Medical Assistant San Angelo

All admission requirements must be completed by June 1.  Detailed information about all Health Professions programs and requirements may be found in the Health Professions Booklet.
This program is TSI exempt and there are no prerequisites.  Students may take any non-MDCA course prior to acceptance to the program.

Pre-application Requirements (Before Jun 1/Nov 1):

1. Register for the Howard College Health Professions Orientation on the health professions page. Signing up and watching the video is mandatory for anyone applying for the program. Failure to sign up for HPO may result in a deduction in admission points. The Health Professions Orientation is very important because at that time we will answer all your program-related questions.
2.  Successful completion of a criminal background check.

 Application Requirements.

1. Submit the RMA Application. Email the program chair at gbrown@howardcollege.edu to set up an interview time. An interview must be done to complete the application process.
2. Provide proof of immunizations – provide copies, you keep the originals for your records.  Immunizations required:  Hepatitis B (3 doses and a positive titer; must have received the first 2 doses of the series by Jun 1/Nov 1 deadline, MMR (2 doses OR a positive titer, Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis – one dose within the last 10 years).  Varicella (2 doses OR a positive titer).

Once Selected 

1. Successfully take and pass the approved Basic Life Support for Health Care Providers class.
2. Pass a ten-panel drug test (prior to beginning clinical rotations—due date provided).
3. Provide documented proof of health insurance.
4. Pass a physical exam (form to be completed will be provided).
5. Provide documentation of having taken the flu vaccine and completed a TB skin test (due date to be provided by program chair

Medical Assistants perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, giving injections, assisting with procedures and administering medications as directed by a physician.

Our program was originally offered on the Big Spring campus, but in 2015 it was revitalized and brought to the San Angelo campus after the community expressed a need.  The program is a 12-month certificate program that offers college credit. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to apply to take the certification exam with American Medical Technologist to become a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).

The purpose of the Medical Assistant Program at Howard College is to provide for the education of students in medical assisting and provide learning opportunities that are innovative and educationally sound.  We serve a 13 county area ranging from Lamesa to Junction.  The program and the college are committed to personal development of each student in the field of medical assisting so that he or she will be able to serve the community as a competent staff medical assistant.

The goal of the medical assistant program is to prepare graduates with demonstrated competence in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains of medical assisting practice as performed by registered medical assistants (RMAs).

Clinical experiences provide detailed education, training, and work-based experience in direct patient/client care at a clinical site. All clinical experiences are unpaid external learning experiences that are required for program completion. Students may not be substituted for staff personnel while performing clinical program requirements. Students and faculty provided by Howard College are not and will not be acting as servant agents or employees of a medical facility during program clinical rotation.

Test results

Retention

These expenses in addition to tuition and fees are approximate only and are subject to change.

Tuition and Fees for each semester can be found in the Howard College Catalog.

Fees Associated with Admission:

• Immunizations – Variable
• Background Check –Variable

In addition to tuition/fees assessed from the college, the following approximate additional fees are the responsibility of the student and are subject to change:

• Basic Life Support Class for Health Care Providers (CPR) – $56 depending on where you take it.
• Physical Exam – Variable depending on health insurance
• 10-Panel Drug Test through Castle Branch –Variable
• Health Insurance – Variable
• TB Test (PPD) – Variable depending on health insurance
• Flu Shot –Variable
• Clinical Travel Expenses – Variable

Uniforms:

• Scrubs – red top / gray pants – $60 each set (each student will need at least 2 sets of scrubs) (variable)
• Lab coats are optional – $40 (variable)

Textbooks: (prices are variable)

• Fall Semester – $210
• Spring Semester – $185
• Summer Semester I – $155

Health Insurance

Students enrolled in the Medical Assistant Program are required to purchase health insurance prior to the beginning of clinical experiences and to maintain such insurance for the duration of their enrollment.

Gina Brown, LVN, RMA, AHI
Medical Assistant Program Chair
(325) 481-8300, ext. 3438
gbrown@howardcollege.edu

Kelli Rowe
Assistant to Dean of Health Professions
(325) 481-8300 ext 3435
krowe@howardcollege.edu

Quinda Feil-Duncan
Dean of Health Professions San Angelo
(325) 481-8300 ext 3430
qfeilduncan@howardcollege.edu