Medical Assistant

Are you considering enrollment in the Medical Assisting Program?

If you are considering enrollment in the Medical Assisting Program, please submit a “letter of intent to enroll” to the Health Education Office (1700 building) or scan and email this letter to Katherine Christian RN,MSN/ED at katherinec@bigbend.edu . Please submit by October 11th for priority consideration.

Our Program Mission

At Big Bend Community College we strive for excellence. Big Bend Community College provides an environment that promotes educational mobility, personal growth and fosters a desire for lifelong learning. We are dedicated to ensuring that our students have the proper educational foundation and critical skills sets necessary for success as entry-level medical assistants. Our instructors strive to provide students with the most up to date, evidenced-based curriculum. It is our goal to strengthen comprehension, and critical thinking skills, as a means to ensure that each graduate possesses the tools needed to provide safe, competent care and make sound clinical judgments. Big Bend Community College MA program adheres to the regulations set forth pursuant to the revised code of Washington: Chapter 18.360 RCW as well as the Washington Administrative Code: Chapter 246-827 WAC. Graduates of the Big Bend Community College Medical Assistant program are eligible for certification through American Medical Technologists (AMT). AMT is accredited by the National Commissions for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). Graduates certified through AMT are then eligible for licensure through the Washington State Department of Health.

For further information regarding AMT and Washington state law, please view the following websites:

Is Medical Assisting the Right Profession for You?

Are you looking for a challenging, and rewarding career that prepares you to work on the front lines of patient care? Can you see yourself working effectively alongside physicians, nurses and multiple other healthcare professionals? If so, then Big Bend Community College Medical Assisting Program may be for you. As a medical assistant you will become a valuable member of the healthcare team and have a career that you can continuously grow in and be proud of. Medical Assistants are multi-skilled health professionals specifically educated to work in ambulatory settings performing administrative and clinical duties. If this descriptions aligns with your career goals, contact us and let us help you get on the road to an exciting new career. We look forward to having you become another Big Bend Community College Success!

MA Requirements for Program Entry

Students are permitted to enroll at the beginning of any quarter throughout the academic school year (including summer quarter)

  • High school diploma or equivalent
  • Completed admission process for BBCC
  • Math and English placement tests taken
  • Must meet with Medical Assistant Advisor, who will obtain the following information
    • Current contact information (address, phone number, etc.)
    • Current SID #
    • Date of birth
    • Understanding that a criminal background check is required prior to clinical externship placement
    • Understanding that immunizations must be completed prior to enrollment in MA 116
  • An official copy of all transcripts from previous college institutions must be submitted to the BBCC registration office

Requirements to Complete the M.A. Program

In addition to successful completion of required classes, students enrolled in the medical assisting program need to be aware that the following physical and behavioral characteristics are expected by employers. Students are also expected to adhere the same criteria during class as well as clinical/lab instruction times.

  • Demonstrate good body mechanics; lift/carry a minimum of 25 pounds independently and 50 pounds with assistance.
  • Demonstrate correct body mechanics with one and two person transfers. Have normal/corrected vision and hearing
  • Demonstrate ability to tolerate intermittent sitting, long periods of standing and walking, and occasional stooping and bending. Full range of motion is required.
  • Demonstrate good manual dexterity.
  • Demonstrate basic keyboarding skills and knowledge of basic computer applications. Demonstrate ability to differentiate odors and colors in the clinical setting.
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills. Student must be able to read, write, and communicate verbally in English proficiently, in person and on the phone. Proficiency must be equivalent to competency level of ENG 101.
  • Demonstrate emotional stability and maturity at all times.
  • Demonstrate ability to work effectively in high-paced, rapidly changing and stressful environments.
  • Demonstrates ability to adapt and effectively cope within an ever changing, high paced, stressful and often emotionally charged environments
  • Demonstrate the ability to consistently deliver safe, competent, and culturally sensitive care across the age spectrum.
  • Demonstrates ability to follow directions and be receptive to correction form an authority figure.
  • Demonstrate genuine concern for the well-being and patients and healthcare team.
  • Demonstrates ability to effectively communicate and engage positively with patients, healthcare team members, fellow students, program instructors and staff.
  • Submit to Drug Screening and Criminal Background Check per clinical facility requirements.
Program Outcomes
Career Possibilities
Transfer Options
Industry Connections
Scholarships & Grants
  1. Demonstrate clear, effective communications with patients and members of the healthcare team in a variety of structured settings.
  2. Demonstrate cultural competency when caring for patients experiencing selected health deviations.
  3. Prioritize, organize, and complete assignments in a timely manner as directed by the delegator.
  4. Demonstrate delegated skills and procedures.
  5. Deliver a sound professional attitude and demonstrate professional behavior when caring for patients and working with your delegator as well as other healthcare professional at all times.
  6. Students will be able to reason mathematically using methods appropriate to the profession.

