Medical Assisting
The Medical Assisting program at Lake Washington Institute of Technology will provide students instruction to prepare medical assistants who are competent in the cognitive (knowledge), psychomotor (skills), and affective (behavior) learning domains to enter the profession.
The Medical Assisting program prepares students for high demand medical office positions including front and back office positions. Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. The program also offers a Medical Office Administration Certificate of Completion, which prepares students with necessary skills and knowledge to obtain an entry-level position medical office administration within a variety of healthcare settings.
The program will provide students with a knowledge base that includes anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, pharmacology, medical billing and coding, medical office assessments and procedures, patient care and education. Medical Assistants are highly versatile professionals in both clinical and administrative realms.
Additional Medical Assisting Program Information
- Medical Assistant Program Admission Dates
- Fall
- Medical Assistant Program Format
- Combination of online and on-campus
Supported certificate(s):
I-BEST Support in Accounting
Discover the advantages of I-BEST support for students pursuing the Medical Office Administration Certificate of Completion. Our comprehensive program provides in-class assistance in various areas, including writing, math, notetaking, presentation skills, study techniques, and career readiness.
At LWTech, I-BEST classes are uniquely structured with TWO instructors in ONE classroom.
One instructor is a Professional-Technical or General Education faculty member, while
the other specializes in Adult Basic Education (ABE) or English Language Learning
(ELL). This collaborative approach ensures that I-BEST students receive exceptional
attention and support throughout their classes. With this additional academic assistance,
our I-BEST classes yield remarkable student success rates, allowing them to commence
their certificate programs earlier, complete their degrees faster, and acquire the
necessary education for pursuing their desired careers. To discover more about I-BEST and connect with a knowledgeable advisor, please visit
our dedicated I-BEST webpage.
Additional admission requirements are listed below.
- Entry into the Medical Assisting program requires completion of LWTech's general online application.
- Passing a background check.
Additional Admission Considerations
- International Students Apply via Office of International Programs & Global Education
- Adult Education: Basic Education for Adults (BEdA)
- New to Washington State: Learn more about determining residency status
- Justice Involved: Re-Entry Support for Students Who Have Been Justice Involved
- Undocumented citizens: See the residency affidavit and visit the undocumented students page for more information.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Demands of the Medical Assistant
Cognitive Demands
Medical Assistants must have sufficient cognitive skills to be able to analyze, calculate, reason, evaluate, effectively communicate, and engage in critical thinking processing within the complex and demanding realm of patient care. Medical Assistants, as part of the health care team, must be able to gather and process information rapidly in an ever-changing environment, with multiple demands made of them.
Behavioral and Emotional Demands
Medical Assistants must be able to maintain mature, professional, sensitive, and effective relationships with others while effectively communicating and providing service to their patients. Health care can be an emotionally demanding occupation, and graduate medical assistants must be able to perform their duties under a great deal of stress, while responding to ever changing demands.
Communication Skills
As an essential component of providing patient care, the Medical Assistant will do a great deal of talking, interpreting, and responding to verbal and nonverbal communications, gathering and processing pertinent data, interviewing patients, using the telephone as well as performing a variety of written and electronic communication, receiving, and responding to verbal orders from providers, and must be able to prioritize and perform many concurrent tasks.
English Language Competency
United States health care members primarily communicate in English; thus, Medical Assistants must be able to proficiently communicate in written, oral and electronic means. The ability to communicate in English is directly related to patient safety, cohesive care amongst various providers and the legal documentation requirements in health care. Most employers value multilingual Medical Assistants.
Physical Demands
Medical Assistants may spend a great deal of their professional day walking, standing, moving, and manipulating equipment, as well as lifting and moving objects, equipment and supplies. It is reasonable to anticipate lifting 20-25 pounds in any given day. The ability to lift up to 40-50 pounds may occasionally be required, depending on the specific type of care provided.
In the performance of certain patient care tasks; the Medical Assistant may be expected to have sufficient manual dexterity to safely perform various skills and techniques. Tasks and expectations may vary by clinical site and medical practice.
Medical Assistants may also be expected to have a level of visual and auditory acuity sufficient to meet the needs of their job tasks. Corrective equipment and devices may enhance the person’s ability to achieve the appropriate level of acuity. (Please see accommodations for disabilities.)
Students accepted into the Medical Assisting program are required to have a national background check and have all immunizations as well as a copy of their insurance card, drivers license, CPR card and a few other things for the program and in order to go out to practicum.
LWTech's Medical Assisting program uses Complio comprehensive tool for student screening, immunizations and compliance. The Complio Screening process is simple and straightforward with just five basic steps to complete. The process should take less than 20 minutes.
Lake Washington Institute of Technology does not offer every course each quarter. It is the student's responsibility to consult the Class Schedule and work out an individual schedule with an advisor or counselor. Any developmental coursework a student might be required to complete may increase the program length.
Information sessions provide an overview of the selection process, admission application requirements, and program content and structure. Currently all info sessions are offered via Teams only.
Upcoming Information Session Dates and Times
Select the day and time to receive a confirmation email and meeting invitation.
TBD
The Lake Washington Institute of Technology Medical Assisting Certificate of Proficiency is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB).
Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
9355 113th Street N., #7709,
Seminole, FL 33775-7709
(727) 210-2350
Student Completion and Retention Statistics: 2020
- Graduate 2020 Job Placement Rate: 71%
- Graduates must pass one of five exams in order to work in Washington State (RCW 18.360): 93% participation with an 89% pass rate.
To be eligible for employment, graduates must also take and pass the Certified Medical Assistant (American Association of Medical Assistants) exam.
Explore Careers and Paths in Medical Assisting
Lake Washington Institute of Technology is proud of the many pathway options our students have to complete an Applied Bachelor’s degree, both at LWTech, and at in-state universities and colleges. All degrees, whether DTA/MRP, AAS-T or AAS, can fulfill transfer requirements at multiple institutions thanks to the articulation (transfer) agreements between LWTech and the transfer college.
An applied bachelor's degree can improve your chances in the job market and help you make more money. Employers want graduates with:
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Complex problem-solving skills
- Applied knowledge in real-world settings
- A broad (rather than narrow) education
To learn more about transferring to another college or university, please visit our Transferring from LWTech page.
