Medical Assisting - Certificate of Completion

Doña Ana Community College

2023-2024 Catalog

Medical assistants work alongside physicians primarily in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices, clinics, and urgent care centers.  Medical assistants who earn their AAS in Medical Assisting are cross trained to perform administrative and clinical duties, whereas medical assistants who earn their certificate in medical assisting will be trained for clinical duties only.

Clinical duties include but are not limited to taking medical histories; explaining treatments and procedures to patients; collecting and preparing lab specimens; preparing and administering medications; performing electrocardiograms; and assisting physicians during examinations.

Administrative duties include but are not limited to answering telephones; updating and filing patient medical records; scheduling appointments; billing and bookkeeping.

Clinical Clearance Packet

Students registering for a course that has a clinical component (NA 105 Nursing Assistant Clinicals, NA 109 Phlebotomist Basic, NA 110 Electrocardiogram Technician Basic, NA 214 Medical Assistant Practicum) are required to complete a clinical clearance packet and submit online to Castlebranch for the director's approval to register.

Mandatory Attendance

Students must attend all class meetings and lab sessions to be eligible for national certification testing. Clinical courses take place off-campus, students will need to have personal transportation.

(38 credits)

NOTE: Students must earn a final grade of C- or better in all required courses and achieve a cumulative grade-point average of at least 2.0. 

Prefix Title Credits
AHS 120Medical Terminology3
BIOL 1130GIntroductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) (or BIOL 2225)4
HIT 120Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology3
NA 104Nursing Assistant Fundamentals3
NA 104 LNursing Assistant Fundamentals Lab1
NA 105Nursing Assistant Clinicals4
NA 109Phlebotomist Basic4
NA 110Electrocardiogram Technician Basic4
NA 212Medical Assistant Capstone Course6
NA 214Medical Assistant Practicum6
Total Credits38
Plan of Study Grid
Semester 1Credits
AHS 120 Medical Terminology 3
BIOL 1130G Introductory Anatomy & Physiology (non-majors) (or BIOL 2225) 4
NA 104 Nursing Assistant Fundamentals 3
NA 104 L Nursing Assistant Fundamentals Lab 1
NA 105 Nursing Assistant Clinicals 4
NA 109 Phlebotomist Basic 4
 Credits19
Semester 2
NA 110 Electrocardiogram Technician Basic 4
NA 212 Medical Assistant Capstone Course 6
HIT 120 Health Information Introduction to Pharmacology 3
 Credits13
Semester 3
NA 214 Medical Assistant Practicum 6
 Credits6
 Total Credits38