Earn a certificate in just 12 months from this medical assistant training program in Omaha, NE.
Work Closely with Patients. And Make a Difference.
If you are a people person interested in the field of healthcare, medical assistant training might be the right career choice for you. NMC's Medical Assistant program is designed to give you the knowledge and skills you'll need to do well in a variety of settings and performing a variety of tasks.
Medical Assistants are found in physician offices and clinics, hospitals and outpatient facilities as well as nursing and residential care facilities. Their responsibilities can range from providing administrative support, scheduling appointments, managing correspondence and bookkeeping to taking patient medical histories, providing patient education and preparing specimens and exam rooms.
Medical Assistant Training Program Info
- This 12-month certificate program provides students with the administrative knowledge and clinical experience needed to work with healthcare practitioners and patients.
- Students learn through personal instruction on campus in our state-of-the-art classrooms and labs.
- Practical experience is gained through an unpaid, supervised externship of 10 weeks at one of Nebraska Methodist Health System's Physicians Clinics or through another approved clinical provider.
Medical Assistant Salary & Job Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the median medical assistant salary in the U.S. in 2010 was $28,860 per year, with a faster than average job growth forecast until 2020 of 31 percent.
Professional Organizations
Gainful Employment Disclosure
As of July 1, 2011, the US Department of Education requires colleges to disclose certain information for each financial aid eligible program that prepares students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation. If you are interested in a career as a Medical Assistant, the information into the program at Nebraska Methodist College provided will give you more insight, and will help you make an informed decision about your educational and career plans.
Program Accreditation
The Medical Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants Endowment (CRB-AAMAE).
Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Programs, 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756. (727) 210-2350.
Tuition & Fees
Attending Nebraska Methodist College represents a major investment in your future. For most students, attending college takes planning and sacrifice. NMC recognizes that and is committed to helping you find every avenue to finance your education. View the Tuition by Program & Degree page for a comprehensive list of all fees.
| Medical Assistant: $12,700 |
First Time Freshmen:
Financial Assistance
At NMC we offer financial aid to our students, and help you understand what financial resources are available to you. View our Financial Assistance page to learn about the Financial Assistance process, policies and options.
Scholarships
Nebraska Methodist College scholarships consist of funds generously provided by the Methodist Hospital Foundation to assist our students. View our Scholarships page to learn more.
All students are required to complete specific coursework. This list should only be used as a curriculum guide. Course listings and required curriculum are subject to change.
Included within this list is the Educated Citizen Core Curriculum. All students seeking to complete an undergraduate degree at Nebraska Methodist College must complete this set of Arts & Sciences requirements. As an educated citizen, NMC graduates are competent practitioners and respond productively to the complex dynamics of the world, utilizing a diversity of disciplines and perspectives.
Term One
This course introduces basic anatomical structure and physiological principles of the human body. This course focuses on enabling students to learn and understand the anatomy (structure) and physiology (function) of the integumentary, nervous, skeletal, and muscular systems.
- Credits: 80 clock hours
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in MA program.
This course is designed to help students develop confidence in reading, critical thinking, and writing at the certificate level. A variety of reading and writing assignments as well as intensive practice, discussion, and collaborative writing techniques in class help students to improve basic writing skills.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in MA program.
This course introduces concepts related to the ongoing developmental process of the human life span including physical, psychosocial, cognitive, and personality development.
- Credits: 20 clock hours
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in MA program.
This course introduces the student to the prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and root words of medical language used in the health care professions. Emphasis is placed on analyzing, defining, and pronunciation of medical terminology. The course is supplemented with a series of fourteen unique audio-visual presentations using audionyms associated with each word part to aid in the student‘s learning.
- Credits: 20 clock hours
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in MA program.
This course includes a basic math review that includes fractions, decimals, Roman numerals, ratio and proportions, and measurement systems utilized in health care.
- Credits: 20 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I courses.
This course is a continuation of CMA 130. It includes discussions and applications involving the preparation of the patient for routine and specialty examinations and procedures, and the assisting of the physician in these routine and specialty exams. The course will cover the specialties of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Dermatology, Orthopedic, Endocrinology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Geriatrics, and Cardiology including performing ECG‘s.
- Credits: 40 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I courses.
