Medical Assistant Program
Medical Assistant (MA) Program
The Jump Start Medical Assistant Program at Holyoke Community College provides students with the knowledge, hands-on experience, and professional credentials to begin a career in clinical and administrative healthcare settings. This comprehensive program prepares students to take the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam and gain employment in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and community health centers.
Program Overview
- Program Length: 16 weeks
- 12 weeks of in-class instruction
- 4 weeks of clinical externship
- Schedule: Monday–Friday | 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
- Mode of Instruction: In-person at Holyoke Community College
- Employment Support: Upon successful completion, students receive career guidance and job search resources to help secure employment in the medical assisting field.
- Certification: Graduates are eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. Jump Start staff will assist with the registration and certification process.
Disclaimer: Program details are subject to change. Please contact the Jump Start office for the most current information.
Certifications Earned
Students who successfully complete the program will earn:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Certification
- CPR/AED & First Aid Certification
Program Description
The Jump Start MA Program includes 140 hours of classroom instruction followed by a 160-hour supervised externship. Students gain clinical and administrative skills essential to today’s healthcare settings, including:
- Understanding the role of a Medical Assistant in clinical and office environments
- Medical terminology and anatomy of body systems
- Patient care procedures, infection control, and safety practices
- Legal and ethical responsibilities in healthcare
- HIPAA compliance and patient confidentiality
- Measuring and documenting vital signs
- Performing phlebotomy procedures (venipuncture and capillary sampling)
- Conducting 12-lead EKGs and waveform interpretation (P, Q, R, S, T)
- Assisting with medical exams and minor surgical procedures
- Administering oral and injectable medications
- Applying sterile dressings and maintaining aseptic techniques
- Collecting and testing non-blood specimens
- Effective communication and patient interaction skills
Students must complete all classroom hours before beginning their externship, where they apply their training in real healthcare environments under professional supervision.
Program Requirements
To enroll in the Medical Assistant Program, students must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- Be a Massachusetts resident (valid, unexpired ID/Driver’s license)
- Hold a High School Diploma, GED, or HiSET
- Be fully vaccinated for COVID-19
- Submit all required medical documentation (see below)
- Acceptable CORI/SORI results
- Pass a drug screening (Note: marijuana use is not permitted)
- Achieve a Level 5 or higher on the ACT WorkKeys Assessments (Math, English, Graphic Literacy)
Get Started
Ready to launch your career in healthcare?
👉 Complete the Jump Start Inquiry Form here
Medical Documentation Requirements
All students must submit the following prior to enrollment:
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination
- Tuberculosis (TB) test results
- Flu vaccination
- Physical examination
- Complete immunization records
Failure to submit all medical documentation will result in withdrawal from the program.
Classroom & Attendance Requirements
To successfully complete the MA program and earn certification, students must:
- Maintain 100% punctuality
- No more than four absences permitted
- Pass all classroom and skills examinations
- Complete all required class hours and externship
- Pass drug tests
- Acceptable CORI/SORI results and drug screening prior to class start and externship placement
Career Outlook – Medical Assistant (MA) Program
Graduates of the Medical Assistant Program are equipped with the clinical and administrative skills needed to work alongside physicians and healthcare professionals in a variety of medical settings. Medical Assistants play a vital role in patient care — performing both front-office and back-office duties that keep healthcare facilities running efficiently.
Common Job Titles:
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- Medical Office Assistant
- Patient Care Technician
- EKG or Phlebotomy Technician
- Administrative Medical Assistant
Employment Settings:
- Physician offices and outpatient clinics
- Hospitals and urgent care centers
- Community health centers
- Specialty practices (pediatrics, cardiology, orthopedics)
- Diagnostic and laboratory facilities
Job Outlook:
Employment for Medical Assistants is projected to grow much faster than average nationally as the healthcare industry expands and providers rely on support staff to deliver quality care. Graduates with NHA certification (CCMA) have a strong advantage in securing positions immediately after completion.
