Clinical Medical Assistant
Introduction
If you want to help provide a positive patient experience through personal interaction and hands-on care, then now is a great time to start working toward a new career as a clinical medical assistant!
Clinical medical assistants are in demand. And as the U.S. population continues to age, the need for qualified CMAs is expected to continue.2
Earning CCMA certification is a great way to demonstrate to employers that you know the fundamentals and are committed to the field, and many employers may prefer or even require that candidates be certified.2, 3
Start working toward finding an enriching career in this fast-growing field with Trident University International’s Clinical Medical Assistant certification prep course. In 12 months or less, you could be on your way to taking the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam.4

Why Prepare
Preparing for certification can help you set yourself up for success on exam day,4 which in turn could lead to more clinical medical assistant opportunities.
- $35,850 median medical assistant salary in the United States2
- 139,200 new medical assistant jobs projected between 2019-20292
- 19% much faster than the average projected job growth for all occupations2
About Certification
Because many employers do require or encourage medical assistants to be certified,3 earning the CCMA credential could open up more potential job opportunities.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
A well-known credential demonstrating proven knowledge of entry-level administrative tasks and clinical procedures—administered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
To keep your NHA certification current, you must complete 10 Continuing Education Credits every two years. More information about recertification can be found on the NHA website.
Course Overview
Get ready to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam with a preparation course at Trident University International.4 Our course is designed to help you work to develop foundational industry knowledge and can be completed in 12 months or less.
Trident’s Clinical Medical Assistant certification prep course can help you study medical terminology, managing patient care, physical examination, major body systems, special procedures and other subjects that you can expect to encounter on the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification exam. Successfully completing this course should prepare you to take the CCMA certification offered through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).4
Pursue your clinical medical assistant certification goals at Trident while continuing to work or look after your family. Our flexible courses are 100% online to help you conveniently work toward your academic goals.
Talk to an Educational Specialist for more information!
Details & Objectives
Course Code: PCE CLMA
- Explore the necessary skills to function as a vital member of a healthcare team in an ambulatory setting
- Summarize the HIPAA Privacy Rule and HIPAA Security Rule
- Demonstrate basic medical terminology knowledge
- Discuss government and private insurances
- Identify the functions of the major body systems
- Demonstrate how to write a chief complaint and obtain a patient history
- Discuss the importance of medical and surgical asepsis
- Explain the information contained in different types of medical records
- Identify the three methods used to perform venipuncture
- Self-paced, online course
- 12 months to complete
- 540 course hours
- Open enrollment, begin anytime
- This course does not award credit
- Exam voucher included
- Receive a Certificate of Completion
- Prepare to take the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Outline
Details
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Medical Terminology
- The Musculoskeletal System
- The Cardiovascular System
- The Lymphatic and Immune Systems
- The Respiratory System
- The Digestive System
- The Urinary System
- The Nervous System
- The Special Senses The Eyes and Ears
- The Integumentary System
- The Endocrine System
- The Reproductive System
- Diagnostic Procedures, Nuclear Medicine, Pharmacology
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
- Becoming a Medical Assistant
- Qualities of a Medical Assistant
- Job Duties
- Certification
- Scope of Practice
- Ambulatory Healthcare Settings
- The Healthcare Team
- Managing Stress and Improving Communication
- Stress and Burnout
- Types of Communication
- Barriers to Effective Communication
- Patient Interview Techniques
- The Stages of Grief
- Law, Ethics and Healthcare
- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Informed Consent
- Advance Directives
- Ethical Guidelines for Healthcare Providers
- Medical Identify Theft
- Improving Your Medical Office
- The Reception Area
- The Medical Receptionist
- Safety Issues
- Opening and Closing the Facility
- Computers in the Ambulatory Care Setting
- Use of Computers in the Medical Office
- Electronic Medical Record (EMR) and Electronic Health Record (EHR)
- Safeguarding Protected Health Information (PHI)
- Cloud Computing
- Mobile Health (mHealth)
- Telecommunications and Patient Scheduling
- Telephone Techniques
- Faxing
- Emails
- Patient Portal
- Patient Scheduling Methods
- Cancellations and No Shows
- Dealing with Irate Patients
- Enhancing the Patient Experience
- Patient-Centered Medical Home
- First Impressions
- Patient Kiosk
- Practice Website
- Concierge Medicine
- Telemedicine
- Managing Medical Records
- Purposes of Medical Records
- Electronic, Paper and Hybrid Medical Records
- Categories of Medical Records
- Flow Sheets
- SOAP Notes
- Filing Paper Records
- Release of Information (ROI)
- Personal Health Record (PHR)
- Written Communication
- Components of a Business Letter
- Proofreading
- Meeting Agendas
- Business Emails
- Working with Medical Documents
- Purposes of Medical Records
