Medical Assisting

Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Advanced

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Earn your associate degree to start working toward tomorrow’s medical assisting opportunities today.

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In our Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Advanced program, you’ll work to learn how to perform select lab testing, assist practitioners with examining and treating patients, and provide essential administrative support in medical settings. In your courses, you’ll study human anatomy, physiology, pathology, medical terminology, pharmacology, and more. You’ll learn about clinical and lab procedures, as well as common medical office routines. In addition to classroom instruction, you’ll get practical hands-on training in our campus labs and gain 180 hours of field experience in a real medical facility through completion of a practicum. By the time you graduate, you’ll have worked to develop entry level skills in medical assisting to serve as a valued member of the healthcare team.

Develop Essential Skills In
  • Medical lab and clinical procedures
  • Pharmacology
  • Front office procedures
  • Medical insurance and coding
  • Professional communication
See All Medical Assisting Programs

South College Medical Assisting

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Tuition and Fees

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Examples of Scholarships and Grants That May Be Available (Check with Your Campus Financial Aid Office For More Information)

Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program

South College is an approved educational institution for the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program establishes lottery-funded scholarships to reward Florida high school graduates for high academic achievement.

TN Promise

South College is proud to offer the TNP Scholarship for those that qualify helping to offset the first 2 years of tuition with required Community Service hours.

Yellow Ribbon

South College proudly participates in this program with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to help pay for education for military members and Veterans.

Concentrations in this Program

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You May Enjoy This Line of Study If You…

  • Like organization and keeping information easily accessible
  • Enjoy assisting others and making people feel comfortable and welcome
  • Arranging complicated data and critical information is easy for you and something you enjoy
  • Can be trusted with private and personal information of others
  • Can communicate well with patients and colleagues

Learning Outcomes
  • Students establish a firm base of knowledge in general education, medical science, and medical office routines which provides entry-level competencies in the fundamental concepts and theories applicable to medical assisting practices and procedures. (Cognitive)
  • Students establish skills in clerical/administrative, clinical, and laboratory/technical areas pertinent to entry-level competencies of a medical assistant and the needs of the community and employment market. (Psychomotor)
  • Students demonstrate superior principles of legal, ethical, and moral integrity. (Affective)
Admissions Requirements

All students must minimally meet the requirements for general admission to South College. General admission to South College does not guarantee admission to the Medical Assisting Program.  Program admission is granted when a student has met all requirements and is successfully enrolled in his/her first clinical course, the first course in the MA curriculum in which a student is assessed on psychomotor (skill) and affective (behavior) competencies.

A maximum of three attempts will be allowed for completing courses in the Allied Health Sciences (AHS) portion of the program.

Program Requirements

All students admitted in the Medical Assisting program at South College must recognize that various occupational hazards exist in the medical laboratory and the clinical setting. All Medical Assisting students are responsible for understanding the health requirements and the general safety procedures and precautions. Throughout the training, strict adherence to OSHA guidelines and standard precautions is mandated and observed. In compliance with these guidelines and precautions, all Medical Assisting students are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as indicated.

Students will be required, during the course of the program, to demonstrate their physical and/or emotional fitness to meet the essential requirements of the program. These requirements include maintaining a state of good health, achieving a comprehensive knowledge base (cognitive ability), achieving procedural proficiency (psychomotor skills), and demonstrating suitable behavioral and emotional fitness (affective domain). Any appraisal measures used to determine such physical and/or emotional fitness will be in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. A student should notify the Department Chairperson if he or she has a communicable disease. This disclosure will be handled in strict confidence and used to assure safe lab conditions. Hepatitis B vaccination and/or immunization verification is recommended.


Students applying to the Medical Assisting program must accept the following:

  1. Eligibility for the Certification Examination may be denied by the AAMA Certifying Board if the applicant for the CMA credential has been found guilty of a felony or pleaded guilty to a felony.
  2. Failure to produce proof of the following may severely limit practicum placement (possibly increasing the overall length of the program) and future employment options:
  • Negative TB test
  • Hepatitis B vaccination
  • Health release to participate in clinical practicum/physician’s certification that student is in good health
  • Other immunizations, such as MMR
  • CPR and first aid training

All Medical Assisting students are required to complete a 200-hour unpaid, supervised practicum at a local medical practice weekdays during the last quarter of their program. Students are required to meet all health guidelines and dress code policies of the affiliating agencies. Drug screening may be required by the practicum locations. Failure to pass the screening will result in the student being denied placement at the associated location. Denial may result in dismissal from the program.

Prior to the beginning of AHS 2982 Medical Assisting Practicum, students are required to undergo a physical exam/health verification and to be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first aid. Students are responsible for costs incurred from injury or illness while in the Medical Assisting program. Fees charged to cover physical exams, immunizations, drug screens, background checks and/or CPR/First Aid Certification are the responsibility of the student.

Got A Question? South College Frequently Asked Questions
What is the tuition for South College?

Tuition and fees for South College students vary by program, and tuition rates are tiered based on the number of credits taken each quarter. For example, in our undergraduate programs, students taking 10-20 credits per quarter are charged one quarterly tuition rate based on their program, while students in the same program taking 1-5 or 6-9 credits are charged different tuition rates. Our tuition rates are designed such that South College students who take a high number of credits per quarter may be able to complete their program at a lower total cost than students who take fewer credits per quarter. Contact our admissions team who can help you prepare the budget for the field of study you want to pursue. And don’t forget we also offer numerous grants, scholarships, and financial aid packages to those that qualify.

