About the Medical Assistant Pathway
The Accelerate U Medical Assistant training pathway is a mostly online certificate program that will prepare you to work as a Medical Assistant, aiding doctors, nurses and patients in healthcare facilities. The seven month program includes online, highly-supportive training (led by an instructor and a coach), monthly in-person "Skills Labs" to practice your clinical skills, and a four to six week field-based externship with an AU employer partner. You’ll earn a nationally-recognized certification and college credit you can apply toward a bachelor's degree. Best of all, you'll receive primary consideration for open Medical Assistant positions with our healthcare partners.
Program Length: 7 months (24 weeks of medical assistant training and a 4-6 week (160-hour) externship
Degree Type: Certificate including a CCMA Credential through the National Health Careers Association (NHA)
Class Format: Primarily online (including live sessions with instructors/coaches) + monthly in-person "Skills Labs" and an in-person externship
Cost: $7,200 for Illinois learners
Application Deadline: We are pleased to announce that applications for the September 2024 cohort are now being accepted. If you are interested in applying, reach out to Angel Alcazar, Director of Outreach, at aalcazar@nl.edu or sign up for one of our upcoming information sessions. to receive comprehensive information and all the necessary resources to facilitate your application process. We sincerely appreciate your interest in our program and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Program Highlights
A Bridge to a Great Job
We have designed every aspect of the Medical Assistant Certificate training program in collaboration with the nation’s leading healthcare systems and hospitals. First-year Medical Assistants in the Chicago area typically earn $38,000-40,000 a year (with benefits).
Real-World Clinical Experience
Our program features an onsite, 160-hour externship when you’ll hone your clinical and administrative skills and gain experience working with doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals. Accelerate U and partners provide a stipend during the externship.
An Industry-Recognized Credential
Upon completing the program, you’ll take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification exam offered by the National Health Careers Association (NHA), a nationally-recognized, in-demand credential that will increase your employability.
Flexible, Online Learning
Engage with expert instructors and your classmates without traveling to campus and in a way that fits into your busy schedule. Each course uses innovative software and lots of engagement to make it an exceptional learning experience in about 20 hours a week.
A Supportive Community
You will join a cohort of others on a similar professional journey – you’ll learn how to be Medical Assistants together. You will also be matched with a professional coach who is 100% focused on your professional and personal success.
College Credit Toward a Degree
You will earn 30 transferable college credits in the program that will count towards a bachelor’s degree so you will be on both a career and college degree path, increasing your employability and earning potential.
What You'll Learn
The Accelerate U Medical Assistant program builds on the nation’s best practices in medical training. Over the course of the experience, you’ll develop the clinical and administrative skills necessary to launch your career as a Medical Assistant. You will gain essential medical and science knowledge, join a network of others in the healthcare field, and you’ll build your clinical skills through a balance of online, remote and in-person learning activities. Topics you'll cover include:
Clinical Skills
Asepsis; phlebotomy (i.e. drawing blood); sterilization techniques; administering immunizations; checking vitals such as pulse, temperature, blood pressure and weight; administering an electrocardiogram (i.e. EKG); pharmacology.
Administrative Duties
Medical billing and insurance; financial bookkeeping; banking procedures; phone etiquette and directing calls; scheduling appointments; medical records and chart management.
Medical Law and Ethics
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA); American Medical Association (AMA) Patient Bill of Rights; Clinical Laboratory Improvements Amendments of 1988 (CLIA ‘88).
Anatomy and Physiology
Body systems and levels of organizations; circulatory system; anatomy of the arm (arteries and veins); medical terminology and abbreviations.
Communication and Teamwork
Patient care and relations; interpersonal skills; written and verbal skills; roles and responsibilities of healthcare professionals; collaboration; cultural competence in healthcare.
