Seattle, WA - Mercy College

Seattle, Washington
Medical assistant program

Mercy College of Health Sciences and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health have partnered to fill the critical need for medical assistants in the Seattle, Washington, region. Here’s your chance to make an impact and become a certified medical assistant (MA) in just one year!

No SAT or ACT scores required to enroll — just a high school diploma or GED.

BONUS: Mercy College is partnering with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to provide career opportunities for this program — they offer $21.43 per hour with a $3,000 sign-on bonus!

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ENROLL TODAY — EARN TOMORROW

The Seattle, Washington, cohort has open seats — talk to an admissions counselor now!

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1 Year

Program Length

In-Person Skills Labs

Start Dates Per Year: Fall, Spring & Summer

100%

Employment Rate Among Graduates¹

YOUR BODY OF WORK

WHAT DOES A MEDICAL ASSISTANT DO?

Medical assistants provide critical physician support services to ensure healthcare facilities run smoothly. As an MA you will act as an important patient liaison in a variety of healthcare settings — such as clinic offices for physicians, podiatrists, and other health practitioners.

Administrative duties

Welcome patients
Answer telephones
Schedule appointments
Update and file patient medical records
Code and fill out insurance forms
Arrange for hospital admissions and laboratory services
Handle correspondence, billing and bookkeeping

Healthcare duties

Collect medical histories
Take vitals
Draw blood
Explain treatment procedures to patients
Administer medications (as directed)
Prepare patients for examinations
Assist the physician during examinations
Perform basic laboratory tests
Transmit prescription refills (as directed)
Provide wound care

YOUR 1-YEAR COMMITMENT

3 start dates available in September, January, or May
100% online Mercy College coursework
2 six-hour hands-on skill boot camps with an approved instructor
160 hours of in-person clinical practicum (that equates to four 40-hour work weeks)
Tuition is charged per credit hour, making it more affordable to enroll in your professional courses
Unlimited flexibility! Hold a full-time job and earn while you learn.

YOUR FUTURE IN HEALTHCARE

100% job placement rate
Post-graduation job opportunities available at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health clinics!
20-30% projected job growth in the next 10 years¹
Unlimited launchpad for several other healthcare career opportunities
Tuition repayment options available in most MA positions

Quality education delivered to you

Mercy College of Health Sciences and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health have partnered to fill the critical need for medical assistants in the Seattle, Washington, region. We’re committed to providing a convenient, accredited, affordable medical assisting education to students, no matter how far you might be from our downtown Des Moines campus.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS? Check out our FAQs!

Begin your Journey

Ready to Chart Your Course as a Mercy College student? Our simple, hassle-free admissions process will have you starting classes in no time, and our admissions team will guide you every step of the way!

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Step 1

1:1 ENROLLMENT CONSULTATION

Speak with a Mercy College admissions counselor to answer any program questions and start your MA application.

Step 2

COMPLETE YOUR APPLICATION

Our streamlined admissions process is quick and easy and facilitated completely online. Feel free to start, stop, and complete all through our enrollment platform.

Step 3

COMMIT TO ONE YEAR

Your Mercy College team and fellow MA cohort peers will be with you every step of the way.

Step 4

LAUNCH YOUR NEW CAREER

After you complete the MA program and pass your Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) exam nothing will stop you! Mercy College is partnering with Virginia Mason Franciscan Health to fill the critical need for medical assistants in the Seattle, Washington, region.

Admission Curriculum Start Dates*

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The Medical Assisting program is a direct admit program. When you are admitted to Mercy College, you are admitted into the Medical Assisting program! To get started, complete the Mercy College application. If you are transferring credits, please visit our transfer page to learn more.

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The following courses and sequencing is a sample of required courses to graduate from the Medical Assisting program. The following courses are designed to allow students to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) Exam.

Semester 1

8-Week Term
MA 101 – Medical Assisting Administrative Procedures (4 cr)
7-Week Term
MA 106 – Anatomy and Physiology (4 cr)

SEMESTER 2

8-Week Term
MA 102 – Medical Assisting Clinical Procedures I (4 cr)
7-Week Term
MA 122 – Medical Assisting Clinical Procedures II (4 cr)

Semester 3

8-Week Term
MA 108 – Diseases of the Human Body (3 cr)
MA 203 – Medical Assisting Practicum I (2 cr)
7-Week Term
MA 201 – Medical Assisting Professional Components (2cr)
MA 204 – Medical Assisting Practicum II (2 cr)

TOTAL: 25 MAJOR CREDITS

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The Medical Assisting program has three convenient start dates to match your needs. View our full academic calendar.

FALL: September
SPRING: January
SUMMER: May

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*Pending final approval from the Medical Assisting Educational Review Board.

How much do medical assistants make?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a medical assistant in the United States is $18.40 per hour; however, compensation varies according to many factors, including location, work setting, and experience.

How do you become a certified medical assistant?

After completing our one-year medical assistant program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) exam to earn their certification.

Do I need SAT or ACT scores to enroll?

No, the only requirement for this program is a high school diploma or GED.

How will I complete the required 160 hours of clinical practicum?

Mercy College will work with you to secure 160 hours of clinical practicum with one of our healthcare partners near you. This practicum is very important as it allows students to experience hands-on learning in actual medical offices.

Do medical assistants draw blood? Can medical assistants give shots?

Medical assistants in our program do learn to draw blood and administer shots as needed, however, it depends entirely on their place of employment if they will perform these duties.

Is medical assisting a good career?

Absolutely. Becoming a medical assistant takes only one-year to complete, pays well, is a high-demand healthcare career option and provides fulfilling, meaningful work. You will never be bored with this job — every day is different. Many have found that medical assisting is a great launching pad into other advanced healthcare career fields as they gain more experience.

How is a medical assistant different from a physician assistant?

Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks with physician supervision. Physician assistants examine, diagnose and treat patients while working under a physician, who may or may not be on-site.

How hard is the medical assistant certification test?

Mercy College’s medical assistant program touts an impressive 100% pass rate among graduates for the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) exam. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions administered in four 40-minute segments. The question categories are general, administrative and clinical.

How much does it cost to complete the medical assisting program?

Tuition for the Mercy College medical assistant program is calculated per credit hour. Visit our tuition and fees page for more information. If financing your education is a major hurdle, there are lots of tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities for you to explore!

Is the program all online or in person?

The medical assistant program is 100% online instruction; however, there are two in-person skills labs that must be completed in order to graduate.

Where are the medical assistant skills labs located and when do they take place?

The two, six-hour skills labs take place at one of our cohort locations (in Iowa, Kentucky, Nebraska, or Washington) unless you have enrolled through an external cohort partnership. Mercy College is continuously expanding cohort locations as demand continues to rise across the United States. Skills labs take place in the second and third quarter or the program.

How long does it take to complete the MA program?

Mercy College’s medical assistant program takes one year to complete. Our goal at Mercy College is aimed to be as flexible as possible to remove any barriers to higher education, so you can work with your advisor to determine your program trajectory to fit your schedule.

What is online learning like?

The Mercy College online platform hosts discussions boards, educational videos, writing assignments, and other activities to enrich your learning experience — all at the click of your mouse. You can learn more about online learning here.

Seattle, Washington Medical assistant program