Term Two
This course introduces students to the most common diseases and disorders in the ambulatory care setting. Diagnoses, symptoms, treatments, and pharmaceuticals for these diseases and disorders will also be introduced. Material in this course is discussed as it pertains to different body systems and age groups. Patient teaching skills will also be practiced and performed during this course.
- Credits: 60 clock hours
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in MA program.
This course provides students with the knowledge and practical experience to demonstrate competence in medication administration techniques including intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal, oral, rectal, topical, and sublingual. The Z-Track route is also discussed. Medication calculations, terminology, and abbreviations are utilized. Students also focus on proper documentation of medication administration.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I courses.
This course is a continuation of CMA 130. It includes discussions and applications involving the preparation of the patient for routine and specialty examinations and procedures, and the assisting of the physician in these routine and specialty exams. The course will cover the specialties of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology, Dermatology, Orthopedic, Endocrinology, Pulmonology, Neurology, Geriatrics, and Cardiology including performing ECG‘s.
- Credits: 40 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I courses.
This course introduces students to the administrative skills and functions needed by a medical assistant in the medical office setting. Organizational and communication skills are incorporated into patient information gathering, medical records management, patient scheduling, and acting in the receptionist roles as students learn and demonstrate competency in these "front office" skills. Local and National organizations for medical assistants are also emphasized. Confidentiality is stressed.
- Credits: 40 clock hours
- Prerequisites: Enrollment in MA program.
This course focuses on professionalism issues in patient and coworker communication and behaviors. It provides an introduction to verbal and non-verbal techniques necessary for effective communication. Topics include conflict resolution, personal boundaries, elements of professional communication and barriers to effective communication.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I courses.
Term Three
This course is a continuation of CMA 120 and CMA 225. Students discuss and apply the preparation of patients for routine and specialty exams and the techniques needed to assist the physician with these exams and procedures. This course includes the preparation for assisting with minor surgeries and other sterile procedures. The specialty areas covered in this course include diagnostic imaging, gastroenterology, urology and male reproduction, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and office surgical care.
- Credits: 40 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I and Term II courses.
This course is a continuation of CMA 230. Content in this class includes bookkeeping, banking related to office management, billing, personnel and office management, and transcription. Continuation of computerized medical office practice focuses on billing and bookkeeping. An understanding of the uses and functions of office policy and procedure manuals and the revision process of these policies is included.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I and Term II courses.
This course introduces the student to basic laboratory skills emphasizing waived tests normally performed in a medical office lab. Emphasis is placed on point-of-care testing and quality control processes related to POCT. The course will cover proper specimen collection, handling, processing, and performance of tests on laboratory specimens. Specimen collection includes venipuncture and capillary draws. All procedures conform to CLIA‘88, OSHA, and CLSI standards.
- Credits: 60 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I and Term II courses.
This course is a continuation of CMA 250. This course provides the student with the basic concepts of drug classifications, drug actions and indications. Drug dosage of frequently prescribed drugs, along with their contraindications and precautions for use are included. Medication and immunization documentation will be preformed. An overview of the principles of IV medication administration and technique will also be discussed. Students will also demonstrate a maintained competency in giving injections as completed in Essentials of Pharmacology I.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I and Term II courses.
This course introduces students to legal and ethical concepts related to healthcare, especially within the medical office. In addition, behavior as guided by professional scope of practice, codes of ethics and standards of care is addressed.
- Credits: 20 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I and Term II courses.
This course provides education in coding systems, including ICD-9 and CPT, and third-party billing utilized in physician‘s offices for billing. An overview of the types of insurance providers and their impact on reimbursement will also be included. Special attention is given to claims processing issues.
- Credits: 20 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I and Term II courses.
Term Four
This externship provides the student with the practical opportunity to develop as a professional and gain proficiency in the clinical and administrative skills included in the entry-level Medical Assistant role. The students will apply the practical and theoretical knowledge learned in the last three (3) Terms to the live clinical setting.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I, Term II, and Term III courses.
This course will be a hybrid of on-line activities using ANGEL and in-class meetings. The learning experiences of individual students will be shared with the other students and students will reflect on these experiences from the perspective of both themselves and their patients.
- Credits: 30 clock hours
- Prerequisites: All Term I, Term II, and Term III courses.
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Melissa Siedlik
