Medical Assisting Certificate/Area of Specialization (3550)

The Lakeland Community College Medical Assisting program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.com) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). CAAHEP 9355-113th St. N. #7709 ~ Seminole, FL 33775 ~ 727-210-2350. Medical Assistants are multi-skilled healthcare professionals who perform both clinical and administrative tasks in outpatient settings such as medical offices, clinics, and ambulatory care centers.

Medical Assistants are multi-skilled healthcare professionals who perform both clinical and administrative tasks in outpatient settings such as medical offices, clinics, and ambulatory care centers.
The Medical Assisting Certificate Program prepares students with a foundation of skills that may include, but are not limited to:

  • Clinical tasks: Taking vital signs, performing EKGs, administering injections, and collecting blood samples
  • Administrative tasks: Managing electronic health records (EHRs), handling insurance, billing, and coding
  • Professional skills: Communicating clearly, ethically, and respectfully with patients, families, and healthcare teams

The mission of the Medical Assisting Certificate Program is to prepare competent, responsible, and caring entry-level medical assistants through high-quality education, hands-on practice, and meaningful community-based learning experiences.

The program’s goal is to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession. In support of this goal, the program fosters professionalism, ethical practice, personal growth, and lifelong learning to ensure graduates are prepared to succeed as adaptable, compassionate, and effective members of the healthcare team.

All program applicants must apply to Lakeland and fall under one of the following options. 

Option #1 High School

  • Must be accepted to Lakeland and have met all College Credit Plus admission requirements

Option #2 Transfer students or Current LCC Students

  • Declare chosen certificate program or Multi-Skilled Degree a major and must have a minimum of 2.000 GPA for admission
  • Applicants must meet with the program director and counselor to review program guidelines and policies.

Program Requirements

  • MDAS courses must be taken in sequence according to the program curriculum.
  • HLTH 1215 Medical Terminology is strongly recommended before beginning MDAS coursework.
  • All HLTH and MDAS courses must be passed with a grade of C or higher.
  • To be eligible for the practicum (MDAS 1700), Students must complete all required HLTH and MDAS courses and pass all MAERB-required Core Competencies.
  • Students participating in clinical experiences must meet all requirements established by the clinical site, which may include a criminal background check, drug screen, immunization records, and other health documentation.
  • Students are encouraged to consult with the Program Director or an Academic Advisor when planning their course schedule.

Accreditation

The Medical Assisting Certificate Program at Lakeland Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
9355 – 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
(727) 210-2350
www.caahep.org

Plan of Study Grid
First SemesterCredit Hours
The first semester is in Summer  
HLTH 1215 Medical Terminology for Health Professions 3
 Credit Hours3
Second Semester
The second semester is in Fall  
HLTH 1238 Structure, Function, Disease, and Therapeutics of the Human Body 1 4
MDAS 1110 Administrative Procedures for the Medical Office 3
MDAS 1150 Medical Office Insurance and Reimbursements 3
MDAS 1210 Basic Patient Skills 2
 Credit Hours12
Third Semester
The third semester is in Spring  
HLTH 1600 Basic Pharmacology 2
MDAS 1220 Specialty Medical Assisting 3
MDAS 1250 Medical Office Surgical Procedures 2
MDAS 1300 Physician Office Laboratory 3
MDAS 1400 Medical Assisting Certification Exam Review 1
 Credit Hours11
Fourth Semester
The fourth semester is in Summer  
Full Summer Session  
MDAS 1700 Medical Assisting Practicum 3
MDAS 1800 Medical Assisting Seminar 1
 Credit Hours4
 Total Credit Hours30
1

To meet this requirement, students must complete a course in human biology or anatomy/physiology:
1. Students who have successfully completed BIOL 1140 Human Biology with a grade of “C” or higher do not need to take HLTH 1238 Structure, Function, Disease, and Therapeutics of the Human Body.
2. Students who have successfully completed Anatomy & Physiology I and II (BIOL 2210 Anatomy and Physiology I & BIOL 2220 Anatomy and Physiology II) with a grade of “C” or higher also do not need to take HLTH 1238 Structure, Function, Disease, and Therapeutics of the Human Body.
3. Students who have not completed one of the above courses, or who did not earn a grade of “C” or higher, are required to take HLTH 1238 Structure, Function, Disease, and Therapeutics of the Human Body.

Technical course
This course is designated as a technical course in the program. Students must earn a "C" grade or higher in the course to fulfill the college's graduation requirements policy.