Diploma in Medical Assisting

According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for medical assistants is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through the year 2014 as the healthcare industry expands because of technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging of the population. Employment growth will be driven by the increase in the number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities that need a high proportion of support personnel, particularly the flexible medical assistant who can handle both administrative and clinical duties.*

Colorado Technical University's market-driven diploma in Medical Assisting is designed to help prepare students to perform technical and administrative skills as a member of a healthcare team. Medical assistants work primarily in outpatient settings, a rapidly growing sector of the healthcare industry that includes acute care facilities, physician clinics, long-term care facilities, medical records departments and many others.

Real-World Career Opportunities

This skills-based curriculum is designed to prepare students with the knowledge, experience and credentials to pursue such interesting and in-demand positions as:
  • Medical Assistant
  • Dental Assistant
  • Medical Records Technician
  • Health Information Technician
  • Pharmacy Aide
  • Occupational Therapist Assistant
  • and many other related occupations

Applicable Knowledge and Skills

Courses in the Medical Assisting diploma curriculum are taught by instructors with applicable experience in the modern healthcare industry. Students can absorb relevant perspectives and professional insights from people who can help them acquire an up-to-date, real-world understanding of:
  • The scope of the Medical Assistant's role in healthcare settings, such as acute care and long-term care facilities, physician clinics and medical record departments.
  • How to function effectively as a team member in today's healthcare environments.
  • The importance of accuracy in billing, coding and medical transcription.
  • Relevant communication skills, computer skills, scheduling and receiving patients and preparing or maintaining medical records.
  • How to assist physicians with examinations, take vital signs and perform diagnostic tests while using infection control procedures.

Industry-Current Coursework

The diploma in Medical Assisting includes the following courses:
  • Anatomy and Physiology I and II
  • Medical Terminology
  • Medical Law and Ethics
  • Medical Office Management
  • Insurance Billing & Coding
  • Clinical Skills I and II
  • Medical Lab Procedures
  • First Aid and Safety
  • Pharmacology
  • Wellness

Students will also be required to complete an externship as a requirement for earning their diploma in Medical Assisting.

Included CTU Academic Certificate

The diploma in Medical Assisting includes the following CTU Academic Certificate built into the curriculum without adding any additional courses or cost:
  • CPR Certification (American Heart Association Healthcare Provider)**

* Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos164.htm (visited October 31, 2007).

** CTU does not guarantee third-party certifications. Certification requirements for taking and passing certification examinations are not controlled by CTU but by outside agencies and are subject to change by the agencies without notice to CTU. Therefore, CTU cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take certification examinations, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.