Our CMA Program is Shorter

  • Our MAA/CMA BUNDLE program is 10-14 months shorter than other CMA-only programs in our area. By graduating a year sooner, you could earn as much as $30-50,000 more in income!    

Our Programs Costs Less Than Other Schools

  • This, of course, saves you money. And with Pell Grants and Student Loans available, you may graduate with little or no student loan debt. Qualifying students may also receive money to use for living expenses while they attend school as well. 

Our Graduates Get Jobs!

  • The Academy partners with every major hospital and physician’s group in the greater Chattanooga area. Over 96% of the Academy’s graduates go to work in their chosen field immediately upon graduation!

The Academy is a Unique and Special Place!

  • Read our reviews on Google and Facebook and you’ll see that our students love our culture and how different we are from other colleges and universities. Our amazing instructors and relaxed environment allow our students to excel in class, achieve their goals, and change their lives!   



Course Summary

Course Content

Length

Fees

Admission Requirements

Authorization

Course Summary

The Medical Administrative Assistant/Clinical Medical Assistant (BUNDLE) Program is designed to prepare the student to work in both the administrative (front office) and clinical (back office) areas of the physician’s office, walk-in clinic, or other healthcare facilities. This program ‘bundles’ the MAA/EHRS and CMA programs. Upon completion students are eligible to take three national certification exams: Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist, and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant. With these credentials and certifications, the graduate understands all aspects of the clinical office and is a valuable member of the health care team.

The MAA works primarily in the front office and communicates with the patient, family members and all members of the healthcare team in a professional manner. This course also thoroughly prepares students for the administrative and electronic health record skills needed by the medical administrative assistant. This program also covers material dealing with medical office, medical records, management skills, client service skills and responsibilities, client education and legal/ethical issues.

The CMA is prepared to work in a physician’s office, primarily in the back office, actually assisting the doctor in taking vital signs, patient history, patients assessments, documenting the patients chief complaint, sterilizing, disinfecting, assisting with minor office surgery, patient education, medications, phoning in prescriptions, performing EKG's, venipuncture’s, collecting specimens for various laboratory tests, preparing the exam rooms and patients for examinations, performing emergency medical procedures, sterile dressing changes, making appointments, referring to proper community resources and disposing of bio-hazard waste properly.

Content includes, but is not limited to:

  • Basic Medical Office Administration
  • Perform Taking of Patient History
  • Assist with Physical Examinations
  • Medical Documentation & Recording
  • Electrocardiograms
  • Nutrition
  • Knowledge of CLIA and OSHA Guidelines
  • Pediatric
  • Sterilization and Disinfection
  • Digestive Systems
  • Integumentary Systems
  • Prenatal Care
  • Gynecology
  • Pharmacology
  • Reproductive Health
  • Minor Office Surgery
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Prepare Patients & Examination Rooms
  • Phlebotomy & Hematology
  • Blood Chemistry & Serology
  • Clinical Laboratory
  • Perform Venipuncture’s& Injections
  • Catheterizations
  • Patient Education
  • Infection Control & Universal Precautions
  • Medical Vocabulary
  • Medical Terminology
  • Abbreviations & Symbols
  • Intro Anatomy & Physiology
  • Radiology
  • Urinalysis
  • Prescription Writing
  • Emergency Medical Procedures
  • CPR
  • Knowledge of Health Insurance claims
  • Developments of the Claim
  • Insurance Company Processing of Claims
  • Maintaining Insurance Claim Files
  • Safeguarding Confidentiality
  • Knowledge of Medications and Drug Calculations
  • Know Formatting Requirements    
  • Learn to Submit a Medical Bill        
  • Medical Terminology
  • Anatomy and Physiology        
  • Medical History    
  • Discharge Summaries
  • Examination procedures
  • Medical Reports
  • Terminology related to diseases
  • Diagnostic Tests
  • Treatment of body systems
  • Radiology Terminology
  • Pathology Terminology
  • Autopsy Terminology
  • Mental Health Terminology
  • Effective communication with the patient, family, and other members of the healthcare team
  • Identify different types of Medical Institutions and Medical Offices
  • Personal/professional, Medical/Legal and Bio-ethical Standards
  • Knowledge of Electronic Health Records
  • Patient Flow regarding EHR/EMR (scheduling, patient registration, insurance verification, and patient referrals)
  • Knowledge of HIPAA and the HIPAA Security Rule for use with EHR/EMR
  • Execute EHR file maintenance procedures (purging, archiving, finalizing and security)
  • Eight core functions if an EHR System
  • Computer Provider Order Entry

