Medical Assisting AAS

Medical Assisting student practices inserting needle on faux arm

Medical Assisting AAS

Program Code: A45400

Our Medical Assisting (MA) Associate in Applied Science (AAS) program can prepare you to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures. The MA program begins once a year in the fall semester. Coursework includes instruction in scheduling appointments, coding and processing insurance accounts, billing, collections, medical transcription, computer operations, assisting with examinations/treatments, performing routine laboratory procedures, electrocardiography, supervised medication administration, and ethical/legal issues associated with patient care.

Upon successful completion of the Medical Assisting program, you are eligible to sit for national certification through the American Association of Medical Assistants to become a Certified Medical Assistant. Learn more about the certification exam or join the national association at the American Association of Medical Assistants.

The MA program also offers diploma and certificate options.

Learn more about this program’s student outcome data.

Skills You’ll Learn

The Medical Assisting program is focused on job-related skills in the following areas:

  • Demonstrating that patient health information is complete, accurate, and protected
  • Understanding how to effectively use computer applications to assemble and analyze patient data for the purpose of improving patient care or controlling costs
  • Mastering how to code, classify, and index diagnoses and procedures for the purpose of reimbursement, standardization, retrieval, and statistical analysis

Career Opportunities

There are many employment opportunities for Medical Assisting graduates, including:

  • Health insurance organizations
  • Hospices
  • Hospitals
  • Mental health facilities
  • Nursing homes
  • Outpatient clinics
  • Physicians’ offices
  • Rehabilitation facilities
  • View more career opportunities

Plan of Study

The recommended course sequence for this program and a complete list of related classes are available in the Academic Catalog. Click the button below to view a copy of this plan of study, which is also available as a PDF.

View Plan of Study(link is external)

Questions others are asking.

We offer several credentials that provide the flexibility you need. Most degree programs last two years and provide the most in-depth study of a particular subject. Diplomas and certificates take less time and are often taken in conjunction with other degree programs. Specialized training is also available for workforce development programs that are completed in less than a year.

The MA program teaches both medical office and clinical skills, while MOA only teaches office skills.  Both programs will qualify a graduate to work at a doctor’s office or clinical in an administrative capacity.  The MA program will also qualify a graduate to work in the clinical or laboratory aspect, assisting with patient care in the examination room or laboratory as well.

The certificate programs do provide some foundational knowledge but are not sufficient to qualify for a national certification exam in Medical Office Administration, Medical Assisting, or Health Information Technology.  Medical Assistants are eligible to sit for the national certification exams with a diploma, while both Medical Office Administration and Health Information Technology require an associate degree to be eligible for their national certification examination.

View application requirements here.

View application deadlines here.

Medical Assisting Performance Standards and Requirements (PDF)

(once in the program)

You can view it here:

Medical Assisting Student Handbook (PDF)

Contact Information

Health Sciences
Perdue Hall
New Bern Campus
252-639-2025

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