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Does South College offer Financial Aid?

Yes! Financial aid for South College is available to those who qualify. Students at South College have access to a range of financial aid to provide the economic assistance they need to pay for college. Aid is available in the form of scholarships, grants and awards, work-study programs, and loans. We’re happy to participate in numerous federal, state, and private student aid programs, and to offer funding directly. In addition to federal and state financial aid, South College institutional grants can reduce out-of-pocket expenses for qualified military-affiliated students, first responders, and recent high school graduates. Visit our financial page or contact our admissions team. We want you to succeed! Let us help you give your dream direction and address your financial aid questions.

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Is South College Accredited?

Yes! South College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award degrees at the doctorate, educational specialist, master’s, baccalaureate, and associate levels, as well as certificates. With over 100 programs and concentrations and campuses on multiple states the state authorizations have been obtained. Visit the link to see the full listing. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the appropriate licensing board to confirm whether a South College program will meet the requirements for professional licensure in that state. South College will assist with this information for fully online programs. For on-ground/hybrid programs, the institution ensures that the program meets requirements for the state in which the campus is located.

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How do I apply to South College?

Visit South College and see for yourself what the college has to offer. Campus tours include a personal admissions consultation, campus facility tour and more! When you are ready to start your journey at South College, submit an online application or speak with an admissions representative. Once your application is received, we will begin building your personalized plan to pursue the chosen degree or certificate program based on your interest. We want you to have the best possible educational experience. To learn more about the educational opportunities available for your future, Apply today!

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Do you Offer Housing?

South College offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs in areas such as business, healthcare, legal studies, education, criminal justice, and technology. At this time, we do not currently offer housing options. Our expansive online study and hybrid options allow our students to learn wherever they are located, and often with the flexibility of their own convenient time. With academic advisors that support the students throughout their tenure at South College, along with tutors, study groups, and a student success team, students at South College have resources at their fingertips to assist them in their educational pursuits and may be able to guide towards housing areas close to the campus of their choice. The individual attention and support provided by our faculty and staff helps to set us apart. Students interested in a more personalized learning experience are often attracted to South College over other larger universities and colleges in our campus locations. Request more information about South College today!

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Looking for South College Consumer Information?

South College was founded in 1882 and focused on serving students who want a hands-on, relevant education that can have a meaningful impact on their lives. South College strives to provide quality instruction, resources, and support services based on systematic and ongoing assessment and evaluation of objectives/outcomes to ensure the development of student abilities necessary for the achievement of positive student outcomes and the mission/vision of the college. The institution establishes policies and procedures to maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and accrediting requirements. Click below to learn all about South College’s history, and who we are as an institution today.

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Does South College accept Transfer Students?

Yes! Credit for transfer work may be given if it was taken at an accredited collegiate institution, if it is equivalent to courses offered at South College, and if it carries a grade of C or better. Any coursework taken over seven years ago may be denied transfer credit if the material is outdated. Policies for the acceptance of any graduate level transfer credit are determined by the associated program faculty within guidelines determined by the institution. We want students to succeed and will do our best to help you in your journey to apply transfer credits to those who qualify. Contact admissions for assistance for your transfer individualized plan and consideration and learn about transfer specifications and time limits by course here:

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What Kind of Certificate & Degrees does South College Offer?

South College is a regionally accredited private co-educational, institution with non-residential campuses in Knoxville and Nashville, Tennessee; Asheville, North Carolina; Atlanta, Georgia; Indianapolis, Indiana; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Orlando, Florida. Students can pursue academic programs at all levels, including professional certificates and associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. New academic programs are added frequently in response to local, regional, and national employment trends, and South College is committed to providing programs at all levels with innovative course content and teaching platforms.  Explore all the programs and come back often as we regularly add new programs that may spark your interest!

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Online vs On-Campus – What Is Best?

Since its founding 141 years ago, South College‘s mission has been to serve students who want a hands-on, professional focused education. Today this means offering traditional classroom experiences along with accelerated, hybrid, and online learning options. It means small class sizes, modern labs, and campuses that are convenient to large numbers of students. Most of all, it means experienced instructors who provide real world experiences in their classes and lead in-depth discussions on the concepts taught. South College also offers non-traditional distance-learning programs, allowing students to earn a college degree online providing more flexibility with the same level of quality education and experience from all academic programs offered. This option is great for potential students who are working a full-time job or are not in travel distance to one of the learning sites. Online vs. campus? You decide. Get the student experience you desire in the program that fits your style best on your road to success!

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Does South College Have Programs for Active or Retired Military?

As an institution of higher education, South College recognizes its responsibility to society and supports both institutional and individual commitments to service. South College encourages its administration, faculty, and staff to invest their knowledge, experience, and expertise in community, professional, and institutional service. South College’s core values of excellence, responsibility, and integrity serve as the foundation for assessing the quality of institutional, school/departmental, and individual performance in achieving this mission. South College is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our military and their families. We are happy to provide the South College Military Grant to support our military – past and present – in the pursuit of their education and skill development. The South College Application Fee is waived for all active-duty military members, veterans, their spouses, and their dependent children who receive this Grant.

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