The Medical Assistant program prepares students for employment as a medical assistant in a physician’s office or clinic. The curriculum is designed to provide training in administrative (front office) and/or clinical (back office) medical assisting skills. Instruction is given in basic medical office procedures (including appointment scheduling, billing, and insurance), assisting with examinations, surgical and laboratory procedures (including venipuncture, pharmacology, and injections), electrocardiography, electronic health records, public relations, supervision, and practice-building techniques. An externship experience helps provide the student with the skills necessary to enter the field.

Degrees and Certificates

Program Requirements and Recommended Course Order

NOTE: Clinical Medical Assistant Road Map * MA 217 is now offered ONLY fall semester. Road maps are currently in revision.

We offer three different certificates 

  • Administrative = Front Office 
  • Clinical = Back Office 
  • Comprehensive = Combination of Front and Back

Application Process

There is no application process for the Medical Assistant Program.

Length (full time student)

  • Administrative and Clinical – 3 semesters plus a 160 hr. externship
  • Comprehensive – 4 semesters plus a 160 hr. externship

Cost (Tuition, Health Fee, Parking)

  • Admin - $1,391.00
  • Clinical - $1,529.00
  • Comp - $2,104.00

*Cost based on fall ’23 tuition and fees. Cost subject to change. Plan for at least $1,000.00 more for scrubs, clinical requirements, textbooks, etc. 

Class Offerings

Some courses are offered only certain semesters, e.g. MA 282 is only offered in the fall. To ensure a student completes each program in the most efficient manner, we highly recommend following the roadmaps. Make an appointment with counseling to setup your academic MAP (my academic plan).

Accreditation

The MA program is accredited through CCBMA (California certifying Board for Medical Assistants). 
We are NOT nationally accredited through AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistant).

After Graduation

Students will receive a certificate of achievement (stamped on their transcripts) which then allows them to sit for the CCBMA exam. They are officially “Certified” as a Medical Assistant once they take the CCBMA exam. Learn about how to apply for the exam at http://www.ccbma.org/exam.html

Students will be required to complete a background/drug test, physical and health clearance, obtain professional liability insurance, hold valid BLS card through the American Heart Association (no other providers), proof of medical health insurance, COVID-19 vaccine and booster, and more prior to registering for MA 217 (externship). These courses are reserved only for students ready to enter their externship and students will not be cleared to register until all of the requirements have been completed. Contact Sarah Stevenson at sstevenson@saddleback.edu with any questions.

Clinical Experience Requirements

Download the MA Onboarding Packet

MA 217 A, B, C – Externship Important Dates and Deadlines

Externship SemesterMandatory Orientation*Requirements Deadline^Mock InterviewsLab Review Days
Fall ’24 ExternshipFriday, January 26, 2024Thursday, July 18, 2024TBATwo weeks before semester starts - exact date TBD
Fall ’25 ExternshipFriday, January 24, 2025Thursday, June 26, 2025Thursday, July 10, 2025Two weeks before semester starts - exact date TBD

*All mandatory meetings will be from 2 - 4 p.m. in room HS 138.
^ If all requirements are not met by the deadline, you will not be permitted to enroll in the externship and must wait until the following semester. 

NOTE: Check website frequently - times and dates subject to change.

Enrolling

Before enrolling in MA 217 clinical experience, the student must pass with a “C” or better all other MA courses within their pathway.

Those enrolling in MA 217 will be required to obtain the following titers/immunizations/vaccines before given deadline and should get started on these immediately following the mandatory externship orientation meeting (meeting dates to be post at a later date).

  • Measles
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Varicella
  • TDAP
  • Hepatitis B
  • TB Skin test
  • COVID-19 (full immunity)
  • Annual Physical
  • Annual Seasonal Flu shot


More details can be found by making an appointment with the Student Health Center. Students will also need to complete a background/drug test, obtain liability insurance, and have health insurance, BLS CPR card through American Heart Association and more.

