Testimonials
Medical Assistant
Help Others in the Career That Cares
Working alongside doctors in medical offices and clinics, typically during normal business hours, medical assistants are in high demand.
This program offers maximum flexibility, including an online option combined with evening on-campus, hands-on skills practice. Learn more!
Put your empathy to work in health care. It all starts with the Medical Assistant program at DCTC.
Register today for a virtual Medical Assistant Info Session. Dates include June 18, July 16 and August 20, 2020. All virtual sessions begin at 5 p.m. Register Now!
| Awards | Credits | Delivery ( COVID delivery changes) |
|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistant - A.A.S. Degree | 60 cr. | On Campus | 100% Online |
| Medical Assistant - Diploma | 42 cr. | On Campus | 100% Online |
| Program Datasheet: Download the Medical Assistant Datasheet | ||
This program trains students to work alongside physicians in medical offices and clinics. A medical assistant’s expansive crosstraining includes duties such as taking medical histories, preparing patients for procedures, administering medications, drawing blood, obtaining vital signs, scheduling appointments and collecting and testing lab samples. The program goal is to prepare competent entry-level medical assistants in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains.
Employment in this field typically requires successful completion of the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant licensing exam.
The Medical Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) upon recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Attending DCTC was a very positive experience. The teachers helped me to succeed and make the most of my education. The classes were just what I needed to prepare me to work in the clinic setting. Highlights include the laughter & fun shared with my fellow students as we “practiced” our newly learned medical skills on one another. I am currently working as a CMA at Fairview Cedar Ridge Clinic in Apple Valley.
I wanted to get an education in a field that was in demand. Employers in the medical field look for new hires that have a good school behind them and Dakota County Technical College is on of those schools. My favorite part of DCTC is the teachers that they have. I enjoyed all of them. The teachers really care about their students and it shows by their willingness to work with each student daily to keep them on a path to achieve their goals. I am working as a CMA for a Fairview clinic and was hired immediately after my internship.
From the first meeting, I felt very comfortable and welcome. DCTC is also very diverse; I never felt out of place being a foreigner. The Medical assistant program at DCTC is well-known and respected in the health industry. One thing to keep in mind is that you can be a part of the program even with a full-time job or family responsibilities. We worked in small groups, which gave me the feeling of having a second family. We created bonds that will last. We celebrated birthdays and baby showers in the classroom. Online hybrid worked fantastic for me! I was able to take tests and do homework at my own pace, but still get clinical and laboratory practice in the classroom once per week.
I wasn’t happy with my current job and came upon a discussion with my cousin who told me about this program she enrolled in. We got to talking more in depth and it sounded like something I would really enjoy. So I enrolled, too! The professors are really great. They really want you to succeed and they try their best so you do so. While enrolled you really do become a family of sorts. You get to know all of the people and go through their ups and downs as well. Right now I am currently working in the Specialty Surgical Service Department in ENT. I love my job and I love the people I work with. It’s really great to know that your services help people and that you are needed.
| Medical Assistant A.A.S. Degree • 60 credits |
Medical Assistant Diploma • 42 credits |
|
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $190.48/cr. | $190.48/cr. |
| Fees | $21.45/cr. | $21.45/cr. |
| Tools & Equipment | $20 | $20 |
| Textbooks | $1,200 | $800 |
| Other | $90 | $90 |
| Personal Property Fee | $30 | $30 |
| Student Activities | $50 | $0 |
| Grand Total | $14,105.80 | $9,841.06 |
Each year, Dakota County Technical College and the DCTC Foundation make more than $200,000 in scholarships available to our students. Students are encouraged to create an account and apply for scholarships online.
Students looking for ways to help finance their college education can find part-time jobs on campus with various DCTC departments and programs. Deliver your completed Work-Study Application to the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid and search for openings at College Central Network Services. For more information, you can review Work Study Procedure.
Step 1: Apply now for financial aid. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
DCTC's Federal School Code: 010402
Step 2: After receiving an official award letter from DCTC, you may apply online for a Federal Stafford Student Loan. Visit the Loans page for more information.
Graduates assist primary care physicians and specialists in clinics ranging in size from single-doctor to large, multi-specialty. Opportunities are also present in a variety of other health care areas.
