Medical Assistant

A medical assistant student doing an eye exam on a student patient

Medical Assistant

Technical Diploma

32 Credits | 1 Year

Financial Aid-Eligible

Ashland, New Richmond, Rice Lake, Superior

Combination of On Site and Online instruction

Career Cluster: Health Sciences

Students in selected health sciences programs will travel to the Shell Lake Health Education Center. Travel requirements are customized to meet individual program course competencies.

Are you looking for a degree in healthcare that gives you flexible career options? As a program graduate, you will be trained to perform clinical procedures and lab tests, and develop the office skills you’ll need for employment in a physician's office or clinic. The required courses include a six-week clinical office practicum. 


 

Healthcare symbol - a heart with the a plus sign in the middle

Financial assistance may be available as part of the West Cap Nursing Skills Program. Learn more about this opportunity here.

Additional financial assistance may be available as part of the Collaboration of Wisconsin (COW) Rural Investment grant. Learn more about this opportunity here.

 


 

Program Overview

Medical assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public's health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession. 

The Medical Assistant program prepares individuals to assist physicians in their offices or other medical settings. Medical assistants, sometimes referred to as clinical assistants, perform a wide range of duties. The medical assistant is responsible for medical and surgical asepsis, taking vital signs, drawing blood, giving injections, assisting the physician with examinations and surgery, administering ECGs and administering medications. The business/administrative duties include patient reception, appointment making, record keeping, filing, bookkeeping, insurance handling, typing medical correspondence and transcription and computer applications. Laboratory functions include specimen collection, performance of basic laboratory tests and microscopic work. 

The minimum goal for the Medical Assistant program, as identified by the CAAHEP/MAERB, is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains. 

Program Outcomes

Medical Assistant graduates will be able to:

  • Perform medical office administrative functions
  • Provide patient care in accordance with regulations, policies, laws, and patient rights
  • Perform medical laboratory procedures
  • Demonstrate professionalism in a healthcare setting
  • Demonstrate safety and emergency practices in a healthcare setting

Technical Standards

In this program, students should be able to meet specific technical standards, which are the essential skills and abilities needed to be successful in a program, with or without reasonable accommodation. It is important to review and understand these standards before applying to the program. 

Learn More About Technical Standards for this Program

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According to the Northwood Tech 2022-2023 Graduate Follow-Up Survey, 100 percent of Medical Assistant graduates were employed within 6 months of graduating.

Students practicing taking the weight of a patient

Exceptional AAMA pass rates.

Students learning how to measure a baby with help of instructor

In-demand career.

Students practicing skills on a patient

Hands-on learning. 


Academics

Medical Assistant is a two-semester program that is available at the Ashland, New Richmond, Rice Lake and Superior campuses. 

Experienced Instructors

As a Medical Assistant student at Northwood Tech, you all have access to instructors who have many years of clinical and laboratory experience.

Convenient Schedule

 Medical Assistant students come to campus two days a week in the first semester and three days a week in the second semester. The rest of your classes can be completed from home. 

Career Pathway

As a Medical Assistant student at Northwood Tech, you will have the opportunity to earn a Patient Service Specialist technical diploma along with the Medical Assistant diploma.


Required Courses

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative, laboratory and clinical duties on the job. Responsibilities include patient care, lab tests and administrative record keeping. 

Explore the Required Courses

Featured Medical Assistant Courses

31509302
|
UGRD
| 3 CR
Students learn to recognize human body structure and function in health and disease states. Students explore the causes, signs, and symptoms of diseases of the major body systems as well as the diagnostic procedures, usual treatment, prognosis, and prevention of diseases commonly diagnosed and treated in the medical office setting. COREQUISITE: 10501101 Medical Terminology.
31509310
|
UGRD
| 3 CR
Requires medical assistant students to integrate and apply knowledge and skills from all previous medical assistant courses in actual ambulatory health care settings. Learners perform medical assistant administrative, clinical, and laboratory duties under the supervision of trained mentors to effectively transition to the role of a medical assistant. This is a supervised, unpaid, clinical experience. MAERB required Practicum - 160 minimum hours up to 216 hours. PREREQUISITES: Current BLS Basic Life Support and first aid, successful completion or standing in all other program courses, approval of program faculty, compliance with Wisconsin Caregiver Law, and program Health Requirements are met.

Medical Assistant is Part of a Career Pathway

As a Medical Assistant student at Northwood Tech, you can earn credentials each step of the way. 

This technical diploma is embedded in the Medical Assistant program.

Patient Service Specialist

Technical Diploma
16 Credits / 1 Year / 2 Semesters Part Time
Potential Careers
Medical Insurance Clerk, Medical Receptionist, Patient Scheduler, Healthcare Customer Service Representative
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This is the program you’re looking at.

Technical Diploma
32 Credits / 1 Year Full Time; Part Time Options Available
Potential Careers
Medical Assistant, Clinical Assistant, Phlebotomist
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Continue your education to earn your bachelor's degree.


Admissions and Tuition

Northwood Tech has an easy admission process that can be completed in one visit. Please see the details under the "Requirements and Application" section to get started.

Requirements and Application

Tuition and Fees

Northwood Tech breaks down the cost of education, so you'll have a good idea of how much your education will cost.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is available to help you pay for your education. It can come in the form of grants, loans, federal work-study, military and veterans benefits, division of vocational rehabilitation benefits, and scholarships. 

Students in the Medical Assistant program (1.5 and 2 year part-time options) may not be eligible to receive full financial aid, due to Department of Education regulations on how credits are recognized. For more information contact your campus Financial Aid Advisor.

Learn More About Paying for College

Cost of Attendance

The Cost of Attendance (COA) is an estimate of the costs that you may incur while attending Northwood Technical College.

Learn More About Cost of Attendance

Estimated Total Program Tuition 2024-25*

Medical Assistant

32 Credits | 1 Year

$5,662


*Tuition is an estimate and does not include any miscellaneous fees for various courses, tools, books, supplies or uniforms. Program book costs are in addition to tuition and fees and vary depending on course selection and where the books are purchased or rented. 


After the Northwood Tech Medical Assistant Program

Upon completion of the program, you will earn technical diplomas in Patient Service Specialist and Medical Assistant.

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Transfer Center

Transfer your Northwood Tech credits to a four-year college to earn your bachelor's degree and beyond. 

View Transfer Center

 

Career Outlooks

Northwood Tech's graduates experience success. Learn more about the types of careers you can get after graduation.

View Career Options

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Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education programs logo

The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 9355 - 113th St. N, #7709, Seminole, FL 33775 - Phone: 727-210-2350 www.caahep.org - www.aama-ntl.org


Contact

Choose a campus to view contact information, or for general assistance, please contact us.

New Richmond Admissions Contact

Sherry Rehnelt

Admissions Advisor

715.752.8136

Contact

Superior Admissions Contact

Anna Kalin

Admissions Advisor

715.319.7331

Contact

Rice Lake Admissions Contact

Nicole Messicci

Admissions Advisor

715.788.7144

Contact

Ashland Admissions Contact

Jennifer Bednarik

Admissions Advisor

715.685.3039

Contact

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Take the Next Step

Are you ready to experience success? Northwood Tech staff are standing by to support you in reaching your educational and career goals, so do it. Take the leap.