Medical Assistant

Program Pathway

Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisite Courses Details

Credits 16
Enrollment Full-time, Part-time
Program Start Fall, Spring, Summer
Number of Terms 1
Time to Complete 4 months

Prerequisite Courses

  • Fundamentals of Oral Communication
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology I
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology II
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Medical Terminology

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for cost and additional course details.

Next step: Complete the program admission requirements then continue to Term 1 of the Medical Assistant diploma program.

Medical Assistant Diploma

Program Details

Award Diploma
Credits 32
Program Start Fall, Spring
Number of Terms 3
Time to Complete 1 year
Class Meets Evening for Fall start students
Daytime for Spring start students
Admissions Application Select Academic Program:
Medical Assistant – Diploma
See Program Admission

Suggested Sequence of Study and Cost

Program Courses

Term 1 Fall start: Fall Spring start: Spring
  • Clinical Assisting I
  • Introduction to Computers -OR-
    Information Computing
  • Med Lab Procedures I
  • Medical Law and Ethics
  • Medical Office Management I
Term 2 Fall start: Spring Spring start: Summer *
  • Clinical Assisting II
  • Medical Assisting Pharmacology
  • Medical Laboratory Procedures II
  • Medical Office Management II
Term 3 Fall start: Summer Spring start: Fall
  • Medical Assistant Practicum
  • Medical Assisting Capstone

See the Suggested Sequence of Study for the full list of courses, cost, and additional course details.

You have completed the Medical Assistant diploma program. Check out the Health continuing education courses to keep up to date in your profession.

Careers

Positions

Graduates may find employment working as a medical assistant in doctor's offices, clinics, specialty clinics, or hospitals under the supervision of a licensed healthcare professional. The medical assistant profession is expected to grow by 18%* through 2024 in Iowa.

Example Careers and Average Wages

Entry Average Experienced
Medical Assistants $31,100 $38,300 $41,900

Source: 2022 Iowa Wage Report, Iowa Workforce Development

Program Admission

In order to be considered for the Medical Assistant program, students must provide the Admissions office with official documents showing completion of all requirements. These documents must show:

  • Updated assessment scores. -AND/OR-
  • A transcript or degree audit showing successful completion of course requirements (i.e. developmental coursework).

It is the student’s responsibility to:

  • Monitor their progress towards meeting admissions requirements,
  • Notify the Admissions office when requirements have been met, and
  • Provide the Admissions office evidence of meeting the requirements.

STEP #1: Apply at Hawkeye

  1. Apply for admission at Hawkeye.

  2. Send official transcripts to Admissions.

STEP #2: Demonstrate College Readiness

Students must meet minimum score requirements and/or successfully complete the required college success courses in English, reading, and math with a C- grade or higher at Hawkeye Community College or comparable courses at another accredited college. For appropriate college success course placement, work with your program advisor.

ALEKS ACCUPLACER COMPASS ACT ACCUPLACER Next Generation GPA Success Course *
Math 30 85 Elementary Algebra 42 Algebra 19 259 Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics 2.80 MAT-063 Elementary Algebra
Reading --- 76 82 19 251 2.80 RDG-040 College Preparatory Reading III
Writing --- 82 Sentence Skills 65 19 253 2.80 ENG-061 College Preparatory Writing II

* Success course credits do not apply towards graduation or the diploma.

STEP #3: Prerequisite Coursework

Successfully complete all program prerequisite courses with a minimum C- grade.

Once all prerequisite coursework is completed, contact the Admissions office immediately.

STEP #4: Program Admittance

The Medical Assistant program registers 20 students each fall.

Applicants who successfully meet all admission criteria will be given an Eligible-Start Date to be Determined application status. The Eligible-Start Date to be Determined status date is according to the student’s prerequisite completion date. If students share the same prerequisite completion date, the registration date for the final prerequisite course will be used.

The Admissions office provides Eligible-Start Date to be Determined candidates (if necessary) with anticipated start term updates up to two times a year in November and February.

It is the student’s responsibility to keep their contact information up to date and to routinely check their Hawkeye email.

Changes are taking place within healthcare facilities nationally. These changes directly affect all health programs at Hawkeye Community College. The Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organization (JCAHO), which accredits healthcare facilities across the country, enforced background screening September 2004 and has set requirements mandating that students in a healthcare field must now complete the same background check as hospital employees. As a Health student of Hawkeye Community College, you will be required to complete a criminal background check which includes fingerprinting that searches the following databases of sex offender, child abuse and dependent adult registry, and Medicare/Medicaid Fraud. The outcome could possibly affect your opportunities to participate in the clinical setting

Equal Opportunity Statement

Program Contacts

Admissions
Email Admissions 319-296-4000 Hawkeye Center 114
Program Director / Faculty Advisor
Gwen Mahloch Email Gwen Mahloch 319-296-2329 ext.1224 Tama Hall 123
Academic/College Success Advisor
Vic Palmer Email Vic Palmer 319-296-4014 ext.1481 Hawkeye Center 208H
Administrative Assistant
Vickie Bogart Email Vickie Bogart 319-296-4010 Tama Hall 110
Dean
Troy Moran Email Troy Moran 319-296-4457 Tama Hall 110B

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