The LSC-Kingwood Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) program trains students to assist physicians and other professionals in helping patients understand their medical needs.
The medical industry is more than just doctors and nurses. Various positions serve as conduits on patients’ health care journey.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMA) are critical players in helping patients feel comfortable during doctor appointments. They are the bridge between every patient and their health care professional.
“CMAs’ duties are both clinical and administrative. Often, they explain and clarify the doctor’s recommendations and instructions. This makes them essential healthcare workers,” said Jennifer Aubain, a continuing education coordinator at Lone Star College-Kingwood.
Anyone interested in pursuing this career path is encouraged to enroll in the Clinical Medical Assistant (CMA) program through LSC-Kingwood’s Continuing Education Department. The next course starts July 12, and students will learn a myriad of duties, including but not limited to:
- Schedule appointments
- Take patient medical histories
- Collect and prepare laboratory specimens
- Remove sutures and change dressings
- Code and fill out insurance forms
- Handle correspondence, billing, and bookkeeping.
The CMA program is seven months long, in which students will attend classes two days per week and complete a clinical component in a medical clinic or doctor’s office. The tuition is $3,411, and additional costs will include textbooks, supplies/uniforms, a background check, immunizations, a CPR card, and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification study guide and exam. Students must have access to a computer/laptop and reliable Internet access.
“Upon successful completion, graduates can work in doctor offices, medical clinics, or any general medical or surgical hospital,” Aubain said.
Clinical medical assistants’ salary ranges typically from $36,200 to $40,700. For more information on the CMA program at LSC-Kingwood, call 281-312-1660, email LSCKCE@LoneStar.edu, or visit https://www.lonestar.edu/programs-of-study/Clinical-Medical-Assistant-Certificate.htm.
Register now for credit classes online through myLoneStar. Classes are offered days, evenings, and weekends in traditional, online, and hybrid formats. For more information or to register online, visit www.lonestar.edu/registration. For general information about Lone Star College-Kingwood, call 281.312.1600 or visit www.lonestar.edu/kingwood.
Lone Star College enrolls over 80,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSC is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Stephen C. Head, Ph.D., serves as chancellor of LSC, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2021 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education and ranked 35th in Texas in the Forbes ‘America’s Best Employers By State’ list. LSC consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.
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