Why Study Medical Assistant at Mount Aloysius College?

Medical assistants are virtually everywhere in the modern healthcare environment. Using a broad skill-set, these professionals provide the busy clinical arena with a variety of competencies that make them indispensable.

At Mount Aloysius College, Medical Assistant students choose from three specialties–EKG Technician, Certified Phlebotomy, or Certified Professional Coder. Upon completion of course requirements, students are eligible to sit for national certification exams in these areas.

Medical Assistant graduates are also encouraged to sit for  the American Association of Medical Assistant Certification examination and may also test for Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)and the Certified EKG Technician (CET).

What do Medical Assistants do?

Medical Assistants possess competencies in a variety of skills that are used virtually everywhere in medical settings. These professionals draw blood samples, use autoclaves, electrocardiographs, microscopes, centrifuges, spirometers, audiometers, glucometers, computers, and assist in office surgery. Their indispensability includes knowledge of legal concepts, patient confidentiality issues, medical coding, ethics, infection control, specimen collection and processing, diagnostic testing and pharmacology. Medical Assistants are a vital part of the patient care team, completing both administrative and clinical duties in physicians’ offices, hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. They also record patients’ personal information and medical history, working with modern electronic medical record programs.

Possible Careers

Medical Assistant graduates can choose how they want to use their degree after graduation. Some options include:

• Physicians’ offices
• Hospitals
• Work in any specialty area
• Clinical medical assistants
• Ophthalmic medical assistants
• Optometric assistants
• Podiatric medical assistants
• Administrative medical assistants

The Medical Assistant program at Mount Aloysius College boasts a 96.3% placement rate within 6 months after graduation for the years 2012 – 2016.

Are there job openings? How much will I make?

The demand for Medical Assistants is expected to rise 29% from 2016 to 2026, an increase of 183,900 jobs.*

The average median wage for a Medical Assistant in the state of Pennsylvania is $31,980.*

*Bureau of Labor Statistics

Recent Success Story

Veronica Jeffries, ‘16, is a Medical Assistant at UPMC Altoona Blair Medical Associates in the Dermatology department.

Who will teach me?

The Medical Assistant program faculty are dedicated to ensuring students receive high quality theory and clinical education. Their commitment to student success is evident in the 100 percent retention rating of Mount Aloysius College Medical Assistant  students that enrolled and completed this excellent program (2016).

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