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Get the Skills to Become a Clinical/Medical Assistant

Clinical/Medical Assistant smiling and wearing a stethoscope.
To become a Clinical/Medical Assistant and work in the growing healthcare industry, start your training at Southwest Schools today

8 Month* Clinical/Medical Assistant Career Training in San Antonio, TX

Clinical/Medical Assistants often act as the bridge between patients and doctors and/or nurses. They are the doctors’ sales representatives, providing their patients with the highest quality of customer service and patient care. Clinical/Medical Assistants assist doctors with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as provide patient education so patients will comply with doctors’ instructions.

Working alongside doctors and other healthcare professionals, Clinical/Medical Assistant experience utmost job satisfaction by knowing that they make a difference in the lives of their patients by promoting a healthy lifestyle and maintaining their doctor visits regularly.

The best way to see if Southwest Schools is the right fit for you is to come and tour the school. You can tour our facilities and meet with students and instructors. Schedule a tour now or Get more info.

Becoming a Qualified Clinical/Medical Assistant

At SWS, we want you to make the most informed decision before you take the next step with us. Our faculty and experienced teaching staff care about your success, so it’s important for us that you understand how Clinical/Medical Assistant School will benefit your future!

Program Mission
To equip the graduate with the skills, knowledge, and abilities to perform the duties that are required of a Clinical/Medical Assistant in a medical office or hospital facility.

Program Objective
Students will learn both the clinical and administrative skills, business communication, computer applications, job readiness, keyboarding, medical front and back office duties, filing insurance claims, CPT and ICD-9 coding, accounts payable and receivable, payroll and reception duties.

Job Opportunities
Graduates may find employment in a doctor’s office, various hospital departments, healthcare clinics, emergency care offices and other offices in a medical environment.

Course Number

Course Name

Clock Hours

Lecture

Lab

Externship

TOTAL

Qtr. Credit Hours

B101

Business Communication For Careers 1

25

.

.

25

2.5

B102

Business Communication For Careers 2

25

.

.

25

2.5

B103

Business Communication For Careers 3

25

.

.

25

2.5

C101

Computer 1

10

40

.

50

3.0

C102

Computer 2

10

40

.

50

3.0

C106

Computer 6

5

20

.

25

1.5

J100

Job Readiness

5

20

.

25

1.5

K101

Keyboarding 1

10

40

.

50

3.0

M101

Infection Control & Medical Office Environment

20

5

.

25

2.0

M102

Integumentary & Skeletal Systems, Medical History

20

5

.

25

2.0

M103

Muscular & Nervous Systems, Physical Exam

20

5

.

25

2.0

M104

Cardiovascular System & Phlebotomy

20

5

.

25

2.0

M105

Immune & Respiratory Systems, Specialty Practices

20

5

.

25

2.0

M106

Digestive & Endocrine Systems, Nutrition

20

5

.

25

2.0

M107

Sensory & Urinary Systems

20

5

.

25

2.0

M108

Reproductive System, Pharmacology & Medication Administration

20

5

.

25

2.0

M109

First Aid, CPR & Radiology

20

5

.

25

2.0

M200

Externship

.

.

125

125

4.0

M301

Medical Terminology

25

.

.

25

2.5

M302

Medical Office 1

25

.

.

25

2.5

M303

Medical Office 2

25

.

.

25

2.5

O101

Office Procedures 1

20

5

.

25

2.0

O102

Office Procedures 2

20

5

.

25

2.0

O103

Office Procedures 3

20

.

.

25

2.0

P100

Professional Development

25

.

.

25

2.5

TOTAL

.

455

220

125

800

57.5

B101 Business Communication For Careers 1
25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn how to use basic grammar and parts of speech.
(Prerequisite: None)

B102 Business Communication For Careers 2
25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn sentence structure to write effectively. Emphasis is on punctuation and skills needed for effective business English. (Prerequisite: None)

B103 Business Communication For Careers 3

25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn correct usage in written and oral communications for business. (Prerequisite: None)

C101 Computer 1

50 Clock Hours – 10 Lecture 40 Lab – 3.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn basic use of word processor and spreadsheet applications.
(Prerequisite: None)

C102 Computer 2

50 Clock Hours – 10 Lecture 40 Lab – 3.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn basic use of database and presentation applications.
(Prerequisite: None)

C106 Computer 6

25 Clock Hours – 5 Lecture 20 Lab – 1.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn computerized medical office software for use in claims generation and financial management. (Prerequisite: None)

J100 Job Readiness

25 Clock Hours – 5 Lecture 20 Lab – 1.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn how to develop possibilities for employment by preparing resumes and interviewing successfully. (Prerequisite: None)

K101 Keyboarding 1

50 Clock Hours – 10 Lecture 40 Lab – 3.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn how to perform the proper keyboarding and formatting techniques. Students will have a goal for speed and accuracy to reach 29 words per minute.
(Prerequisite: None)

M101 Infection Control & Medical Office Environment

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn infection-control techniques and HIV, Hepatitis, and other Blood-Borne Pathogens. (Prerequisite: None)

M102 Integumentary & Skeletal Systems, Medical History

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify the structures and functions of the human body. This includes the integumentary system and skeletal system. Students will be able to prepare medical history forms. (Prerequisite: None)

M103 Muscular & Nervous Systems, Physical Exam

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify and understand the muscular system and the nervous system. Students will be able to assist with the physical exam. (Prerequisite: None)