Medical assisting continues to be one of the fastest growing occupations in Minnesota and the United States—for the state, a 28.1 percent increase by 2020, for the nation, a 31.9 percent increase. Job prospects in the Twin Cities area are best for medical assistants who have graduated from an accredited program, particularly programs with certification.
According to CAREERwise Education, Minnesota's go-to resource for information on jobs, careers and education, growth in the medical assisting profession is linked to technological advances in medicine. CAREERwise: "Because of these advances, more disorders can be treated. Another factor is growth in the population, especially of the elderly. This group is most likely to need medical attention. In addition, some health care providers are shifting tasks from nurses to medical assistants. This will also increase the demand for these workers. Job prospects should be excellent for medical assistants who have formal training or experience."
Graduates assist primary care physicians and specialists in clinics ranging in size from single-doctor to large, multi-specialty. Opportunities are also present in a variety of other health care areas. More than half of all medical assistants work in a doctor's office.
Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between two or more colleges and/or universities to accept credits in transfer toward a specific academic program. DCTC has articulation agreements in place with a number of public and private colleges and universities.
MN Transfer.org is your official guide to a seamless transfer experience in Minnesota Higher Education. Use this resource to find agreements that DCTC has entered with other Minnesota State institutions.
Do you want to see how your courses transfer to programs at participating colleges and universities? Add the coursework you've taken and use Transferology to find out how it might transfer to any of the participating schools in the Transferology network. Get an account and create a plan now!
Whether you're a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces or an international student or transferring from high school or a four-year university, DCTC will help you through the process. Visit our Transfer Students page for more information.
The Medical Assistant program at DCTC is active throughout the year and makes headlines in college publications. Read about graduate success, faculty accomplishments, and the latest and greatest in the medical assisting field.
Like us on Facebook for an inside view of the program.
As a student in DCTC's Medical Assistant program, you can make connections in the health care industry through your involvement in a professional organization with a national and state presence. You can also make connections on campus by joining one or more of the more than 20 student clubs and organizations. Civic engagement and service-learning opportunities are a hallmark of the program.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) with its affiliate, the Minnesota Society of Medical Assistants, and the local MSMA–South Suburban Chapter provide our students with professional networking opportunites while they are still in college. On completing the Medical Assistant program, our graduates can take the national certification exam to earn the title of Certified Medical Assistant, or CMA. The AAMA offers a variety of continuing education activities as well as record keeping for participation. Sixty hours of continuing education every five years in various content areas is required to re-certify the CMA credential.
The Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society is recognized as the official honor society for two-year colleges by the American Association of Community Colleges. PTK provides many leadership and civic engagement opportunities for students. To be eligible for membership, you must have completed a minimum of 12 hours of coursework at DCTC with a cumulative GPA of 3.5. Invitations to join the society are mailed to eligible students at the end of each term.
Service-learning is an activity or action where our students learn a skill, practice a skill, or learn something about their profession. Students need the ability to relate the activity to their education. The activity can be a volunteer project or a part of their normal studies. The practicum course our students are required to take is considered service-learning.
Our students routinely take part in health fairs, providing glucose screening and diabetes risk assessment. They also provide body mass index calculation, including measurement and blood pressure screening. Many educational brochures and some referrals are given.
Program service learning project is Fruit of the Vine Food Shelf of Vineyard Community Services and South Metro Vineyard Church www.vcsmn.org.
Vineyard Community Services is one of MN’s largest emergency hunger relief organizations and serves people in crisis throughout the nine-county region of the Twin Cities. Their mission is to serve individuals and families (neighbors) in crisis to meet their basic needs and provide opportunities for self-sufficiency.
DCTC Medical Assistant Students serve during their second semester by greeting neighbors, calling numbers which move the neighbors through the intake process, efficiently and evenly distribute the fresh produce, breads, dry goods and meat into bags, move the carts through a cycle of loading, quality assurance, guest verification and courteous delivering of goods to a neighbor’s car. In exchange for our service, students run a mini clinic in which they screen blood pressure and glucose levels, and provide preventative health care and dietary information. We serve a diverse population, and continue to develop communication and customer service skills as well.
Rosemount High School students visit our students on a regular basis. The purpose is twofold: students from the high school receive an opportunity to explore health career opportunities and medical assistant students at DCTC gain confidence when interacting with the public.
