that includes classroom, lab, and practicum experiences. Medical assistants are trained in both clinical and administrative duties for a variety of healthcare settings. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting is one of the nation’s fastest-growing careers. Advances in technology, a growing population of elderly Americans, and an increasing number of outpatient facilities mean trained medical assistants are in demand.

The Medical Assisting program at Northwest State Community College meets the state education requirements in Ohio. Northwest State Community College has not determined if the Medical Assisting program at Northwest State Community College meets the state education requirements in any other state, any U.S. Territory, or the District of Columbia.

Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals specifically trained to work in ambulatory settings, such as physicians’ offices, clinics, and group practices, performing administrative and clinical procedures. This program will prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behaviour) learning domains. The following performance standards are necessary to safely and accurately carry out medical assisting duties: Critical thinking ability sufficient for clinical judgment; Physical abilities sufficient to move from room to room and manoeuvre in small spaces; Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment; Ability to prepare and administer medications; Ability to transfer patients; Ability to read medication labels and patient records; Ability to take blood pressure and hear breath sounds through a stethoscope; Communicate English clearly enough for most patients to understand and understand the verbal communication of English-speaking patients; Clear written communication, and manual dexterity.

Northwest State Community College (NSCC) is a public two-year college accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Northwest State Community College serves Northwest Ohio with a full range of experiences, including workforce training tailored to your company’s needs, industry-recognized certificates ranging from six weeks to one year for high-demand jobs, and two-year degrees leading to our four-year partners or local jobs.

At Northwest State Community College, we believe that everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of background or experience. As such, we are committed to supporting you in the classroom and overcoming the many life barriers you may face to complete a credential.

We are known in the region and the state for providing a high-quality education leading to great local jobs in manufacturing, health careers, industrial arts, and business. Our bachelor’s bound students are increasingly finding us the preferred option to start their four-year journey, with many starting during their high school years.