Medical Assisting

Diploma: Health Science
Credit Requirements: 52 Semester Credit Hours

The Medical Assisting program prepares students to help other health care providers examine and treat patients and perform routine tasks needed to keep offices running smoothly. Duties may be administrative, clinical or both. Students who work in a small office or health care facility may handle both clinical and clerical duties. Students working in an office with a sizable staff will probably specialize in either the clinical or administrative aspects of the job.

The Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board of the Medical Assistants Committee on Accreditation for Medical Assistant Education Endowment. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the national AAMA certification examination.

Admission Requirements
Applicants will be admitted to this program on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Applicants are considered to be qualified for admission to the next available class when they meet all College and program requirements. The program begins Summer Term.

APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS
I. General College Admission Requirements
Achieve admission to the College by meeting TTC's requirements for diploma programs. Please note that applicants not achieving appropriate test scores will be required to complete courses indicated by placement test scores. 

Note: Admission to the College does not guarantee admission to the Medical Assisting program.

II.  Program Admission Requirements
Applicants should ensure that each of the following admission requirements is on file in the Admissions office as soon as it is completed. Information may be submitted in person or by mail to:

 Trident Technical College
 Admissions Office, AM-M
 (Student Center, Bldg. 410, Room 110)
 P.O. Box 118067
 Charleston, SC  29423-8067

1. Achieve qualifying scores on the College's placement test, SAT or ACT. Contact an academic advisor and complete all courses indicated by placement test scores.
2. Complete an Allied Health application for the Medical Assisting program. NOTE: When the number of applicants qualifying at the same time exceeds the number of spaces available in this program, admission will be prioritized according to the date and time that the Allied Health application was received in the Admissions office.
3. Attend an advising session and obtain a signed statement from a program faculty advisor verifying attendance. Advising session schedules are posted on the bulletin board located on the second floor of the Health Sciences Building (Bldg. 630), Room 206.
4. Provide proof of high school graduation or equivalent by submitting a copy of your high school transcript, diploma or GED.
5. Satisfy academic probation/suspension requirements, if applicable, by providing proof of a minimum 2.0 GPA on all college course work by submitting official copies of college transcripts to the Admissions office, other than TTC transcripts, OR, complete six semester credit hours with a minimum grade of C in each course, and a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
6. Achieve the appropriate math score on TTC's placement test
   OR
   1. Complete MAT 101 Beginning Algebra with a minimum grade of C,
   OR
   2. Complete a beginning algebra course equivalent to MAT 101 with a minimum grade of C from an approved, regionally accredited postsecondary institution.
   Note: Students who intend to complete the Associate Degree in Occupational Technology need to complete appropriate prerequisites for the math requirement.
7. Provide proof of current CPR certification.  Students must maintain a current CPR card through entire program. 
   
8. Provide proof of keyboarding skills by completing OST 105 Keyboarding or high school keyboarding with a minimum grade of C. 
   
9. Maintain a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA and not be on academic or disciplinary suspension at the time of admission and date of entry into the program.  
10. At the time of entry to the program, show evidence of completion of the criminal background check required by the College.

III. General Admission Procedures for the Medical Assisting Program
Prior to admission to the program, provide the TTC program coordinator with a completed, current Allied Health-Student Health Record. Applicants who meet College and program requirements will be considered qualified and will be admitted on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Qualified applicants will be sent a letter indicating the year and semester that they have been admitted.

Note:  Falsification of any information submitted will make a student ineligible for admission to or continuation in the Medical Assisting program.

IV. Course Progression
In order to progress to the next semester once accepted into the program, students must: 

1. Earn a C or better in the lecture, laboratory and clinical components of all Medical Assisting courses.
2. Earn a satisfactory grade of S on professional development evaluation.
3. Earn a C or better in all prerequisite, corequisite and support courses.
4. Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA throughout the program.
5. Successfully meet a stringent clinical attendance policy.

Readmission to a Program
Students who receive a W, D or F in a prerequisite or corequisite course may request consideration for readmission to the Medical Assisting program. Readmission to the program is not automatic. See the Allied Health Sciences overview.