TCC’s Center for Workforce Solutions offering sessions in clinical medical assisting

Tidewater Community College’s Center for Workforce Solutions will offer two new sessions in clinical medical assisting, allowing interested students to earn an industry credential at minimal cost.

The General Assembly-funded New Virginia Economy Workforce Credential Grant program, announced last summer by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, allows students to pay the first one-third of the course cost at the time of registration. Upon completion of the course and credential, the remaining two-thirds will be paid by the Workforce Credential Grant.

The full cost of the clinical medical assisting program is $3,210. With the workforce grant, a student would pay $1,070. In addition, those who meet certain eligibility requirements can receive financial assistance that could pay up to 90 percent of the upfront cost.

Sessions are scheduled at the following times:

An evening program from 6 to 10 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from Feb. 20 through May 22 on the Virginia Beach Campus.
A late afternoon program from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays from March 13 to June 5 on the Portsmouth Campus.

Clinical medical assistants perform a variety of functions to support patient care. They are in high demand, according to the Department of Labor, which ranks the field as the sixth fastest growing job in the United States.

In addition, open houses in clinical medical assisting, medical billing and coding and certified professional coding will be offered on:

Feb. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Advanced Technology Center, room H178 on the Virginia Beach Campus
Feb. 13 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the Portsmouth Campus, B Building, room B125

Students who complete the medical assisting program are qualified to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam through the National Healthcareer Association. The exam fee is included in tuition.

An 120-hour externship will provide hands-on experience.

Graduates are equipped to assist physicians with examinations and treatments; take medical histories; perform diagnostic tests; expose X-ray films; sterilize instruments and supplies; assist with minor surgery; and administer medications.

For information, call 757-822-1234 or email wfdinfo@tcc.edu.