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Medical Administrative Assistant Certificate Program with Clinical Externship


Program includes National Certification & a Clinical Externship Opportunity


The Medical Administrative Assistant Profession

Medical administrative assistants primarily work in doctor’s offices, clinics, outpatient settings, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Medical administrative assistants, medical secretaries, and medical records clerks are all positions in great demand. The growth and the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system have resulted in a substantial increase in the need for qualified medical administrative assistants. Employment of a medical assistant is expected to grow an impressive 34% by 2023.


The Medical Administrative Assistant Program

This program covers information on the medical assisting profession, interpersonal skills, medical ethics and law, medical terminology, basics of insurance billing and coding, telephone techniques, scheduling appointments, medical records management and management of practice finances. A great course for physicians’ medical office professionals!This program prepares students to function effectively in many of the administrative and clerical positions in the healthcare industry. It provides students a well-rounded introduction to medical administration that delivers the skills students require to obtain an administrative medical assistant position or advance within their current healthcare career. This course covers the following key areas and topics:

  • Interpersonal skills, medical ethics, and basic medical law
  • Telephone techniques and skills for scheduling appointments
  • Medical terminology
  • Basics of insurance billing and coding
  • Medical records management and management of practice finances

Medical Administrative Assistant Detailed Course Information:

  • An overview of the healthcare industry and expectations for a healthcare professional
  • Role of the medical administrative assistant
  • History of medicine, medicine and the law, medical malpractice, medical ethics, and medical practice specialties
  • Patient communication techniques, appointment scheduling and general office duties
  • Basic terminology used in the medical office
  • Medical records management, confidentiality of the medical record, initiating a medical record for a new client and filing reports in the medical record
  • HIPAA review and patient bill of rights and confidentiality, ethics and legal issues
  • Financial practice management, health insurance &billing and coding procedures
  • Professional fees, billing & collecting procedures, accounting systems
  • Medical accounting, financial statements, cost analysis,budgets for the medical practice
  • Specimen collection, laboratory safety and federal and state regulations
  • Assisting with medical emergencies

Lesson Checklist

Each lesson includes a prescribed checklist of activities for successful completion of the lesson. This includes lesson objectives, readings, and recommended assignments. Although assignments are optional, the instructor will grade and provide feedback on submitted assignments.

Course Materials:

  • Kinn’s The Administrative Medical Assistant,
  • Kinn’s The Administrative Medical Assistant Student Workbook

Module/Lesson Structure

The Medical Administrative Assistant program is divided into six main content modules. The textbook is Kinn’s The Administrative Medical Assistant, 7e. Each module contains one or more lesson presentations to view. These lesson presentations are the “lectures” which, along with the textbook readings and resources, will help you learn the material. The lesson presentations aim to address a variety of learning styles and preferences using text, audio, video, etc. Each lesson contains at least one Check Your Understanding interactive self-assessment that will help you gauge your comprehension of that lesson’s content. Many lessons include supplemental resources such as games, animations, videos, and interactive activities. Using these additional materials will deepen your understanding of the content. Each module has a Module test (the last Module concludes with a Final Exam for all students).

Module 1 – Introduction to Medical Assisting

  • Lesson 1 – Becoming a Successful Student
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 1 (pp.1-10)
  • Lesson 2 – The Healthcare Industry
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 2 (pp.11-29)
  • Lesson 3 – The Medical Assisting Profession
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 3 (pp.31-42)
  • Lesson 4 – Professional Behavior in the Workplace
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 4 (pp.43-51)
  • Lesson 5 – Interpersonal Skills and Human Behavior
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 5 (pp.53-73)
  • Lesson 6 – Medicine and Ethics
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 6 (pp.75-91)
  • Lesson 7 – Medicine and the Law
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 7 (pp.93-120)

Module 2 – Administrative Medical Assisting

  • Lesson 8 – Computer Concepts
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 8 (pp.121-134)
  • Lesson 9 – Telephone Techniques
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 9 (pp.135-153)
  • Lesson 10 – Scheduling Appointments
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 10 (pp.169-173)
  • Lesson 11 – Patient Reception and Processing
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 11 (pp.175-186)
  • Lesson 12 – Office Environment and Daily Operations
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 12 (pp.187-210)
  • Lesson 13 – Written Communications and Mail Processing
    • Reading Assignments: Chapter 13 (pp.211-233)

Module 3 – Health Information in the Medical Office

  • Lesson 14 – The Paper Medical Record
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 14 (pp.235-261)
  • Lesson 15 – The Electronic Medical Record
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 15 (pp.263-273)
  • Lesson 16 – Health Information Management
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 16 (pp.275-285)
  • Lesson 17 – Privacy in the Physician’s Office
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 17 (pp.287-300)

Module 4 – Billing and Coding Procedures

  • Lesson 18 – Basics of Diagnostic Coding
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 18 (pp.301-323)
  • Lesson 19 – Basics of Procedural Coding
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 19 (pp.325-348)
  • Lesson 20 – Basics of Health Insurance
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 20 (pp.349-370)
  • Lesson 21 – The Health Insurance Claim Form
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 21 (pp.371-394)
  • Lesson 22 – Professional Fees, Billing, and Collecting
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 22 (pp.395-420)

Module 5 – Financial and Practice Management

  • Lesson 23 – Banking Services and Procedures
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 23 (pp.421-439)
  • Lesson 24 – Financial and Practice Management
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 24 (pp.441-452)
  • Lesson 25 – Medical Practice Management and Human Resources
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 25 (pp.453-479)
  • Lesson 26 – Medical Practice Marketing and Customer Service
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 26 (pp.481-492)

Module 6 – Assisting with Medical Emergencies and Career Development

  • Lesson 27 – Emergency Preparedness and Assisting with Medical Emergencies
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 27 (pp.493-525)
  • Lesson 28 – Career Development and Life Skills
    • Reading Assignment: Chapter 28 (pp.527-553)

Note: This program can be completed in 6 months. However, students will have online access to this program for a 12-month period.

Education and National Certifications

  • Students should have or be pursuing a high school diploma or GED.
  • Students who complete this course are prepared for national certification:
    • National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) 

National Certification

Students who complete the Auburn University Medical Administrative Assistant program will be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam.Students who complete this program are encouraged to complete the externship option with their program. Students who complete this program can and do sit for the national certification exam and are qualified, eligible and prepared to do so. Auburn University works with each student to complete the exam application and register the student to take their national certification exam

Externship / Hands on Training / Practicum

Although not a requirement of this program, once students complete the Medical Administrative Assistant program,they have the ability to participate in a clinical externship and/or hands on practicum so as to practice the skills necessary to perform the job requirements of a Medical Administrative Assistant. Students will be assisted with completing a resume and/or other requirements necessary to work in a hospital, physicians’ practice, clinic and/or with other healthcare organizations. All students who complete this program are eligible to participate in an externship and will be placed in a healthcare organization near their location. Auburn University works with national healthcare organizations and has the ability to place students in clinical externship opportunities.

Note: No refunds can be issued after the start date published in your Financial Award document.