Summer and fall classes are filling up fast in Rend Lake College’s Medical Assistant program. Interested students are encouraged to look ahead to the beginning of the program this fall by getting ahead this summer.
Students can get a jump start in the program by taking the entrance examination and two classes during the summer. The entrance exam, called the Psychological Service Bureau (PSB) exam, is a five-part, computerized, timed test that is a requirement for the application process. Students interested in the Medical Assistant program can test at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 23.
The PSB test costs $30 and is due at the time of registration, which must be done in person at the Testing Center, located in the Administration Building.
Students can then lighten their fall class load by enrolling today in two summer classes that are program requirements to graduate: Healthcare Terminology (HECO 1202) and Anatomy & Physiology Fundamentals (ALH 1201).
RLC’s Medical Assistant program includes a degree and certificate options to give students exactly what they need to join this fast-growing industry. The Associate in Applied Science degree prepares students to work under the supervision of physicians in offices, clinics, and other medical facilities. These individuals perform both administrative duties and clinical tasks – ranging from scheduling appointments to taking and recording vital signs.
Students who complete the degree program can sit for the national certification examination and also earn the Medical Assistant credential, which consists of 36 credit hours over two semesters, plus on-the-job practicum.
Graduates will find the medical assistant industry to be growing at a rapid rate. By 2026, the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states there will be an additional 183,900 jobs across the country, a growth of 29 percent. The BLS also reports “most medical assistants have postsecondary education.”
For those looking to continue their education past RLC, graduates can transfer seamlessly to either Central Methodist University or Southern Illinois University Carbondale via articulation agreements with RLC. These students will begin a four-year degree in junior standing at the university level.
RLC’s Medical Assistant program was recently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. To learn more about the program or to enroll, contact RLC’s Allied Health Division at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1769 or email [email protected].
