Ohio State Career Training Center (OSCTC)

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly.

The Medical Assistant program allows students to master clinical techniques including examining room procedures, obtaining vital signs and medical histories, minor office surgery, routine laboratory procedures including phlebotomy and EKG, sterilizing and maintaining equipment, CPR, and first aid. The program also teaches the student a variety of office skills including answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing and bookkeeping.

Upon completion of the training program, graduates will receive diplomas and become eligible to take the Medical Assistant National Exam.

» Class Schedule

The Medical Assistant program is divided into three ten-week terms with one-week break in between each term. We offer both day and evening classes:

» Program Calendar

The duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner's specialty. Medical assistants usually do many different kinds of tasks, handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician, or other health practitioner.

Administrative medical assistants update and file patients' medical records, fill out insurance forms, and arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services. Clinical medical assistants have various duties including taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants also collect and prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory tests, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments.

According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 19 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services, which are often provided by physicians. As a result, physicians will hire more assistants to perform routine administrative and clinical duties, allowing the physicians to see more patients.

An increasing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities will also need support workers, particularly medical assistants, to complete both administrative and clinical duties. Medical assistants work mostly in primary care, a steadily growing sector of the healthcare industry.