Medical Assistant

St. Augustine College; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare training institution in Chicago is offering a comprehensive Medical Assistant Diploma Program designed for those looking to launch their career in healthcare in less than a year. This program includes essential clinical and administrative training, a hands-on externship, and prepares students for the growing demand in medical assistant jobs. Enroll today to secure your position in this vital healthcare field with strong employment growth projections.

Qualifications

• Completion of a Medical Assistant program within 44 weeks.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and procedures.
• Ability to perform vital sign checks and injections.

Responsibilities

• Assist with patient care in clinical settings.
• Perform administrative tasks such as scheduling and coding.
• Manage patients' electronic health records.

Skills

Clinical skills

Administrative skills

Phlebotomy

Medical coding

Electronic health records management

Education

High school graduate or GED

Tools

Electronic health records software

Job description

Launch Your Healthcare Career as a Medical Assistant in Less Than a Year

St. Augustine College at Lewis University’s Medical Assistant Program prepares students for essential roles in healthcare, equipping them with the clinical and administrative skills needed to succeed in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and outpatient facilities. Medical assistants are vital members of the healthcare team and are part of an in‑demand career field. Assisting with patient care, medical procedures, and office management are all skills essential to stand out during the job search process and prove your qualifications as a medical assistant.

With demand for medical assistants projected to grow 14% by 2032, this 11‑month program in comprehensive health is designed to provide students with the hands‑on training and real‑world experience needed to enter the workforce quickly and confidently. A 160‑hour externship ensures students gain practical skills in professional medical settings.

Why Choose St. Augustine College at Lewis University’s Medical Assistant Program?

• Comprehensive Hands‑On Training – Learn essential clinical and administrative skills in this comprehensive medical assistant training program, including phlebotomy, electrocardiograms, injections, medical coding, and electronic health records management.
• Real‑World Clinical Experience – Complete a 160‑hour externship in a healthcare facility. This real‑world clinical experience for all medical assistants allows students to gain hands‑on experience and valuable industry connections.
• Accelerated Path to Employment – Finish your medical assistant training and receive a diploma in just 44 weeks and enter a high‑growth field with strong job opportunities and employer demand.

Start Your Career in Healthcare Today

If you’re ready to take the next step toward a career as a medical assistant, apply today to St. Augustine College at Lewis University’s clinical medical assistant program and begin your journey at St. Augustine College.

* This health program will have in‑person classes for the clinical skills classes as well as externship.

Medical Assistant Diploma Program Details

Program Length: 44 weeks (11 months) including 160 hours of externship – 37 credit hours

The Medical Assistant Program will prepare you to learn the following clinical and administrative skills in preparation for a successful career:

• Administer intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injections with the supervision of a licensed physician.
• Perform phlebotomy for lab testing.
• Perform urinalysis.
• Perform electrocardiogram.
• Perform other basic tests such as fecal occult blood test, pulmonary function tests.
• Perform basic medical coding and billing.
• Manage patients’ electronic health records.
• Have basic knowledge of patients’ insurances.
• Will be trained in basic life support (CPR).

When it comes to job opportunities for medical assistants, more than half of all certified medical assistants work in physicians’ offices – assisting physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants. Other facilities that medical assistants can work in include immediate care facilities, hospital outpatient departments, and phlebotomy facilities.

The largest employers of medical assistants are the following:

• Physicians’ offices – 59%
• Hospitals – state, local, and private – 15%
• Offices of other health practitioners – 10%

Accreditations

St. Augustine’s College’s Medical Assistant Diploma Program is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Medical Assistant program has been approved by the Illinois Board of Higher Education to be offered at the Chicago campus of SAC. Will be applying for specialized program accreditation soon.

Admission Requirements

• Be 17 years of age or older.
• Be a high school graduate or hold an official transcript of the GED test.
• Lewis University requires all students to take placement exams in English and Mathematics as part of the admission process. These no‑pass, no‑fail tests are designed to ensure that students are ready to enroll in the English and Mathematics courses that are required in the Medical Assistant program.
• Have an acceptable criminal background check. Some healthcare facilities will require background checks before starting externship.
• Physical Examination form will be provided by the Director of Allied Health, which will be filled out by the student’s primary care physician.
• The vaccinations and tests required by clinical sites include:
  • Hepatitis B vaccine – 3 series; at least the first dose of the three series has been administered before the start of externship.
  • COVID-19 vaccine – primary doses as well as booster doses.
  • MMR, tetanus vaccines.
  • TB testing – Quantiferon or PPD test.

Medical Assistant Diploma Program Academic Requirements

General Education Requirements:

• ENGL 11100: College Writing 1

Program Core Requirements

• HUPR 19500-001(3 credit hours) – Medical Terminology
• HLTH 10500 (3 credit hours) – Introduction to Medical Law and Ethics
• HLSC 101 (3 credit hours) – General Anatomy and Physiology Lecture
• HLSC 102 (3 credit hours) – General Anatomy and Physiology Lab
• MDAS 12000 (3 credit hours) – Math for Healthcare Professionals
• MDAS 10900 (3 credit hours) – Introduction to Medical Coding
• MDAS 10100 (3 credit hours) – Electronic Health Records
• MDAS 12500 (3 credit hours) – Medical Office Procedures
• MDAS 13500 (4 Credit Hours) – Clinical Medical Assisting
• MDAS 22000 (3 credit hours) – Laboratory Procedures and Pharmacology
• MDAS 21000 (4 credit hours) – Medical Assisting Externship

Medical Assistant Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022 edition, employment for Certified Medical Assistants is projected to grow 14%, much faster than the average for all occupations from 2022 through 2032. In Illinois, medical assistant jobs are projected to grow by 12% according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security and the career onestop.org. There are 764,400 jobs available for Medical Assistants in 2022. On average, about 114,600 new job openings for medical assistants are projected each year, highlighting the strong demand for graduates of medical assistant training programs.