Medical Assistant Program FAQs

Helping multiple modern wellness environments, Medical Assistants work in physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, and private and government-run healthcare centers.”¹ A Certified Medical Assistant is “a professional who performs administrative and routine clinical tasks in a medical setting.”¹ Yet, in some health environments, the role is categorically separated into two independent positions: A) an administrative Medical Assistant conducting office tasks solely, or B) a clinical Medical Assistant singularly functioning as a medical support person.¹  

Citation:
^{1 ^a, b, c}  Staff. “Technological Tools and Equipment Used by Medical Assistants.” Medical Assistant Training. April 3, 2013. (Accessed May 20, 2021.) 

According to the Medical Board of California, per Title 16 California Code of Regulations, sections 1366.3(a)(1) and 1366.3 (a)(2), a Medical Assistant may train in one of two ways, including the following:

Section 1366.3(a)(1), training under a licensed physician or podiatrist, who shall ascertain the proficiency of the Medical Assistant; or under a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, physician assistant, or a qualified Medical Assistant acting under the direction of a licensed physician or podiatrist.¹ 
                                                                       < OR >
Section 1366.3 (a)(2), in a secondary, postsecondary, or adult education program in a public school authorized by the Department of Education, in a community college program provided for in Part 48 of Division 7 of the Education Code, or a postsecondary institution accredited by an accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education or approved by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.¹

Citation:
^{1 ^ a, b} n.d. “Medical Assistants-Allied Health|Medical Board of California.” Medical Board of California. (Accessed June 9, 2021.) 

Stressors and difficulties can only be validated through individual experiences. Both programs require commitment to their professions.

Gurnick Academy’s Medical Assistant Program is *8 months in duration and consists of seven courses. The program enrolls on a rolling basis every four weeks. A student’s typical day involves lectures and laboratory work. Classes are a mix of two on-campus sessions, each lasting 4 hours (day and evening classes available), and distance education sessions that provide time flexibility for students who work or manage other responsibilities while in school.

On the other hand, students must take the Vocational Nurse Diploma program first to be eligible for the ASVN program at Gurnick Academy. The diploma program is 13 months or 52 approved instructional weeks. After this, students must earn an A.S. in Vocational Nursing, which takes eight (8) months or *30 approved instructional weeks to complete. Therefore, a Vocational Nurse program is much longer than the eight (8) months or 30 approved weeks needed for the Medical Assistant program.

*Indicates Approved Instructional Weeks

Helping multiple modern wellness environments operate, Medical Assistants work in physicians’ offices, outpatient clinics, hospitals, assisted-living facilities, and private and government-run healthcare centers.”¹ The role is often a healthcare hybrid, with the Medical Assistant performing clerical tasks and another part practicing medical service.

These professionals generally perform an array of duties. From answering phone calls and emails to physically aiding a nurse or physician, medical assistants conduct essential organizational tasks to facilitate and support overall healthcare operations. Generally, a Medical Assistant helps to ensure processes function more efficiently.² 

Citations:
¹ Staff. “Technological Tools and Equipment Used by Medical Assistants.” Medical Assistant Training. April 3, 2013. (Accessed May 20, 2021.) 
² “Medical Assistant Job Description: Duties, Education, and Experience Required.” 2020. Indeed.com. (Accessed Feb. 22, 2020.)  

According to O*NET, the top tools for Medical Assistants are the following:

• Body plethysmographs (lung function and capacity testing);
• Eye charts or vision cards—Snellen eye charts;
• Eye occluders—handheld occluders;
• Gait belts for rehabilitation or therapy—gait belts;
• Hypodermic needle—intradermal needles; Intramuscular needles; subcutaneous hypodermic needles;
• Medical gas cylinders or related devices—oxygen tanks;
• Mercury blood pressure units—sphygmomanometer; manual blood pressure measurement equipment;
• Ophthalmic lensometers—lensometers;
• Ophthalmoscopes or otoscopes or scope sets—ophthalmoscopes; otoscopes;
• Opticians tools—metric rules.¹

Citation:
¹ “31-9092.00 – Medical Assistants.” O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development. (Accessed April 26, 2022.)

You must be at least 17 years of age to be admitted to the program with parent or guardian consent. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age at the beginning of the Clinical Externship.

You can fill out our online contact form to have information mailed to you or a school representative contact you. Or you can call us at 1-877-GURNICK.

Please click on the link for more info about admission requirements.

Learn more about foreign transcript evaluations.

Please find more info about the Diploma Evaluations policy in the Catalog and Addendum.

To qualify for the MA program, you must pass the CCAT exam.

Learn more about the CCAT exam and general admission requirements.

All applicants must pass the entrance exam before admission into the program, regardless of degree or background.

Please click on the link to learn more about accreditation.

Learn more about the Medical Assistant program information, length, and schedule.

View the addendum to review all scheduled breaks during the school year.

Yes.

All externships are unpaid.

To view the breakdown of the fees, please see the program fees section.

We have flexible payment options and private student loans. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs. Financial aid is available for those who qualify.

The Medical Assistant program is a certificate program.

We assist with job placements for all students who complete the program. However, we cannot guarantee employment.

Yes, they are health-support professionals. A Certified Medical Assistant is “a professional who performs administrative and routine clinical tasks in a medical setting.”¹ The term Medical Assistant should not be confused with a physician assistant, who examines, diagnoses, and treats patients under a physician’s supervision.²

Citations:
¹ “Medical Assistant Job Description: Duties, Education, and Experience Required.” Indeed.com. 2020. (Accessed Feb.   22, 2020.)  
²  Medical Assistants. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor. (Accessed May 19, 2021.)