Administrative Program - 27 Units
Course Title Units
MA 206 Introduction to Medical Assisting (8 wk) 3
HSC 104 Medical Terminology (8 wk) 3
HSC 106 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information (8 wk) 3
CIM 112 or HSC 230 Microsoft Office or CPC Exam Prep  3
MA 282* Fundamentals of Medical Practice Coding (16 wk) 3
MA 280 Healthcare Organization Practices (8 wk) 3
HSC 107 Human Body Fundamentals (8 wk) 3
MA 224A^ Basics of Medical Insurance, Billing and Reimbursement (16 wk) 3
MA 217A Medical Assisting Clinical Experience - Administrative (160 hours) APC required 3

* - only offered in Fall
^ - only offered in Spring

Medical Insurance Billing Occupational Skills Award automatically earned after taking, MA 224A, MA 280, MA 282, HSC 104, and HSC 106

Earn a Medical Scribe Certificate by adding: HSC 108 (or BIO 45 or BIO 112) and CIM 121B

Clinical Program - 30 Units
Course Title Units
MA 206 Introduction to Medical Assisting (8 wk) 3
HSC 104 Medical Terminology (8 wk) 3
HSC 106 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information (8 wk) 3
MA 211B* Physical Examination Procedures (8 wk) 3
MA 213B* Medical Asepsis and Surgical Procedures (8 wk) 3
MA 280 Healthcare Organization Practices (8 wk) 3
MA 212B^ Medical Office Laboratory Procedures (8 wk) APC required 3
MA 214B^ Medical Administration Procedures (8 wk) APC required 3
MA 218B^ Electrocardiography for the Medical Assistant (8 wk) 3
MA 217B Medical Assisting Clinical Experience Clinical (160 hours) APC required 3

* - only offered in Fall
^ - only offered in Spring 

Earn a Medical Scribe Certificate by adding: HSC 107, 108 (or BIO 45 or BIO 112) and CIM 121B

Comprehensive Program - 42 Units
Course Title Units
MA 206 Introduction to Medical Assisting (8 wk) 3
HSC 104 Medical Terminology (8 wk) 3
HSC 106 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information (8 wk) 3
CIM 112 or HSC 230 Microsoft Word or CPC Exam Preparation (in the summer) 3
MA 282* Fundamentals of Medical Practice Coding (16 wk) 3
MA 280 Healthcare Organization Practices (8 wk) 3
HSC 107 Human Body Fundamentals (8 wk) 3
MA 224A^ Basics of Medical Insurance, Billing and Reimbursement (16 wk) 3
MA 211B* Physical Examination Procedures (8 wk) 3
MA 213B* Medical Asepsis and Surgical Procedures (8 wk) 3
MA 212B^ Medical Office Laboratory Procedures (8 wk) APC required 3
MA 214B^ Medication Administration Procedures (8 wk) APC required 3
MA 218B^ Electrocardiography for the Medical Assistant (8 wk) 3
MA 217C Medical Assisting Clinical Experience - Comprehensive (160 hours) APC required 3

* - only offered in Fall
^ - only offered in Spring

Medical Insurance Billing OSA automatically earned after taking MA 224A, MA 280, MA 282, HSC 104, and HSC 106

Earn a Medical Scribe Certificate by adding: HSC 108 (or BIO 45 or BIO 112) and CIM 121B

2024-2025 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books
and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous
expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.

ExpensesLiving With Parents (2 Semesters)Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition & Fees$1,438$1,438
Books & Supplies$1,062$1,062
Living Expenses: Food & Housing$14,480 $25,916
Personal & Misc.$4,059 $4,968
Transportation$1,791 $1,962
Total Resident$22,830$35,346
Total Non-Resident$35,130$47,646
ExpensesLiving with ParentsLiving Away from Parents
Tuition & Fees$715 $715 
Books & Supplies$354$354
Living Expenses: Food & Housing$4,827$9,276
Personal & Misc.$1,353$1,656
Transportation$597$654
Total Resident$7,846 $12,655
Total Non-Resident$13,996$18,805
ExpensesLiving With ParentsLiving Away from Parents
 Fall & SpringSummerFall & SpringSummer
Tuition & Fees$1,438 $715$1,438$715
Books & Supplies$1,062$354 $1,062$354 
Transportation$1,791 $597 $1,962 $654
Total Resident$4,291 $1,666 $4,462 $1,723
Total Non-Resident$16,591 $7,816 $16,762 $7,873
  • Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
    • Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and Summer
  • Health Fee $26 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
  • Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $446 per unit ($376 non-resident tuition fee + $70 capital outlay fee)
  • Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)

Optional fees

  • ASG Sticker - $10
  • Student Representation Fee - $2.00 (per semester)
  • Parking Permit Fee
  • Instructional Material Fees - as listed in the Schedule of Classes

Contact the Medical Assistant Department