Medical Assisting

Students in All Medical Assisting Department Programs:

• Will be required to be current on specific vaccinations and to purchase malpractice insurance before starting the externship experience.
• Required to be certified in CPR. The certification must be current during the time of externship.
• Will be required to complete a background check following the program’s requirements at his/her own expense.

Medical Assisting Program Students will also:

• Be required to show proof of medical insurance and to purchase malpractice and liability insurance before starting the practicum experience.
• Olympic College’s Medical Assisting Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Transcript verification will commonly be required for credentialing and employment.
• Requirements to become a Medical Assistant-Certified (MA-C): Students who successfully complete our program AND successfully pass one of the exams specified by the Washington State Department of Health are qualified to be Medical Assistants-Certified in Washington state. An application (with the appropriate fee) must be submitted through the Washington State Department of Health. More information may be found on the Washington State Department of Health website.
• Information regarding the different categories, the application process, current fees, and future requirements regarding certification for Medical Assistants should be reviewed at the Washington State Department of Health website.
• Renewal, payment of fees, and continuing education requirements in post-education training and advancement needs for Medical Assistants should be checked before certification expiration through the Washington State Department of Health website.

Students in the Medical Receptionist and the Medical Billing and Coding program only:

• Are not required to have medical insurance during the externship experience. However, it is highly recommended. The cost for care for any injuries that occur while at Olympic College or at any clinical site is the sole responsibility of the student.

Olympic College has determined that the Medical Assisting curriculum meets educational requirements for licensure/certification in Washington State. The curriculum does not meet educational requirements for licensure/certification outside of Washington State. We encourage students who plan to work out-of-state to check relevant local licensure/certification requirements.