Campus News
June 18th, 2019
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant students preparing for national certifications
Upon completion of externship, students can sit for CCMA, CPT, CMAA national exams
Students enrolled in the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) training program through Continuing Education and Workforce Development of Garrett College have successfully completed the classroom portion of the program. These students are nearly finished with the required externship, and are preparing to sit for upcoming national certification exams.
The duration of the CCMA program is almost a year. The program consists of 13 courses instructed three evenings a week, which equates to a total of 426 hours of classroom and lab time. Students will then complete 120 hours of an externship while working alongside experienced medical assistants and phlebotomists professionals in the field.
Once the externship is completed, students are eligible to earn three national certifications through the National Healthcareer Association by sitting for the following exams: Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), Certified Medical Administrate Assistant (CMAA), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
Certified Clinical Medical Assistants are versatile healthcare professionals who are engaged in a variety of clinical and administrative aspects in a medical office or hospital. CCMAs can be found in a number of healthcare settings including nursing homes, medical centers, laboratories and hospitals.
CCMA professionals assist doctors and nurses by preparing examination rooms, taking and monitoring patient vital signs, interviewing patients for medical histories, preparing patients for X-rays and assisting in medical procedures such as the administration of electrocardiograms.
Additionally, CCMAs can perform more advanced duties, including: drawing blood, administering injections and medications, and properly disposing of biohazards.
The next round of CCMA training will begin in September. Classes will be held on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6 p.m. until 9:15 p.m. at the Garrett College Career Technology Training Center in Accident.
Registration is currently being accepted for the fall, with limited space available. Orientation dates are also setup for the September program. To register, or for additional information on the CCMA program, contact Doug Beitzel, program coordinator, at 301-387-3772 or doug.beitzel@garrettcollege.edu.
Seated (left to right) are: Julia Knotts, Mt. Lake Park; Mary Holman, Friendsville; Amy Wilburn, Grantsville; Jami Miller, Grantsville; Lauren Baker, Mt. Storm. Standing are: Brigette Friend, instructor; Kristen Kight, Oakland; Brittany Golden, Grantsville; Alexis Sharpless, Oakland; Chanda Beckman, Oakland; Brittany Carney, Oakland; and Lindaly Stewart, instructor.
Not pictured: Linsay Liller, Oakland.
