Medical Assisting
Earn a certificate in medical assisting at Chemeketa in less than a year.
topics Health Sciences
Skills & InterestHelping People
CareersHealth Sciences
Why choose Medical Assisting?
Are you ready for a fast-growing, entry-level job in the medical field? A medical assisting certificate from Chemeketa will help you get started.
What will you learn?
Medical assistants provide a wide range of roles interacting with patients and assisting healthcare professionals by taking medical histories and checking vital signs.
Through classes offered at Chemeketa's Yamhill Valley Campus in McMinnville, OR, you can begin your path to a career. New enrollment begins in the spring and fall term of each year. Courses are financial aid eligible.
While enrolled in the program, you will acquire American Heart Association BLS Provider CPR certification. Upon successful completion of this certificate program, you will be eligible to take the National Center for Competency Testing National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) exam, as well as the National Certified Phlebotomy Technician (NCPT) exam.
What will you do?
Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing fields in the United States according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Clinical duties for a medical assistant may include –
- Assisting with examinations and treatments
- Obtaining medical histories
- Immunizations and injections
- Performing diagnostic tests and laboratory procedures
A certificate in medical assisting can lead to a great, fast-paced career or provide the foundation for working toward becoming a nurse or physician's assistant.
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ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
You must meet these qualifications to be considered for admission into the Medical Assistant program –
Completion or "In progress" of Prerequisites
Completion with a grade "C" or better of –
- HM 120
- MTH 060 (or higher)
- PSY 104
- WR 090 (or higher)
No substitutions for PSY 104 are accepted. All four classes should be completed with a "C" or better OR "in progress" at the time of application submission.
See Course Sequences for more information.
Proof of High School/GED Completion
Copy of high school diploma, GED, or high school transcripts showing graduation date
Age/Eligibility
You must be 18 by the date the program starts, and eligible to work in the United States
Background Check and Drug Test (ordered by the college, and for accepted students only)
All accepted students must-
- Pass a background check
- Pass a 10 panel urinalysis drug test (marijuana included)
- Show proof of certain immunizations
- Disqualifying Crimes List (being convicted of any of these crimes would result in background check being declined)
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GENERAL EDUCATION CLASS REQUIREMENTS
The following four classes must either be completed OR in progress when you apply to the Medical Assisting program, and must be passed with a "C" or better to be accepted –
- HM 120: Medical Terminology 1
- PSY 104: Workplace Psychology (no substitutions accepted)
- MTH 060: (or higher) Introductory Algebra
- WR 090 (or higher): Fundamentals of Writing
See Course Sequences for more information.
- HM 120: Medical Terminology 1
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APPLY FOR ADMISSION
The next time we will start a cohort is Spring term (March 31) 2025. The application acceptance dates are February 3rd through 17th, 2025. All application materials must be received by 11:59pm on Feb 17th to be considered.
Applications for the Spring 2025 cohort are accepted via electronic submission. If students don't have access to do that, you can drop off in person at the front desk of Yamhill Valley Campus Bldg 1.
Address to email/scan application to: yamhillcte@chemeketa.edu
Fax number: 503.584.7546
Mailing Address: 288 NE Norton Lane McMinnville, OR 97128
We offer two cohorts a year- one starts in the fall, and one in the spring terms. The application acceptance period for the fall cohort is during summer, and the application acceptance period for the spring cohort is in early winter of each year.
Additional Points Opportunity
Students who have completed HM 121- Medical Terminology 2 with a grade "C" or better will be eligible for two additional points on their application score sheet. One point will be awarded for HM 121 in progress at time of submission. Must show proof on transcripts.
If you have questions about the application process, please email us.
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ATTEND AN INFORMATION SESSION
Attend one of our upcoming information sessions where program faculty will talk about the application and scoring process, what it's like to be a medical assistant and answer any questions you might have. NOT REQUIRED prior to submitting your application, but is recommended.
Upcoming Information Session Dates
Coming soon!
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TUITION & FEES
Total approximate cost for Medical Assisting Program at Chemeketa Community College: 2024-2025
Medical Assisting Classes:
MED 124 (4 credits)- Taken Term 2
Tuition: $416 Universal credit fee: $148
Additional class fees: $325 NR
Total= $889
MED 125 (5 credits) Taken Term 2
Tuition: $520 Universal credit fee: $185
Additional class fees: $385 NR
Total= $1,090
MED 130 (5 credits) Taken Term 2
Tuition: $520 Universal credit fee: $185
Additional class fees: $325
Total= $1,030TOTAL Tuition/universal/fees for term 2= $3,009. $650 of MED class fees are non-refundable(covers books, CPR class, stethoscope & BP cuff, scrubs and lab supplies) Upon acceptance, there is an additional fee students will be responsible for paying which covers background & drug test.($90+) As well as some required immunizations (cost varies).
MED 131 (1 credit) Taken Term 3
Tuition: $104 Universal credit fee: $37
Total= $141MED 132 (11 credits) Taken Term 3
Tuition: $1,144 Universal credit fee: $407
Additional class fees: $400
Total: $1,951TOTAL tuition/universal/fees for term 3 = $2,092 ($400 class fee covers interactive reviews, lab supplies, and NCCT medical assisting exam fee)
MED Book Cost: Included in your first term fees. Books are handed out on the first day of class, student does not purchase directly.
General Education Classes: This is just for tuition and universal fees. Some classes have additional fees.
HM 120 (3 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $312 Universal credit fee: $111PSY 104 (4 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $416 Universal credit fee: $148MTH 060 (4 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $416 Universal credit fee: $148WR 090 (4 credits) Taken Term 1, BEFORE you apply to program
Tuition: $416 Universal credit fee: $148Approximate General education classes Tuition/fee total: $2,115
General Ed Classes book/supplies cost: Depending on what source you use to find books, you can look these up on the Chemeketa bookstore website at: http://bookstore.chemeketa.edu/home.aspx
APPROXIMATE tuition/fees program total: $ 7,216. Subject to change and does not include outside expenses like general education class books, immunization costs, or the cost for background/drug test.