Lafayette Campus

Graduates receive theoretical and clinical training in a variety of areas, including, but not limited to, the following:

• Human anatomy, physiology, and pathology
• Medical terminology
• Keyboarding and computer applications
• Recordkeeping and accounting
• Coding and insurance processing
• Laboratory techniques
• Clinical and diagnostic procedures
• Pharmacology
• Medication administration
• First aid
• Office practices
• Patient relations
• Medical law and ethics

You will be required to take the AAMA National Certification Exam during your MEAS 260 Externship course. This will give you the credential of being a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). Yes, the CMA certification is a national certification and is the preferred certification for many organizations in the United States. 

All medical assistants must be nationally certified in order to comply with recent Medicare requirements. Ivy Tech prepares students for the American Medical Assistants’ Association’s (AAMA) Certified Medical Assistant exam.

Yes. The program-approved uniform includes navy-colored uniform pants or navy colored knee-length skirt, navy-colored uniform top with Ivy Tech logo, which can all be purchased through Ivy Tech’s bookstore. Students will also be expected to have all white leather uniform shoes with rubber soles (no Crocs, open-toes, or canvas) and if desired, a navy-colored scrub jacket. This uniform will be required once in the Medical Assisting program, beginning with the MEAS 238 course (Clinical I). It is not required for prerequisites courses.

Ivy Tech’s Medical Assisting program has two options available: The Technical Certificate in Medical Assisting (39 credits) or the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting (60 credits). All students who obtain the Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting will also obtain the Technical Certificate. All students must apply to the program via the statewide online application.

All students will be required to provide a copy of their immunization records. The student will also need to obtain a physical exam, two-step TB test, Drug Screen and Background check. The drug screen and background check will be completed by a pre-determined facility, any background checks or drug screens performed with any other company will not be considered. Detailed information will be provided throughout the program.

Your prerequisites to get into the program. Then your program courses.

You can retake the exam if you wish, but an easier option is to maintain continuing education units. There are multiple ways to earn CEU’s, from online exams to conferences. You are able to decide which format is easiest for you. If your certification expires, and you did not complete CEU’s, you will need to retake the exam.

You will need to complete a total of 60 recertification points over a 5 year period, with a minimum of 10 points being required for each content area. The remaining 30 points may be accumulated in any of the three content areas.

• 10 administrative
• 10 clinical
• 10 general
• 30 points from any combination of the above three categories

The AAMA provides multiple options. Once a member, you will receive the CMA Today journal, that will contain CEU options. The AAMA also has an up-to-date listing of all possible CEU’s offered by the AAMA including conferences, seminars and self-study courses.