Aspiring MAs should look at the Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in medical assisting degree at Lake Area Technical Institute. The total duration of the course is around 20 months. Expect to attend a mandatory 240-hour externship in a medical organization as part of your training at the school. It would be unpaid and under the supervision of a senior. However, students must achieve a C (2.0) or better in all technical modules to advance into the MA 240 Administrative and Clinical Externship module. Thereafter, students must achieve C (2.0) or better at their clinical externship module to graduate successfully.

The MA program here enables graduates from the course to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam by the AAMA. The job placement rate for the batch of 2018 stood at 91.7%. The exam passage rate for the 2017 cohort was 92.9%. Lake Area Tech also has disability services (suitable accommodation, etc.) to ensure equal opportunities to all students. The school houses many clubs and organizations to keep you active and motivated.

The medical assisting program here is a 1-year diploma undertaking. Students must earn a total of 41 credits to graduate. Expect to train at a high tech facility, the Sullivan Health/Science Center (enabling students to grasp essential MA skills since 1994). STC initiated a flexible blended program that combines online classes with night-time lab sessions (on-campus). It is in addition to the traditional full-time day program that the school operates. You should also bring a suitable laptop to STC (this is a BYOL program). In case you don’t have one, you can purchase the same from the Southeast Tech Center.

The school’s MA courses allow graduates to take the CMA exam. Students, on completing the program for STC, can seek employment in varied local health settings, such as  Avera, Mercy Medical Center, Sanford Health, Sioux Falls Veteran’s Administration Health Care System, etc. If a candidate opts for the full-time day option, modules are spread over 3 semesters. The other program option is the part-time evening course, which is divided into 5 semesters. To be accepted into the program, students must necessarily document at least 2 of the following parameters:

• ACT score of18 or better
• SAT score of 960 or better
• HS GPA of 2.0 or better
• GED of 500 or better
• College GPA of 2.0 or better

This school has on offer 2 programs in medical assisting, a diploma (39 credit hours and 12 months long), and a certificate (30 credit hours and 9 months long). The diploma program trains across 3 semesters, while the certificate program has only the first 2 semesters with 15 credit hours each. Before entering your MA clinical, you must submit a current BLS CPR certificate, immunization records documenting Hepatitis B and annual TB screening, and a record of a yearly flu shot.

The practicum and clinical here may need you to work across evening/night/weekend shifts as per industry standards. You may also have to travel out of the Rapid City Area. Need financial help with tuition fees? The school follows the US Department of Education’s Title IV Financial Assistance Program. The Build Dakota Scholarships also may be an option for qualifying students where the school pays for the costs on behalf of the aspirants. The application process for the programs includes:

• Submission of the completed WDT application
• Completed ACCUPLACER test (this would cost you $15). This requirement can be skipped if you have attained 18 or better in the ACT (English, Math, and Reading) or 440 or better in SAT (Verbal and Math Components) within the past 5 years.
• Submission of all official HS transcripts or GED records
• Submission of all immunization records (2 doses of MMR vaccination is mandatory)

This school boasts of training an MA program that is marked by a 100% job placement rate. For medical assisting, simulation labs are used to provide a real-world feel to the students. The MA program trained is an AAS degree undertaking. The clinical externship constitutes 6 credits alone. Students must complete a total of 70.5 credits to graduate. These are divided across 4 major semesters. The school operates ‘visit days’ from time to time. Attend one of these or schedule an appointment to experience the campus yourself.

One fundamental prerequisite for the MA 250 Clinical externship module is achieving a grade C (2.0) or better in all technical modules. After that, students need to mandatorily score a grade C (2.0) or better in the externship module to graduate successfully. The school conducts background checks in partnership with CastleBranch. Students have to incur the expenses of this check. You can bring in your laptops to the school provided these specifications are in place at the minimum:

• 64 GB or higher internal storage
• Intel Core I Series (i3, i5, i7) Processor or AMD Ryzen
• Windows 10 as the Operating System
• 4 GB or higher in Memory

Note: Apple or Mac systems will not do