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Medical Assistant Online/Hybrid Diploma Program

Available in Altoona and State College Campuses

For those who are passionate about caring for others, a career as a medical assistant could be the perfect fit. Medical assisting is a hands-on position that lets you contribute to both clinical and administrative work behind the scenes at a variety of healthcare facilities and organizations, doing everything from managing patient records to collecting blood samples to assisting with patient exams. Medical assistants make a profound difference in patient comfort and care, and South Hills School of Business & Technology can prepare you to enter this field with our Diploma in Medical Assistant.

Meet a South Hills Medical Assistant Alumni

” I chose South Hills, because of the school size. At South Hills, you are a person, not a number. I definitely do feel like everything that was in my classes and program related. All the clinical skills I learned, the medical terminology, and the coding classes, these are still valuable to me now as a medical assistant. I would recommend South Hills to anyone because they make sure you are prepared and ready for a career.”
- Alicia Aukerman

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“Why You should Consider the Medical Assistant Program”

Online/Hybrid format requires only 2 days per week of in class time!
Instructors with real world Healthcare experience.
Small class sizes with individualized attention. You’re a name, not a number at South Hills.
Curriculum reviewed yearly by working medical professionals and designed to prepare you for dozens of career path opportunities.
Mentored “in field” internship prior to graduation.
Preparation for Certified Medical Assistant credential.
Job placement assistance upon graduation.
Recent employers of Medical Assistant grads include, Mount Nittany Physician’s Group, Penn Highlands Center For Childrens Care, Susquehanna Health, Tyrone Medical Associates, UPMC Altoona, Blair Medical Associates, Geisinger, Huntingdon Healthcare, Inc., and more!

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*Upon successful completion of the MA program, graduates are eligible to apply to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) examination through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Medical Assistant Program Objectives

Through a comprehensive educational training program including attention to theory, practice, and application, students in the Medical Assistant program will develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes:

To prepare the student to function competently at an entry level, principally in a physician’s office or clinic.
To provide adequate information, demonstration, and practice of medical assistant administrative skills for the healthcare field to insure student competency in this area.
To provide adequate information, demonstration, and practice of medical assistant clinical skills for the healthcare field to insure student competency in this area.
To provide adequate information, demonstration, and practice of medical assistant laboratory skills for the healthcare field to insure student competency in this area.
To provide an adequate foundation of knowledge in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, disease processes and conditions.
To provide an adequate foundation of knowledge and hands on practice to understand proper aseptic techniques, and diagnostic and treatment procedures commonly performed in the physician’s office.
To prepare the student for employment in the health care field, emphasizing the need for maturity, responsibility, and attention to detail that is essential for all health care employees.
To provide the student with information and skills needed to take the CMA (AAMA) exam.

Financial Aid is available to those who qualify

Investing in your education is an investment in your future. South Hills is committed to helping you take advantage of the many financial aid options available to you. Most eligible full- and half-time students seeking degrees are eligible for financial aid. To apply for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Form; our school code (OPE ID) is 013263. South Hills offers to all its enrolling students full-service financial aid appointments to assist you every step of the way through the financial aid process. We greatly encourage you to contact our Financial Aid office at 814-234-7755 or email financialaid@southhills.edu to setup your appointment.

We'll help you do everything necessary to apply for aid from these sources:

Applying for Financial Aid - Federal Student Aid ID (FSA ID)

Federal Pell Grant (PELL) - Pennsylvania State Grant

Federal Student Loans - Federal PLUS Loan

Alternative Loans - Scholarships

Other Financial Aid Resources

Complete Course List

You can see the full breakdown of the courses you will take, including descriptions, in our course catalog.

Medical Assistant Course List for 2023-24

Term	Course #	Course Name	Modality	Credits	Clock Hours
First Term	MA112	Anatomy & Physiology	Hybrid	5.0	82
	MA113	Introduction to Healthcare	Hybrid	3.5	60
	GE179	Mathematics for Health Care Professionals	Residential	4.0	60
	PD130	Professional Development	Fully Online	2.0	27
	MA114	Medical Terminology	Hybrid	5.0	82
		Totals:		19.5	311

Second Term	GE188	Business Writing Essentials	Residential	4.0	60
	MA115	Clinical Skills	Hybrid	5.5	90
	MD240	Medical Administrative Skills	Hybrid	3.5	60
	MA117	Medical Legal Aspects	Hybrid	3.0	36
	MD222	Pharmacology	Fully Online	3.0	40
		Totals:		19.0	286

Third Term	GE207	Applied Psychology in Healthcare	Residential	3	36
	CP136	Business Applications	Fully Online	4.0	60
	MA119	Disease & Diagnostics	Hybrid	3.5	60
	CD220	Job Search Skills	Fully Online	2.0	28
	MA118	Laboratory Procedures	Hybrid	5.5	90
		Totals:		18.0	274

Fourth Term	MA120	Certification Preparation for the Medical Assistant	Hybrid	1.5	24
	MA203	Medical Assistant Internship		11.0	330
		Totals:		12.5	354
				MA PROGRAM TOTAL CREDITS	MA PROGRAM TOTAL HOURS
				69.0 Credits	1,225 Clock Hours

Bright Outlook Occupation

Medical Assistants

Medical Assistants are trained professionals that handle both administrative tasks and patient care tasks under the direction of a physician. They perform duties such as gathering and recording patient and insurance information, preparing exam rooms, and providing direct patient care such as drawing blood, administering medications, and measuring vital signs.

See the Bright Outlook for this Occupation

The Outlook for Medical Assisting Jobs and Careers

The demand for healthcare in the United States is growing every day, and with much of our population aging, the need for skilled medical professionals is expected to expand rapidly. Medical assistants are one of the fastest-growing occupations in the country Certified job candidates with quality training from an accredited ASB degree program will be well positioned to take advantage of this in-demand career. The Bureau of Labor Statistics published these facts in 2023:

Projected growth (2021-2031)
Much faster than average (11% or higher)
Projected job openings (2021-2031) 123,000

Medical Assistant graduates who have secured their CMA Certification can expect to be working in entry level healthcare jobs like:

Clinical Medical Assistant
Electrocardiography Technician
Medical Administrative Assistant
Medical Assistant
Phlebotomist
Emergency Department Technician
and more!

Careers For Medical Assistants

South Hills Medical Assistant graduates are well-trained and in demand for their skillsets and work ethics. Some of the many locations employing our graduates including but not limited to:

Advanced Regional Center for Ankle and Foot Care
Allegheny Regional Endoscopy (Blair Gastroenterology)
Altoona Heart and Vascular Institute
Altoona Lung Specialists
Blair Medical Associates
Dr. Nalin G. Patel
Geisinger

Huntingdon Healthcare, Inc.
Mount Nittany Physician’s Group
Penn Highlands Center For Childrens Care
Susquehanna Health
Tyrone Medical Associates
UPMC Altoona

Meet the Faculty

Bobbi Brumbaugh

Lead Program Coordinator (AL)

Jessica Ritter

Program Coordinator (SC)