Length of Program

The Medical Administrative Assistant/Clinical Medical Assistant program is a total of 776 contact hours consisting of 556 classroom hours and 220 hours of clinical. Total time for the course is 25 weeks for Daytime and 45 weeks for Evening classes. Day classes are available Monday-Friday 9:00am-3:15pm. Evening classes are available Monday-Thursday 6:00pm-10:00pm. Clinical hours will vary according to the clinical area assigned. Clinicals usually amount to 6 weeks for most rotations or until your reach your 220-hour minimum. End dates may vary depending on various office hours at your clinical site. We cannot guarantee placement for students that choose not to be vaccinated.

Fees

  • Application Fee $100.00 (non-refundable)
  • Books Fee $355.00
  • Materials Fee $320.00
  • Tuition $8625.00
  • Lab Fee $150.00
  • Technology Fee $150.00 

Additional Cost: 

  • CPR Certification $25.00
  • Student Liability Insurance $45.00
  • Student ID Badge $15.00
  • National Certification Exam x 3 $415.00

Total Program Cost $10,200.00

The deadline to apply for Financial Aid is 2 weeks prior to each program’s start date.   The Academy cannot guarantee access to Financial Aid resources after this deadline.


Required Textbooks / Workbooks:

Bonewit-West, K. (2023) Clinical Procedures for Medical Assistants. 11th Edition. Elsevier. St. Louis, Missouri. ISBN: 978-0-323-75858-1

Bonewit-West, K. (2023) Study Guide for Clinical Procedures for Medical Assistants. 11th Edition, Elsevier. St. Louis, Missouri. ISBN: 978-0-323-75882-6

Shanholtzer, M. & Ensign, A. (2021). Integrated Electronic Health Records. 4th Edition (loose-leaf edition). McGraw-Hill. ISBN: 978-1-264-00465-2

Niedzwiecki, B., Pepper, J., & Weaver, P. (2020). Kinn’s The Administrative Medical Assistant. 14th Edition. Elsevier. St. Louis Missouri. ISBN: 978-0-323-61365-1


Additional supplies:

A current Medical Dictionary is strongly suggested for class and can be obtained from any bookstore for approximately $10. Students will need general school supplies such as:  binders, notebook, paper, pens, pencils, erasers, and highlighters. Students are required to purchase a minimum of two pair of scrubs and enclosed shoes that must always be worn during clinicals. These are approximately $50.00 a pair and can be purchased at any uniform or retail store. Students are also required to purchase a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff by the second (2nd) week of class; these are approximately $45.00 for the kit. Uniforms will be worn six to ten (6-10) weeks after class begins. Students are encouraged to purchase any additional uniforms you may feel necessary for class/clinicals, (color based on clinical assignment).


Cancellation / Withdrawal / Refund Policy:

In accordance with the TENNESSEE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION (THEC), The Academy of Allied Health Careers utilizes enrollment contracts/agreements and must maintain a cancellation and settlement policy for a full refund of all monies paid by a student if a student cancels the enrollment agreement or contract within 72 hours or 3 business days (Excluding Saturday, Sunday and Legal Holidays) after the enrollment contract is signed by the prospective student.  

                    1.  If the student begins classes within the 72-hour cancellation privilege period, the regular refund applies.  This refund is described below.

                    2.  If tuition or fees are collected in advance of entrance into a course, and if the student withdraws after the 72-hour expiration of the cancellation privilege but before the class has started, the Academy will retain no more than $100.

                    3.  If tuition and fees are collected in advance of the start date and the Academy cancels the class, the student may elect to transfer any tuition and fees paid to the next scheduled class if they so choose or receive a refund of 100% of the tuition and fees collected. 

