Medical assistants keep clinics and physician practices running. They take vital signs, draw blood, give injections, update records and help patients feel at ease. This three-semester certificate blends online coursework through RidgeLearn with hands-on lab days on campus, so you can keep working while you train.
What you’ll learn
- Vital signs, EKGs, injections and phlebotomy
- Medical terminology, anatomy and basic pharmacology
- Electronic health records, scheduling and insurance coding basics
- Infection control and clinical safety
- Professional communication and patient privacy
Why Palmetto Ridge
Lab sessions meet two days a week in the Health Sciences Building, where you’ll practice on the same equipment found in family practices and urgent care centers. Your final semester includes a 160-hour externship with a Lowcountry Regional Medical Center outpatient clinic or another local practice, and many students are hired by their externship site. You’ll be ready to sit for a national certification exam such as the CMA or RMA. Credits from this certificate can also count toward our Health Science Transfer degree or support a future application to Nursing, so it’s a smart first step on a longer path.
Careers & next steps
- Certified Medical Assistant
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Patient Care Coordinator
- Medical Office Specialist
- Clinical Team Lead
Ready to start?
Applying is free. An advisor will help you map every class from day one to graduation.