Admission Requirements
Education Requirements

• Earn a high school or college cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Earn a GED score of 500 or higher.
• Earn an ACT composite score of 18 or higher.

If the above criteria are not met, students may be admitted if they meet one of the following:

• Earned an associate degree or higher from a regionally accredited college or university with a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
• Completed nine college credit hours specific to the Mercy College MA curriculum, achieved a grade of “C” or higher (not “C-”) in each course, and earned a cumulative GPA of 2.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

Provide or take a TOEFL test and achieve a passing score.

Course Prerequisites

Demonstrate completion of one year of high school or one semester of college-level coursework with a grade of at least 2.0 (“C” not “C-“) on a 4.0 scale in each of these required courses:

• Algebra I
• Biology
• English

Interview Requirement

Once the application and transcripts are received and it is determined the applicant meets the admission/academic requirements an interview will be scheduled with the Medical Assisting Chair.

Required Background Check and Medical Forms

• Complete Background Check forms (Iowa Health Care Facility (135) Record Check, Request for Child Abuse Information and Request for Dependent Adult Abuse Registry Information)
• NA/Nursing Clinical Standards signed by BOTH applicant and appropriate healthcare provider within the last 12 months.
• Medical History/Health Update signed by the applicant.
• Medical Examination/Physical completed and signed by an appropriate healthcare provider within the last 12 months.
• Completed Required Immunizations signed by an appropriate healthcare provider. 1) Complete and submit documentation of a two-step tuberculin skin test screening. Full TB process must have been completed within 1 year. 2) Official documentation showing student has received or is currently in the process of receiving the 3-dose Hepatitis B series vaccine series. 3) MMR (2 doses), Chicken Pox immunity and current Tetanus booster. The College may, at it’s discretion, also require proof of seasonal flu vaccination prior to participation in courses that include a clinical rotation.

Length of Program

The Medical Assisting (MA) program is held over the course of seven-semesters. The MA program is offered Fall 2010 only. Our certificate program will include classroom instruction, practice in skills lab, and clinical experience in an ambulatory care setting. We give the student the academic and clinical experiences needed to become a caring, ethical and competent health care professional. The instruction will include skills practice and clinical experience in limited radiography.

Clinical Training

Students will experience direct patient contact during clinical experience (called practicums) within Mercy Clinics. Students will also work at many other leading health care providers in central Iowa to gain hands-on learning throughout the course of study.

Expected Level of Income

In Des Moines, Iowa, the pay rate for a certified medical assistant varies from $12 to $13 per hour ($24,960 to $27,040 annually).

Curriculum Plan for LEP Medical Assistant

The certificate program will extend and modify the sequence of the original curriculum plans in order to allow the single LEP cohort of students to maintain some employment while enrolled in the program.

It is noted on the curriculum plan when course content will require daytime class attendance in order to give admitted students an opportunity to make alternate work arrangements. These daytime course sessions are necessary to meet national accreditation standards in preparation for licensure examinations at the end of the academic program.

7-Semester Medical Assistant Program Curriculum Plan (Fall 2010 Start Only)
 

Course #	Course	SUR Hrs.	LAS Hrs.	Total Hours
SEMESTER I (FALL 2010)
ENG 101	English Composition*		3
PSY 101	General Psychology*		3
	TOTAL		6	6
SEMESTER II (SPRING 2011)
MA 106	Anatomy and Physiology*	4
SPE 105	Small Group Communication*		1
	TOTAL	4	1	5
SEMESTER III (SUMMER 2011)
MA 101	Medical Assistant Administrative Procedures I*	4
MA 121	Medical Assistant Procedures II*	4
	TOTAL	8		8
SEMESTER IV (FALL 2011)
MA 102	Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures I*	4
LRT 110	Imaging I*	2
	TOTAL	6		6
SEMESTER V (SPRING 2012)
MA 108	Diseases of the Human Body*	3
LRT 101	Diagnostic Procedures I*	2
	TOTAL	5		5
SEMESTER VI (SUMMER 2012)
MA 122	Medical Assistant Clinical Procedures II*	5
LRT 111	Imaging II	2
	TOTAL	7		7
SEMESTER VII (FALL 2012) - This semester will require students to be available to attend two (2) eight-hour days of clinical each week for 15 weeks.
MA 201	Medical Assistant Professional Components*	2
MA 202	Medical Assistant Practicum	6
LRT 102	Diagnostic Procedures II	2
LRT 120	Clinical Practicum	1
	TOTAL	11		11
	MA Certificate Program Total	41	7	48

* Reflects courses where the content will require 10% added time commitment to ensure professional program content is mastered.

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