For the student who begins any of the Academy’s programs and terminates or withdraws, the Academy will retain the $100.00 non-refundable Application Fee and the minimum refund of the remaining tuition will be calculated.

                    1.  Class refunds are prorated for the time you have spent in class (see guidelines below for withdrawal dates). This refund amount will be dependent on the length of course, total tuition for the course and amount of time spent in the course. You will be charged for the entire cost of tuition divided by (÷) the total number of weeks the class is scheduled, then multiplied by the total number of weeks you attended class according to our withdrawal date policy below. (For example: Tuition for Medical Administrative Assistant / Clinical Medical Assistant is $8625.00. The Medical Administrative Assistant / Clinical Medical Assistant day class is 19 weeks of class and student attended 2 weeks of class. Therefore: $8625.00 ÷ 19 weeks = $453.95 per week. So, $453.95 x 2 weeks = $907.90. The student in this situation would owe $907.90 for tuition.)

                     2.  Tuition refunds do not include any additional fees such as: Application Fee, Book Fees, Material Fees, Insurance Used, Uniforms Purchased, Physicals, etc.

                     3.  The effective date of the termination for refund purposes will be the following:

                                        a.  The last day of attendance if the student is terminated by the institution.

                                        b.  The date of receipt of written notice from the student.

                                        c.  Ten school days following the last day of attendance.

                                        d.  Refunds will be totally consummated within at least 45 days after the effective date of termination.


Financial Assistance:

The Academy is an eligible training provider for the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program.  Information related to eligibility for both programs is available at your local American Jobs Center.  The Academy is also approved by the Tennessee State Approving Agency for the training of veterans and their eligible dependents. In addition, the Academy offers payment plans for students admitted to its programs. Further information will be provided during the interview process. Students receiving any type of financial assistances will meet with an administrator to review their responsibilities.

Admission Requirements

In order to be considered for admission prospective students must:

  1. Attend a Career Overview session to gain information re: programs offered and expectations
  2. Interview with Academy staff
  3. Complete entrance assessment (basic reading and math skills). Note: Results are used for advisement purposes only.  No passing score identified.
  4. Submit the following:
    1. Official high school transcript or GED transcript
    2. A copy of a government approved photo ID (examples may include driver's license or state-issued ID)
    3. Completed Program Application/Enrollment Agreement

Students sponsored by WIOA or any other funding source are interviewed a 2nd time by Academy staff. The purpose of the second interview is to reinforce the Academy’s commitment to the objectives of the funding source (i.e. job search and employment).


The following minimal physical and mental requirements are necessary for successful progression through the Medical Administrative Assistant/Clinical Medical Assistant (BUNDLE) program:

  • Ability to lift or move weights of up to 35% of recommended bodyweight (approx. 50 pounds).
  • Motor ability necessary to ambulate independently in clients’ rooms and in work areas.
  • Visual acuity sufficient to observe and assess client behavior, prepare and to administer medications, and accurately read monitors and computer screens.
  • Auditory acuity sufficient to hear instructions, requests, monitoring alarms, and to auscultate heart tones, breath sounds, and bowel sounds.
  • The ability to speak, write, and comprehend the English language proficiently (safety issue).
  • The ability to communicate in a professional manner and establish rapport with clients and colleagues.


Criminal background checks and drug screens are required at the affiliated clinical sites for training. Based on the results of these checks, an affiliated clinical site may determine to not allow your presence at their facility. This could result in your inability to successfully complete the requirements of this program. Additionally, a criminal background may preclude licensure or employment.


Immunizations / Vaccinations

The Academy does NOT require proof of any immunizations/vaccinations including, but not limited to: Hepatitis B, COVID-19, Flu, or TB skin test. However, many of our affiliated clinical sites do require these, and perhaps other, immunizations and vaccinations. Because of this, we cannot guarantee placement for students that choose not to be vaccinated.

Authorization

Medical Administrative Assistant/Electronic Health Records Specialist Program is authorized by the Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC). This authorization must be renewed each year and is based on an evaluation by minimum standards concerning the quality of education, ethical business practices, health and safety and fiscal responsibility.

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