Interim Program Director: Nichole Garbarino
The Medical Assistant (MA) Certificate Program is grounded in the academic-industry partnership between the University of Providence (UProvidence) and Providence Health System (Providence). This program is a certificate of completion only; there is no degree awarded upon completion of the five academic undergraduate courses. This program is administered within the School of Health Professions. The purpose of the program is to create a pipeline of highly qualified MAs to practice in clinical settings across the seven Providence Health System states. The curriculum is written according to the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB) Core Curriculum National Standard guidelines. Graduates from the program will meet all eligibility requirements for the National HealthCareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam so that they can be nationally certified as an MA, a requirement in many states for employment.
The MA Program is currently available in Washington, Oregon, Montana, and California. Each student must complete a total of 160 unpaid clinical hours in the practice setting within a Providence Health System or partner facility.
Students complete one 8-week course at a time, including online using the Moodle Learning Management System (LMS) with 2-3 in-person skills lab sessions per course (80% online, 20% in-person in the clinical skills lab training environment). Clinical skills lab training sessions are held on 2-3 Saturdays or Sundays per course. Skills Lab Schedules are provided before the start of each cohort and can be found on the university's website under Medical Assistant Certificate Program Overview.
Medical Assistant Skill Lab locations:
- Oregon Skill Lab Site: Providence Progress Ridge Clinic – 12345 SW Horizon Blvd. Suite 57-A, Beaverton, OR 97007
- Washington Skill Lab Site: Swedish Issaquah Campus – 751 NE Blakely Drive, Issaquah, WA 98029
- Montana Skill Lab Site: Benefis Medical Office Building #4 - 1401 25th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405
- California Skill Lab Site: Providence Facey Medical Group – 9111 Corbin Ave, Northridge, CA 91324
Program Themes
- Patient Centered Compassionate Care
- Patient Safety & Quality
- Personal Accountability
- Ethical Professional Behaviors
- Effective Communication Skills
- Life Long Learning
Intended Learning Outcomes
- Provide compassionate and culturally appropriate care across care settings and life span.
- Provide high quality and safe care with every patient encounter.
- Perform within the ethical and legal boundaries of the Medical Assistant’s scope of practice.
- Demonstrate communication skills to improve the work environment and patient outcomes.
Medical Assistant Certificate
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| XMA 101 | ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, & NUTRITION | 3 |
| XMA 102 | ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, & PHARMACOLOGY | 3 |
| XMA 120 | HEALTHCARE ETHICS, LEGAL ISSUES & INFECTION PREVENTION PHARMACOLOGY | 3 |
| XMA 160 | ADMINISTRATIVE PRAC & FINANCE | 3 |
| XMA 195 | INTERNSHIP & CAREER PREP | 4 |
| Total Credits Required: | 16 | |
Medical Assistant Certificate
Plan Template: Medical Assistant
Description: Certificate
# of Terms: 3
Term Start: Fall or Spring
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Credits | |
| XMA 101 | ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, & NUTRITION | 3 |
| XMA 102 | ANATOMY, PHYSIOLOGY, & PHARMACOLOGY | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester II | ||
| XMA 120 | HEALTHCARE ETHICS, LEGAL ISSUES & INFECTION PREVENTION PHARMACOLOGY | 3 |
| XMA 160 | ADMINISTRATIVE PRAC & FINANCE | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Semester III | ||
| XMA 195 | INTERNSHIP & CAREER PREP | 4 |
| Credits | 4 | |
| Total Credits Required: | 16 | |
*Plan templates are based on the most current catalog and ideal route for degree completion, and should only be used to get an idea of what degree completion may look like. New and enrolled students should log into DegreeWorks to see their specific degree requirements.