Medical Assisting Pathway, I-BEST

Certificate Information and Schedule

Certificate Length: 6 Quarters
I-BEST Start Dates: Fall and Winter Quarters

The I-BEST Medical Assisting Pathway prepares students to complete the Medical Assisting AAS degree program in 8 quarters. The Medical Assisting pathway prepares students for high-demand medical office positions and provides foundational knowledge in patient care and clinical experience. Students learn medical office skills, medical terminology, medical law, billing and insurance coding skills, and office computer skills. The I-BEST Medical Assisting Pathway supports students who want to continue studying at LWTech to complete additional certificates and/or a Medical Assisting Associates (AAS) degree.

Learn more about LWTech's Medical Assisting program

I-BEST Medical Assisting Pathway Course Sequence

Quarter One: Fall

I-BEST MEDA 116 Medical Terminology
5 credits

I-BEST BTE 101 Computer Applications
2 credits

ABED 067 I-BEST Support Class
3 credits

IFAD 162 First Aid/CPR for Health Care Providers
1 credit

I-BEST ENGL Learning Community (if needed):

ENGL 093 Beginning English + PSYC&200 Lifespan Psychology
10 credits

Quarter Two: Winter

I-BEST BIOL&175 Human Biology with Lab
5 credits

I-BEST MEDA 115 Law and Ethics
3 credits

ABED 068 I-BEST Support Class
3 credits

MEDA 118 Examine Room and Patient Preparation
5 credits

MATH 087 Quantitative Literacy, depending on placement
5 credits

Quarter Three: Spring

I-BEST MEDA 121 Medical Office Skills and Electronic Records
5 credits

ABED 068 I-BEST Support Class
3 credits

MEDA 119 Intercultural Awareness in Health Care
3 credits

MEDA 139 Assist with Exam and Administer Medications
4 credits

MATH 098 Essentials of Intermediate Algebra, depending on placement
5 credits

Quarter Four: Summer

I-BEST MEDA 136 Coding/Billing/Insurance
5 credits

ABED 069 I-BEST Support Class
3 credits

MEDA 214 Disease Conditions and Community Health
3 credits

MEDA 125 Phlebotomy
5 credits

MATH&107 Math in Society

Quarter Five: Fall

I-BEST MEDA 140 Medical Reimbursement Systems
5 credits

MEDA 129 Pharmacology
5 credits

MEDA 212 Diagnostic Testing in Medical Office
4 credits

MEDA 220 Externship and Job Preparation
2 credits

ENGL 099 Intro to Essay Writing, if needed
5 credits

Quarter Six: Winter

MEDA 293 Externship Seminar
1 credit

MEDA 294 Medical Assistant Externship
6 credits

MEDA 296 Certified Medical Assistant Review
2 credits

ENGL&101 English Composition
5 credits

CMST&210 Interpersonal Communication
5 credits

To read course descriptions, see the online College Catalog page for Medical Assisting

Employment and Wages

What does a Medical Assistant career look like in the United States?

The U.S. Department of Labor has an occupational profile for Medical Assistants with information about projected employment, typical wages, and career growth at CareerOneStop.

Current Job Openings in Washington

Explore current, local job postings for Medical Assistants on these popular job search websites:

LWTech Hire Lions.
Hire Lions is LWTech's online job search website. To use the site and sign-up for job alerts, create a free account. If you have questions about creating an account, you can contact the Employment Resource Center.
Indeed
Monster
Glassdoor

Contact an I-BEST Advisor

Ready to talk with an advisor about the I-BEST Medical Assisting Pathway? Want to learn more about options to help pay for I-BEST college classes? Request an appointment with an I-BEST advisor by submitting an appointment request form and an advisor will contact you as soon as possible.

Request an Appointment