For job shadows, tours, and internships, check out the Career Services.

Information coming soon

Degrees & Certificates

Certificate of Achievement - Medical Assistant

Total Credits: 65
Learning Outcomes:

  1. Demonstrate clear, effective communications with patients and members of the healthcare team in a variety of structured settings.
  2. Demonstrate cultural competency when caring for patients experiencing selected health deviations.
  3. Prioritize, organize, and complete assignments in a timely manner as directed by the delegator.
  4. Demonstrate delegated skills and procedures.
  5. Deliver a sound professional attitude and demonstrate professional behavior when caring for patients and working with your delegator as well as other healthcare professional at all times.
  6. Students will be able to reason mathematically using methods appropriate to the profession.

Suggested Quarterly Schedule

**Prerequisite/Gen Ed

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Summer Quarter
Spring Quarter

Course Credits
**MAP 117 – Applied Mathematics (strongly recommended) 5
**HED 119 – Medical Terminology 5
**HED 121 – Human Body and Disease I 5
**ENGL& 101 (Gen Ed) – Composition I 5
Total 20 credits

Course Credits
HED 122 – Human Body and Disease II 5
MA 115 – Clinical Procedures I 7
HED 239 – Medical Ethics (co-requisite to 115) 2
**MAP 117 – Applied Mathematics (if not completed) 5
Total 19 credits

Course Credits
HED 123 – Human Body and Disease III 5
MA 116 – Clinical Procedures II 4
HED 160 – Pharmacology for Allied Health 3
FAD 150 – Industrial First Aid (if not completed) 2
**PSYC& 100 – General Psychology (if not completed) 5
Total 19 credits

Course Credits
MA 195 – Externship/Practicum 6
MA 197 – Externship/Practicum Seminar 1
**CMST& 220 – Public Speaking (if not completed) 5
Total 12 credits

AAS Medical Assistant

Total Credits: 90
Learning Outcomes:

  • Demonstrate clear, effective communications with patients and members of the healthcare team in a variety of structured settings.
  • Demonstrate cultural competency when caring for patients experiencing selected health deviations.
  • Prioritize, organize, and complete assignments in a timely manner as directed by the delegator.
  • Demonstrate delegated skills and procedures.
  • Deliver a sound professional attitude and demonstrate professional behavior when caring for patients and working with your delegator as well as other healthcare professional at all times.
  • Students will be able to reason mathematically using methods appropriate to the profession.

Year 1

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter

Course Credits
CSS 105 3
HED 119 5
HED 121 5

Course Credits
FAD 150 2
HED 122 5
HED 239 2
MAP 117 5

Course Credits
ENGL& 101 (5 credits) or
ENGL 109 (3 credits)
3-5
HED 123 5
HED 160 3

Year 2

Fall Quarter
Winter Quarter
Spring Quarter
Summer Quarter

Course Credits
PSYC& 100 (5 credits) or
BUS 120 (4 credits)
4-5
Elective course 5

Course Credits
BIM 113 5
NUTR& 101 5

Course Credits
CMST& 220 (5 credits) or
CMST& 100 (4 credits)
4-5
Elective course 1
PSYC&200 5

Course Credits
MA 195 6
MA 197 1

Medical Assistant Contact
Medical Assistant Faculty/Staff
Logo of Big Bend Thor

Goodrich, Debra

Program Specialist 2
debrag@bigbend.edu
Logo of Big Bend Thor

Philen, Stephanie

Medical Assistant Faculty
stephaniep@bigbend.edu
Logo of Big Bend Thor

Lopez, Mayra

Medical Assistant Faculty
mayral@bigbend.edu
Heidi Bratsch

Wiester, Heidi

Transfer Ed & Allied Health Program Assistant
heidiw@bigbend.edu
(509) 793-2137
Logo of Big Bend Thor

Motzkus, Paulena

Health Education Associate Faculty
paulenam@bigbend.edu
Logo of Big Bend Thor

Ausere, Steven

Health Education Associate Faculty
stevea@bigbend.edu
Nursing Instructor, Katherine Christian

Christian, Katherine

Health Education Programs Director
katherinec@bigbend.edu
(509) 793-2130