Medical Assistant

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

On average, approximately 120 students apply for admission each application period. Of these, approximately 50 applicants are typically accepted.

When the number of eligible applications exceeds program seat availability, selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. The selective criteria are based on a self- evaluation application, academic history and interview process. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:

• 75% may be awarded based on the health program academic criteria (grades earned from pre-entry form, required and recommended courses and general education requirements.
• 25% may be awarded based on the interview

Cumulative GPA

2.3 or higher

Prerequisite Courses

Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of 'C' no later than the semester before you start your program courses.

If You Are Offered Admissions

If you are offered admission you will need to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements by a specific due date to maintain eligible status:

• Complete the Intent Form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email. The Intent form is within your online application and a link will be sent in your admission acceptance offer email.
• Proof of personal health insurance: please visit the health insurance website If you need to purchase one, for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings.
• Passing drug screen
• Physical examination
• Immunization record showing (Monitored By Complio: houstoncccompliance.com) completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months) and should be valid within, MMR – 2 shots or titer, Tdap – every 10 years, TB – every year, Varicella – 2 shots or titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) and Influenza – after September 1^st
• CPR - BLS current certification- required prior to practicum
• Cleared Criminal Background
• Complete the mandatory Program and Student Services Orientation on the date provided in your Conditional Acceptance letter. (if you are offered admission, please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations as follows: Fall Term – plan to attend orientation between July to August and Spring Term – plan to attend orientation between December to January) 
• Student must adhere and comply with requirements in the currently published program handbook

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:

•  Perform entry-level skills as a Medical Assistant
• Demonstrate administrative competency as a Medical Assistant
•  Exhibit the ability to safely perform clinical skills
• Differentiate between normal and abnormal results in a clinical setting

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

The Medical Assistant  Level 2 Certificate is the only award in the Medical Assisting program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (caahep.org;) CAAHEP 9355 – 113th St. N. #7709 Seminole, FL 33775, (727) 210-2350 upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Students are expected to sit for and successfully pass one of the credentialing exams: the national Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam to receive the credential CMA (AAMA). The CMA examination is administered throughout the year. Contact the AAMA for testing dates and fees at 1-800-ACT-AAMA or the American Association of Medical Assistants at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL, 60606-2903, 1-800-228-2262, aama-ntl.org or the national Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam to receive the credential, RMA. The RMA examination is administered throughout the year. Contact the AMT for testing dates and fees at 1-847-823-5169 or the American Medical Technologists at 10700 West Higgins Rd. Suite 150, Rosemont, IL 60018, americanmed.org

Felons are not eligible to sit for the credentialing exams unless they contact the credential agency for a waiver. See the information above.

MAERB ARF Program outcomes

Students are eligible to sit for and encouraged to successfully pass the national Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam to receive the credential CMA (AAMA)or the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) to receive the credential RMA.

The CMA examination is administered throughout the year. Contact the AAMA for testing dates and fees at 1-800-ACT-AAMA or the American Association of Medical Assistants at 20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1575, Chicago, IL, 60606-2903, 1-800-228-2262, aama-ntl.org

The RMA examination is administered throughout the year. Contact the AMT for testing dates and fees at 1-847-823-5169 or the American Medical Technologists at 10700 W. Higgins Rd., Suite 150, Rosemont, IL 60018, americanmedtech.org

Felons are not eligible to sit for either credentialing examinations. Please contact the AAMA for the information concerning grounds for denials or eligibility for the Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA) credential or contact the AMT for additional information concerning eligibility of the Registered Medical Assistant credential

The Medical/Clinical Assistant program graduates licensures/certifications are issued by the nationally recognized American Medical Technologists.

2020 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). Results for the 2018 and 2019 calendar years are provided for comparison.

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

Cumulative GPA

Minimum Prerequisite and overall GPA - 2.3 or higher  is recommended

Prerequisite Courses

Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’ no later than the semester before you start your program courses.

If You Are Offered Admissions

If you are offered admission, you will need to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements by a specific due date to maintain eligible status:

• Complete the Intent Form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer email. The Intent form is within your online application, and a link will be sent in your admission acceptance offer email.
• Proof of personal health insurance: If you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the student health insurance page for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings.
• Passing a drug screen
• Physical examination
• Immunization record showing (Monitored By Complio: houstoncccompliance.com/) completion of Hepatitis B immunization series (may take up to 6 months) and should be valid within, MMR – 2 shots or titer, Tdap – every 10 years, TB – every year, Varicella – 2 shots or titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) and Influenza – after September 1^st
• CPR - BLS current certification- required prior to practicum
• Cleared Criminal Background
• Complete the mandatory program orientation and Student Services orientation on the date provided in your Conditional Acceptance letter.  (If you are offered admission, please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientation as follows: Fall Term – plan to attend orientation between July to August, and Spring Term – plan to attend orientation between December to January)
• The student must adhere to and comply with requirements in the currently published program

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

The Medical Scribe Program at HCC Coleman College is approved by the American Healthcare Documentation Professional Group (AHDPG). The program prepares the individual for the field of medical scribe. The American Healthcare Documentation Professional Group certifies qualifying medical scribe specialists who specialize in real-time medical record documentation. AMSP/CMSP certification is sought and earned by medical scribe specialists on a voluntary basis. AHDPG certifies only those medical scribe specialists who meet high educational, professional standing, and examination standards.

The AHDPG administers the MSCE Credentialing Exam for those who wish to become the Certified Medical Specialist Professionals (CMSP). The two different exams are based on medical scribing hours of the candidate. The MSCE credentialing exam is designed to assess competency in medical scribing by verifying a medical scribe’s breadth of knowledge with respect to medical terminology, technical spelling, the Patient Privacy Rule and HIPAA, the scribe’s role in medico-legal risk mitigation, understanding the essential elements of documenting a physician-patient encounter, evaluation and management level, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the Joint Commission’s Accountability Measures, and general knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of general medical personnel.

Graduates from the Houston City College Medical Scribe Program are eligible and encouraged to sit for the MSCE to receive the AMSP upon graduation.

STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Differentiate workflow in Healthcare Settings
• Perform application of documentation in the electronic health record
• Demonstrate knowledge of HIPAA compliance