Rasmussen University Medical Assisting Diploma Program

This diploma program provides a solid foundation of medical knowledge, practical skills, and office management techniques needed to thrive as a medical assistant. Key topics include:

• Clinical Skills: You’ll become proficient at routine clinical tasks, including drawing blood, administering injections, performing EKG tests, handling patient assessments, and conducting common lab tests such as urinalysis and blood sugar monitoring.
• Administrative Skills: The program also teaches administrative competencies such as managing patient records, scheduling appointments, processing insurance paperwork, and general medical office operations.

Professional Development: You’ll gain skills in critical thinking, effective patient communication, medical ethics, and cultural sensitivity—skills employers highly value.

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The program adopts a hybrid approach, which means some courses are fully online, offering flexibility around work and personal schedules. However, critical components like clinical training and externships must be completed in person. These practical experiences typically require travel within the local community to clinical sites and may occasionally involve going outside your immediate area. This mix of online convenience and hands-on training helps you balance personal commitments while ensuring you’re fully prepared for real-world medical environments.

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Upon successful completion, graduates become eligible to sit for national certification exams such as the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants or the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from American Medical Technologists. Rasmussen University covers the fee for your initial attempt at these exams as part of your tuition.

Additionally, students have the opportunity to earn specialized certifications in phlebotomy, EKG, medical administration, and electronic health records. This not only makes graduates more marketable but broadens their employment options to various healthcare settings.

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Rasmussen University advertises this program as available for under $11,500, particularly emphasizing the Medical Assisting Inspire Grant, which offers qualified students savings of up to $4,000 evenly distributed across the first four quarters. Actual costs may vary slightly depending on books and additional fees, so contacting the school directly for a personalized estimate is recommended.

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Applicants must satisfy several criteria:

• Complete at least 8 credits of designated coursework related to medical assisting, either transferred from another program or completed at Rasmussen.
• Successfully pass a background check through Rasmussen’s approved third-party vendor (mandatory for Florida applicants).
• Fulfill Rasmussen University’s standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress in any previous academic programs.

Students from approved employer-based apprenticeships might bypass the 8-credit coursework prerequisite.

It’s essential to consider that a clean background check and drug screening could be mandatory for employment post-graduation.

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The diploma program at Rasmussen’s Brandon campus holds accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). This accreditation assures quality education that aligns with industry standards and employer expectations.

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The diploma curriculum totals 51 credits, divided as follows:

• Core Medical Assisting Courses: 39 credits
  • Fundamental medical assistant skills, lab procedures, clinical practices, medical law, and ethics.
  • Includes a 6-credit externship for practical experience in clinical settings.
• General Education: 12 credits
  • Communication, psychology, and anatomy/physiology courses.
  • These classes support the clinical knowledge and skills developed through core medical assisting coursework.

You can complete certain courses faster through self-directed assessments if you already have prior knowledge or experience.

Clinical and Externship Experiences

Clinical practice hours and externships provide students with hands-on experience in real healthcare settings. These experiences enable students to apply learned skills like patient interaction, lab testing, and clinical procedures. All clinical hours must be completed before the program’s final term to ensure you graduate on time.

Facilities and Learning Environment

The Tampa/Brandon campus, conveniently located near major highways, offers modern facilities and high-tech simulation labs. These facilities recreate realistic healthcare scenarios, including simulated ICU rooms, emergency setups, and patient care environments. This allows you to practice and develop your skills in a controlled, professional atmosphere before real-world application.

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The program specifically targets entry-level roles such as:

• Medical Assistant
• Medical Office Administrative Assistant

Positions typically involve duties ranging from direct patient care to medical record management, billing, and scheduling, making graduates versatile and adaptable within healthcare workplaces.

Opportunities for Advancement

Graduates of this diploma program can further enhance their education by transferring credits into an Associate’s degree program in Healthcare or Health Sciences at Rasmussen. This allows career growth opportunities and potentially higher income levels with additional education and certifications.

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