Course Catalog

Healthcare Assistant - Certificate

West Burlington Campus

In less than one year, you can have a rewarding job in health care. Apply a variety of medical procedural functions on patients who need your compassion.

The Healthcare Assistant Program can begin your healthcare career in the medical office. You will be
introduced to administrative and clinical based skills in the medical clinic setting. The program will
incorporate competency-based learning outcomes.  Students will learn to develop communication and
interpersonal skills to interact with patients effectively, obtain knowledge on general office policies and
procedures, confidentiality, and legal concepts.  Rooming patients, obtaining medical history, height,
weight and vital signs will also be taught.

West Burlington campus

*Health professions student outcomes are available on the Consumer Information page.

Admissions standards apply to this program. Please contact the Student Support Center for more details.

Admission Requirements

  • Complete and attain minimums in standardized scores within 24 months of review for acceptance into the program:
    • ACT
      • Reading: 19
      • Math: 19
    • SAT
      • Reading/Writing: 330
      • Math: 510
    • Next-Gen ACCUPLACER:
      • Reading: 248
    • ALEKS:
      • Math: 14

Additional Requirements

  • Students will be required to pass a mandatory background check.
  • Students will be required to submit (at their own expense) a completed physical examination form and immunizations for health care providers.
  • Current certification in CPR-Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers**.
  • Current certification in Mandatory Reporter-Adult & Child Abuse**.
  • Satisfy "Essential Functions" guidelines.
  • Return of Handbook consent forms as directed in orientation.

**Certifications may be obtained at Southeastern Community College. Students should work with a Student Success Advocate for the appropriate courses and dates to obtain these certifications.

All health career programs require students to earn a grade of "C" (2.0) or above in all coursework within the program. All other eligibility requirements must be met.

Summary Sheet

The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.

Curriculum Sequence


Fall I Course Title Credit
HSC-114 Medical Terminology 3
MAP-401 Medical Law and Ethics 1
MAP-431 Human Relations 1
MAP-101 Healthcare Assistant 3
TOTAL CREDITS 8

HSC-114 - Medical Terminology

Lecture: 2

Lab: 2

Credit: 3

This course is designed to study the basic language related to medical science with emphasis on word analysis, construction, definitions, pronunciations, spelling and standard abbreviations.

MAP-401 - Medical Law and Ethics

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to familiarize the student with legal concepts of standard of care, scope of employment, criminal and civil acts, contracts, negligence and ethical concepts.

MAP-431 - Human Relations

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course includes fundamental principles related to human relations. Basic psychological and developmental theorists, factors that influence behavior, professional attitudes and behavior, self-improvement, and communication in the health care setting are emphasized.

MAP-101 - Healthcare Assistant

Lecture: 2

Lab: 1

Credit: 3

The Healthcare Assistant Course will give the student the concepts, skills and techniques to work
efficiently in the healthcare setting. The student will learn the basic concepts of medical asepsis and
infection control. The student will learn to schedule patient appointments, techniques on answering the telephone, entering data in the electronic health record accurately, and maintain inventory of
supplies in both administrative and clinical areas.  Assisting the medical provider and staff by learning the skills on rooming and interviewing the patient regarding the office visit, and performing accurate height, weight, and vital signs will also be introduced. The course will incorporate competency-based learning outcomes. Student will reinforce and incorporate medical terminology, communication skills,
and legal, as well as ethical concepts in this course.

Anne Abel - Instructor - Medical Coding & Billing

Email: aabel@scciowa.edu
CPC Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders
CPC-I Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders

Megan Massner - Instructor - Medical Assistant

Email: mmassner@scciowa.edu
Diploma, Southeastern Community College

Debra Shaffer - Instructor - Medical Assistant/Program Coordinator

Email: dshaffer@scciowa.edu
AAS, Mount St. Clare College
ADN, Southeastern Community College