Beyond helping, caring, and serving others, many Medical Assistants report general satisfaction within their professions. According to the US News and World Report, Medical Assistants rank #9 in Best Jobs Without a College Degree, #10 in Best Health Care Support Jobs, and  #64 in 100 Best Jobs. Jobs are rated according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors.¹ Ranking is figured considering salary, job market, future growth, stress, and work-life balance factors.

Citation:
¹ US News Best Jobs. “Medical Assistant Ranks among Best Jobs of 2019.” Usnews.com. US News and World Report. 2016. (Accessed April 26, 2022.)

According to the official Occupational Handbook, the average base salary for a Medical Assisting role is $35,8501 per year or $17.23 per hour. While compensation may seem modest compared to other healthcare professions, more than 35 percent of Medical Assistants feel their wages satisfactorily provide a living wage.¹

Citation:
^{1 ^a, b} Medical Assistants. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor. (Accessed May 19, 2021.)

Beyond helping, caring, and serving others, many Medical Assistants report general satisfaction within their professions. According to US News and World Report Job Rankings, Medical Assistants rank #9 in the Best Jobs Without A College Degree. The index rates jobs according to their ability to offer an elusive mix of factors. According to the report, MAs rank #9 in Best Jobs Without A College Degree, #10 in Best Health Care Support Jobs, and #64 out of 100 Overall Best Jobs. Medical Assistants also receive an overall score of 6.0 for salary, job market, future growth, stress, and work-life balance.¹ 

Citation:
¹ — “Medical Assistant Ranks among Best Jobs of 2019.” Usnews.com, US News, 2016. (Accessed May 10, 2022.)

While we couldn’t locate one specific answer, common complaints by employees seem to be around burnout. Multiple articles indicate staffing shortages and early retirements by healthcare professionals. However, professional burnout may not be limited to Medical Assistants but all healthcare professionals in general.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the employment of Medical Assistants is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030. The growth is much faster than the average for all occupations. About 104,400 openings for Medical Assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of these openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force for retirement.¹

Citation: 
¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook. Medical Assistants. (Accessed April 26, 2022).

While there are no absolutes in interviews, according to Gurnick Academy Career Services, the following questions are used in the college’s mock interview sessions for Medical Assistant students. These include the following employer questions: 

a) Tell me about a challenging situation with a patient and how you handled it. 
b) What are your two biggest strengths and two weaknesses as a Medical Assistant?
c) How would your coworkers/team members describe your work style? 
d) What did you learn from past work experiences, and how are they relevant to this position?
e) Provide examples of adapting to various people, situations, and environments. 
f) How would you add value to the patient-care experience? 
g) Are you able to work on several assignments at once? How do you handle multitasking? 
h) Tell me about a time when you went beyond the call of duty to get a job done. 
i) What type of work schedule are you seeking? Are you available to work extra hours? 

Pending training and experience, Medical Assistants can advance into other areas. According to Indeed.com, career paths they could pursue include healthcare management, administration, nursing, medical billing and coding, medical records, and health information management.¹ 

Also, according to the above source, Medical Assistants may earn additional certification. Possible certifications include Registered Medical Assistant, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, and Nationally Certified Medical Assistant. Additionally, some Medical Assistants pursue specializations in cardiology, OBGYN, ophthalmology, podiatry, and pediatric care. Others decide to obtain associate or bachelor’s degrees and follow nursing routes.¹

Citation: 
^{1 ^a, b,} “Medical Assistance Advancement: Six Ways to Advance Your Career.” Indeed Career Guide, Indeed. May 10, 2021. (Accessed May 10, 2022.)

 Within California, the following are considered invasive procedures and not within a Medical Assistant’s scope of practice.¹ In California, Medical Assistants cannot do the following procedures: 

• Start or disconnect IVs or administer injections or medication into an IV;
• Chart pupillary responses;
• Read, interpret, or diagnose symptoms or test results;
• Insert urine catheters.¹ 

Citation:
^{1 ^a  b}  “FAQs|MBC.” Medical Board of California. Www.mbc.ca.gov. The state of California. (Accessed April 26, 2022.)

Yes. According to the American Board of California, Medical Assistants with the proper training may “perform venipuncture or skin puncture to withdraw blood.”¹

Citation: 
¹ “FAQs|MBC.” Www.mbc.ca.gov, State of California Health Board. (Accessed  May 10, 2022.)

No. Within California, Medical Assistants may call in already prescribed refills to a pharmacy under the direct supervision of the physician or podiatrist. The refill must be exact, have no changes in the dosage levels, and be documented in the patient’s chart as a standing order. Medical Assistants may not call in new prescriptions or those that have any changes.¹

Citation:
¹ “FAQs|MBC.” Medical Board of California. Www.mbc.ca.gov. The State of California. (Accessed April 26, 2022.)

According to the Medical Board of California, if the Medical Assistant has undergone the appropriate training, they can administer injections of scheduled drugs once the licensed person has verified the correct medication and dosage, and the injection is intramuscular, intradermal, or subcutaneous. The supervising physician or podiatrist must be on the premises. (Business and Professions Codes, section 2069.)¹

Citation:
¹ “FAQs|MBC.” Medical Board of California. Www.mbc.ca.gov, State of California. (Accessed April 26, 2022.)