- Types of Medical Records:
- Chart Notes
- History & Physicals (H&Ps)
- Operative Reports
- Consultations
- Discharge Summaries
- Radiology and Imaging Reports
- Pathology Reports
- Procedure Reports
- Laboratory Reports
- Medical Transcriptionist/Medical Scribe
- Electronic Signatures
- Medical Billing and Overview Coding: An Overview
- Health Insurance Terms
- Private and Government-Sponsored Insurers
- Code Sets: ICD-10-CM/PCS, CPT, HCPCS Level II
- CMS-1500 and UB-04
- Electronic Claims
- Pre-authorizations
- Medical Necessity
- Explanation of Benefits (EOBs)
- Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
- Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN)
- Daily Financial Practices
- Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable
- Provider Fees
- Improving Patient Payments
- Claims Denial Strategies
- Practice Management Software
- Managing Patient Accounts
- Petty Cash
- The Administrative Medical Assistant as Office Manager
- Qualities of an Office Manager
- Job Duties
- Policy & Procedure Manual
- Staff Meetings
- Physician Credentialing
- Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI)
- Practice Websites
- Major Body Systems
- Integumentary System
- Musculoskeletal System
- Circulatory System
- Lymphatic System
- Immune System
- Respiratory System
- Digestive System
- Urinary System
- Nervous System
- Endocrine System
- Special Senses
- Reproductive System
- Pathophysiology
- Skin Disorders
- Endocrine Disorders
- Nervous System Disorders
- Digestive System Disorders
- Respiratory System Disorders
- Circulatory System Disorders
- Urinary System Disorders
- Musculoskeletal System Disorders
- Eye and Ear Disorders
- Lymphatic and Immune System Disorders
- Reproductive System Disorders
- Pharmacology
- Medical Uses of Drugs
- Drug Regulations
- Controlled Substances
- Drug Classifications
- Drug Actions
- Common Abbreviations
- Routes of Administration
- Drug Names
- Drug Formularies
- Dose Calculations
- Nutrition and Special Diets
- Importance of Nutrition
- Types of Nutrients
- Healthy Diets
- Therapeutic Diets
- The Chief Complaint and Patient History
- Preparing for the Patient
- Chief Complaint
- Medical History
- Approaching Sensitive Topics
- Charting
- Recording Vital Signs
- Temperature
- Blood Pressure
- Pulse
- Respiration
- Height and Weight
- Body Mass Index
- The Physical Examination
- Methods of Examination
- Examination Positions
- Equipment and Supplies
- Preparing the Patient
- Order of the Examination
- After the Examination
- Specialty Exams and Procedures
- Prenatal Examination
- Gynecology Examination
- Pediatric Examination
- Geriatric Examination
- Visual Acuity Testing
- Pulse Oximetry
- Ear Irrigation
- Medical Asepsis and Infection Control
- Medical Asepsis
- Microorganisms
- Infection Cycle
- Transmission-Based Precautions
- Bloodborne Pathogens
- Other Potentially-Infectious Materials
- Personal Protective Equipment
- Needlestick Injuries
- Standard Precautions
- Infection Control
- Surgical Asepsis and Sterilization Techniques
- Surgical Asepsis
- Methods of Sterilization
- Sterile Field
- Preoperative Procedures
- Surgical Instruments
- Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
- Grasping and Clamping Instruments
- Dilators, Scopes, and Probes
- Retracting and Exposing Instruments
- Care of Surgical Instruments
- Chemical Cautery
- Electrosurgery
- Cryosurgery
- Laser Surgery
- Assisting with Minor Office Surgeries
- Informed Consent
- Patient Preparation
- Preoperative Skin Cleansing
- Postoperative Instructions
- Wound Care
- Suture and Staple Removal
- Applying a Sterile Dressing
- Introduction to the Medical Laboratory
- Purposes of Laboratory Testing
- Types of Clinical Laboratories
- Laboratory Departments
- CLIA
- Laboratory Requisitions
- Laboratory Reports
- Urinalysis
- Basic Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Mycology
- Parasitology
- Virology
- Immunology
- Introduction to Phlebotomy
- Composition of Blood
- Supplies
- Order of Draw
- Venipuncture Methods
- Venipuncture Sites
- Specimen Identification
- Capillary Puncture
- Quality Assurance
- Basic Hematology
- Red Blood Cells
- White Blood Cells
- Platelets
- Coagulation Studies
- Blood Count Tests
- Electrocardiogram
- Electrical Conduction System of the Heart
- Cardiac Cycle
- Normal Sinus Rhythm
- Arrhythmias
- 12-Lead ECG
- Multichannel ECG
- Waveform Components
- Common Artifacts
- Electrophysiology
- Holter monitor
- Automated External Defibrillator
- Administering Noninjectable Medications
- Medication Order
- Six Rights of Medication Safety
- Medication Label
- Administration of Oral Medications
- Administration of Inhaled Medications
- Medication Errors
- Basic Guidelines for Administration of Injections
- Intradermal Injections
- Subcutaneous Injections
- Intramuscular Injections
- Syringes
- Needles
- Withdrawing Medication from a Vial or Ampule
- Tuberculin Skin Test
- Diagnostic Imaging
- X-Rays
- Ultrasonography
- CT Scans
- MRI Scans
- Nuclear Medicine Scans
- Rehabilitation and Treatment Modalities
- Physical Therapy
- Occupational Therapy
- Speech Therapy
- Sports Medicine
- Proper Body Mechanics
- Care for a Falling Patient
- Wheelchair Safety
- Transfer Techniques
- First Aid Techniques
- Types of Wounds
- Burns
- Musculoskeletal Injuries
- Choking
- Syncope
- Poisoning
- Emergencies in the Medical Office
- Anaphylaxis
- Cardiac Arrest
- Asthma
- Shock
- Seizures
- Diabetic Emergencies
- Crash Cart
Requirements
Prerequisites:
There are no prerequisites required to enroll in this course. However, you need a high school diploma or GED in order to take the CCMA exam. You will also have to have completed a Medical Assistant training or education program within the last five years, or one year of supervised work experience in the medical assisting field within the last three years.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Microsoft Word (not included in enrollment).
