The application period for the Fall 2025 will open on February 3, 2025 and closes on August 1, 2025.

Medical Assistant Program at Lone Star College prepares students as multiskilled health professionals specifically educated to work in a variety of healthcare settings performing clinical and administrative duties. The practice of medical assisting necessitates mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession. The program is committed to excellence in preparing medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.

Acceptance into the Program

Please make plans to attend a mandatory information session to learn more about our program at LSC-North Harris! 

An application packet will be given to those who attend an information session. All information sessions will be hosted virtually via Webex on the following days in the Spring 2025 semester. February 3, 2025, March 3, 2025, April 7, 2025. The sessions will last from 12pm-1:30pm. All attendees must enter the Webex no later than five minutes past noon or they will be locked out and will need to attend the next information session. **Additional dates for the summer months of June and July will be added later in the Spring semester. 

Please send an email to NH-MAprogram@lonestar.edu no later than 24 hours prior to the date/time of the desired info session. In this email, please state your full name, contact phone number, and the date of the information session that wish to attend. We reply to your email with the link/login to the desired information session. 

 If you request after that date/time, then you will be asked to attend the next one. Also, please arrive on time to the info session as it will close five minutes after it begins.

Details about admission requirements, entrance testing requirements, etc. will be discussed at the information session. In order to test and move forward with the application process you must attend an information session. If you are unable to attend any of the scheduled sessions above, then please don't hesitate to inquire via email and we can arrange a personal meeting. 

What can I do while I wait for the information session? GREAT QUESTION! 

• You should begin by ensuring you have completed any potential financial aid documents where applicable. Contact the financial aid office regarding that.
• You may also contact someone in academic advising and enroll in both POFT 1301 and POFT 1325. These are not pre-requisites; however, they are part of the Medical Assisting program and if you complete the before the first semester, they will give you extra points towards admission and lessen the course load of your first semester should you be accepted.
• A background check is part of the admissions process and anyone with a felony will not be accepted into the program. Many misdemeanors will also disqualify an applicant. Feel free to inquire via email.
• Please also know that you must be 18 years old to submit a valid application into the program. We cannot accept applications from anyone under 18 years of age. You are more than welcome to attend an information session prior to turning 18 years old; just know we can't accept you until you turn 18 and that must be prior to the application deadline of August 1, 2025. semester should you be accepted.
• As far as immunizations, we discuss that in detail during the information session. A background check is part of the admissions process and anyone with a felony will not be accepted into the program. Many misdemeanors will also disqualify an applicant. Feel free to inquire via email. 

"Good to know about the program information"

• The program is 3 semesters- We begin at the end of August and most students in our program complete clinicals before the end of July and no later than August. 
• We are one of the only two CAAHEP accredited Medical Assisting programs at Lone Star College. 
• We are the only CAAHEP accredited Hybrid Program at Lone Star College. This means that you will only be required to attend lab two days per week in the Fall semester and two days per week in the Spring semester. The specific days of the week are not yet set. The time will be typically between 8:30 am and 2pm.There are no evening or weekend classes. **It is important to understand that we have a strict attendance policy in this program, and you will not be permitted to miss more than three days of class no matter what your grade is. Given that this is a hybrid program you must be comfortable with doing online work. 
• You will be required to attend clinicals on a full-time M-Friday schedule to begin in the summer semester which is June-August. There are no part-time or weekend clinical rotations. 
• Students at the LSC-NH campus have the opportunity to complete clinical rotations in large healthcare organizations that aren't afforded to many institutions. This is because we have an excellent reputation for producing highly qualified graduates. Some of the past organizations have been Kelsey Seybold, Memorial Hermann, Texas Children's Pediatrics, and Methodist. **Students are not required nor expected to locate their own clinical sites for clinical rotation. 

What Does A Medical Assistant Do?

Medical Assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors and optometrists running smoothly.

The duties of Medical Assistants vary from office to office depending on office location, size, and specialty. In small practices, Medical Assistants are usually handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area under the supervision of department administrators.

Medical Assistants perform many administrative duties. They answer telephones, greet patients, update and file patient medical records, fill out insurance forms, handle correspondence, schedule appointments, arrange for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handle billing and bookkeeping.

Medical Assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about medication and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.

How Much Will I Earn As A Medical Assistant?

Average salary and hourly pay vary for practitioner CMA’s and non-CMA’s according to their years of experience as a Medical Assistant. . Average annual salary for a full-time practitioner with a CMA in 2022 is $38,190.

Is Medical Assisting Right For Me?

Take this quiz to find out!

1. Are you looking for a meaningful job?
2. Do you like helping others?
3. Do you have an interest in health and medicine?
4. Are you a "people" person?
5. Are you good at multi - tasking; switching tasks throughout the workday?
6. Do you like variety in your job?
7. Would you like to enter a career in an expanding field?

Occupational Risk for Medical Assistants

Medical assisting is a rewarding and rapidly growing profession, offering both administrative and clinical responsibilities in diverse healthcare settings. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is expected to grow by 18% from 2020 to 2030, underscoring its increasing demand. Medical assistants play a pivotal role in providing patient care and supporting healthcare providers, which carries significant responsibility in ensuring both patient safety and quality care.

However, as with any healthcare occupation, there are inherent occupational risks that medical assistants may face. These include:

• Exposure to Infectious Diseases: Direct interaction with patients and bodily fluids increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases.
• Sharps Injuries: Accidental cuts or punctures from needles, scalpels, or other sharp instruments are a common risk.
• Bloodborne Pathogens and Biological Hazards: Medical assistants are at risk of exposure to diseases transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, such as HIV and Hepatitis.
• Chemical and Drug Exposure: Handling medications, cleaning agents, and other chemicals poses the risk of inhalation or skin contact, which can lead to adverse health effects.
• Ergonomic Hazards: The physical demands of lifting, sitting for extended periods, and performing repetitive tasks can result in musculoskeletal injuries or strain.
• Latex Allergies: Frequent use of latex gloves and other medical supplies can trigger allergic reactions in some individuals.
• Stress: The fast-paced nature of healthcare work, coupled with patient care demands, can contribute to mental and emotional stress.

To mitigate these risks, healthcare facilities and accredited medical assisting programs adhere to strict safety protocols and regulatory standards. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sets forth specific guidelines designed to protect healthcare workers from these hazards. Medical assisting programs also ensure that students are thoroughly educated on these potential risks and the safety measures that should be implemented to maintain a safe and supportive work environment.

By following established safety protocols, maintaining awareness of potential hazards, and utilizing protective equipment, medical assistants can minimize occupational risks while ensuring their own safety and the well-being of their patients.

Accredited medical assisting programs are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that can be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.

People & Places
Kellie Herrin
Medical Assisting Program Director
(281) 943-6830

Juanita Armendariz 
Advisor
(281) 943-6906

The Lone Star College North Harris Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355- 113th St. N, #7709
Seminole, FL 33775
Ph. 727.210.2350
http://www.caahep.org