M104 Cardiovascular System & Phlebotomy

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify and understand the cardiovascular system and perform blood testing and obtaining blood samples. (Prerequisite: None)

M105 Immune & Respiratory Systems, Specialty Practices

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify and understand the immune system, respiratory system, and assist with specialized examinations or minor surgery. (Prerequisite: None)

M106 Digestive & Endocrine Systems, Nutrition

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify and understand the digestive system and endocrine system. Students will learn nutrition and special diets. (Prerequisite: None)

M107 Sensory & Urinary Systems

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify and understand the sensory system and urinary system. (Prerequisite: None)

M108 Reproductive System, Pharmacology & Medication Administration

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn to identify and understand the reproductive system. Students will learn the value of drugs and the regulations as how to dispensing and administering drugs. Students will learn how to assist with performing electrocardiograms. (Prerequisite: None)

M109 First Aid, CPR & Radiology

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
The students will learn how to assist with and perform first aid and CPR. (Prerequisite: None)

M200 Externship

125 Clock Hours – 125 Ext. – 4.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will perform on-the-job training that utilizes the skills that the student has learned in class in an office setting including, but not limited to, doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals, or nursing homes. Confidence building, interpersonal relationship, and good patient involvement are stressed. (Prerequisite: Completion of program course requirements)

M301 Medical Terminology

25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn terminology commonly used in the medical field, including prefixes, suffixes, word roots, combining forms, and medical abbreviations. (Prerequisite: None)

M302 Medical Office 1

25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn how to perform tasks required in a medical office. Students will learn medical ethics and various laws and regulatory agencies. (Prerequisite: None)

M303 Medical Office 2

25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn how to use coding systems (CPT – ICD) and prepare medical insurance forms. (Prerequisite: None)

O101 Office Procedures 1

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn business office procedures, filing, office machines, processing mail, and ethics. Prerequisite: None)

O102 Office Procedures 2

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn the telephone systems and procedures for communicating properly, time management and working with others. (Prerequisite: None)

O103 Office Procedures 3

25 Clock Hours – 20 Lecture 5 Lab – 2.0 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn the fundamental business calculations used in today’s workplace, processing and understanding financial information. (Prerequisite: None)

P100 Professional Development

25 Clock Hours – 25 Lecture 2.5 Quarter Credit Hours
Students will learn the basics of personal and office skills necessary for today’s workplace. (Prerequisite: None)

Day Classes:
Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. with a 10-minute break for every 60 minutes of scheduled time and a 30-minute break for lunch from 12:10 to 12:40.

Night Classes:
Monday – Thursday 5:45 p.m. to 9:55 p.m. with a 10-minute break for every 60 minutes of scheduled time.
Weekend Classes:
Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. with a 10-minute break for every 60 minutes of scheduled time and a 30-minute break for lunch from 12:10 to 12:40.

Program Length
Weekdays: 34 Weeks classroom study + 5 Weeks Externship
Night Classes & Weekend Classes: 50 Weeks classroom study + 5 Weeks Externship

Graduation Criteria

The student must complete a total of 800 clock hours (57.5 Quarter Credit Hours) within 150% of the published length of the program, and have satisfactory progress in both academic, as well as, practical training. The student must maintain an average of at least 70% GPA.

My life has changed now that I am working as a Certified Medical Assistant
SWS Graduate

Is a Career as a Clinical/Medical Assistant Right for You? Take the SWS "Clinical/Medical Assistant Career Training Readiness Quiz"

This fun, online quiz takes 3-minutes to complete and you’ll get a personalized report. Identify your strengths and social style plus the training and positions you’re best suited for. Get Your Career Training Readiness score now.

Job Opportunities

  • Medical Assistant
  • Lab Assistant
  • Primary Care Provider
  • Phlebotomist
  • MHMR Aide
  • Medical Secretary
  • Medical Transcriber
  • Home Health Aide
  • Medical Records Clerk
  • Insurance Clerk
  • Safety Medic
  • Dialysis Tech
  • Veterinarian Assistant
  • EKG Monitor Tech
  • Unit Clerk
  • Plasma Tech 1
  • Medical Billing/Collections
  • Medication Aide
  • Medical Receptionist
  • Component Processor
  • Central Supply Clerk
  • Plasma Technician
  • Chiropractic Assistant
  • Training Specialist
  • Patient Care Clerk
  • Paramedical Examiner
  • Admitting Clerk
  • Laboratory Aide
  • First Aid Instructor

How Much Can Clinical/Medical Assistants Make?

The most recent salary information comes from the 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median annual wage for clinical/medical assistants was $37,190 in May 2021**. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $29,070, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,170**.

How Long Does It Take To Become A Clinical/Medical Assistant At SWS?

At SWS, we know your time is valuable. That’s why we take pride in our ability to provide small class sizes so that students get personal teacher attention. This allows us to help you get through the clinical/medical assistant classes in a timely manner.

  • For Day Classes, the Clinical/Medical Assistant program takes just under 8 Months* to complete.
  • For Night Classes, the Clinical/Medical Assistant program takes just under 12 Months* to complete.
  • For Weekend Classes, the Clinical/Medical Assistant program takes just under 12 Months* to complete.

Is a Rewarding Career as a Clinical/Medical Assistant Right For You? Get More Info…

If you’re interested in learning more about careers in Clinical/Medical Assisting and exploring whether Southwest Schools is right for you, fill out the form on this page to receive more information.

For immediate questions, call 210-921-0951.

*Program length when completed in normal time.
**Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm (visited June 12, 2023).