- Windows Media Player or a similar program.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Materials
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
- Medical Terminology for Health Professions
- Administrative Medical Assisting, Lindh, Tamparo, Dahl, Morris, Correa
- Clinical Medical Assisting, Lindh, Tamparo, Dahl, Morris, Correa
FAQs
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
A medical assistant’s job responsibilities will vary depending on where they work (e.g., a physician’s office, hospital, outpatient center or chiropractor’s office) and the location and size of the practice.2
That said, medical assistant’s job duties may include:2
- Recording patient history and personal information
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Entering patient information into medical records
- Measuring vital signs
- Assisting physicians with examinations
- Administering injections or medications as directed by physicians and as permitted by state law
- Preparing blood samples for laboratory tests
Clinical medical assistant duties vary by state and may include:2
- Running basic lab tests
- Sterilizing medical instruments and disposing of contaminated supplies
- Providing instruction about medications or special diet
- Preparing patients for X-rays
- Removing stitches, drawing blood or changing dressings
Can I register for a course if I am an international student?
Yes, certification preparation courses are completely online. However, keep in mind that not all certifying bodies or industry-specific certifications are recognized internationally. Please review your country's regulations prior to enrolling in courses that prepare for certification.
Will this course prepare me for a certification?
This course is designed to help you prepare to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national certification exam offered by National Healthcareer Association (NHA). You will receive a voucher for the exam after successfully completing the course and your financial obligation. Although the topics and skills covered in the course are designed to help you prepare to sit for the exam, it does not guarantee a passing score. Trident cannot guarantee that students who complete this course will be eligible to take third party certification examinations. Certification requirements for taking and passing these exams are controlled by outside entities and are subject to change without notice to Trident.
When can I start the course?
This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.
How long does it take to complete this course?
This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start when you want and finish at your own pace. When you register, you'll receive twelve (12) months to complete the course.
What if I don't have enough time to complete my course within the time frame provided?
The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.
What kind of support will I receive?
You may be assigned with an instructor or team of industry professionals for support. Your support will be available (via email) to answer any questions you may have and to provide feedback on your performance. All of our instructors are working professionals in the fields in which they teach. You will be assigned to a Student Advisor for academic support.
What happens when I complete the course?
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. In addition, NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam vouchers are provided to you in the format of a digital registration process to enroll for the exam after successful completion of the course and financial obligation.
Am I guaranteed a job or career advancement?
No. This course is designed to provide you with skills utilized in entry-level positions in most cases. However, potential students should always do research on the job market in their area before registering.
Can I get financial assistance?
This course is non-credit bearing, so it does not qualify for federal financial aid, (Pell Grant and Direct Stafford Loans). In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take these courses.
How can I get more information about this course?
If you have questions or would like more information about the Clinical Medical Assistant prep course, please fill out the contact form on this page. You can also call 866-860-2633to speak with an Education Specialist.
About the Certifier
National Healthcareer Association
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) is a respected healthcare certification provider that aims to empower people to access a better future. The organization develops nationally-recognized certifications that demonstrate both a proven level of knowledge and a relentless desire for real-world application. NHA looks to increase the knowledge, skills and competency of healthcare professionals to enable improved patient care and better efficiency in the healthcare industry. Learn more at https://www.nhanow.com.
1 National Healthcareer Association (NHA), “Medical Assistant (CCMA) Exam Application,” https://certportal-store.nhanow.com/product/ccma_exam_sell_sheet/ (visited June 23, 2021).
2 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, “Medical Assistants,” https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm (visited June 23, 2021). This data represents national figures and is not based on school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary.
3 National Healthcareer Association (NHA), “Industry Outlook 2020,” https://www.mywccc.org/Downloads/NHAIndustryOutlook2020.pdf.
4 Trident cannot guarantee that graduates of this program will be eligible to take third-party certification examinations. Certification requirements for taking and passing these exams are controlled by outside entities and are subject to change without notice to Trident.