CMA Program at Bakersfield College

The Clinical Medical Assistant Certificate of Achievement at Bakersfield College is structured as a two-term, full-time program that totals 17 units. Students follow a set course sequence designed to build a foundation in medical terminology and anatomy before progressing into clinical medical assistant coursework, skills training, and the externship. Each course must be completed with a grade of “C” or higher to advance to the next stage of the program.

The program begins with introductory healthcare and science courses to prepare students for direct patient-care responsibilities. Once foundational knowledge is established, students move into a series of clinical medical assistant courses that cover hands-on procedures, clinical workflows, exam room preparation, and patient interaction. The course sequence is designed so students gain classroom instruction and applied skills before participating in the externship during the final term.

Required Course Sequence

Students complete all required courses in order, beginning with prerequisite knowledge, advancing through clinical coursework and lab skills, and concluding with supervised experience in a healthcare setting.

• MEDS B37 – Medical Terminology (3 units): Introduces medical language, word parts, and terminology used in patient records, clinical procedures, and healthcare communication.
• BIOL B18 – Human Anatomy and Physiology (4 units): Covers major body systems and basic human biology concepts to support clinical understanding and patient-care tasks.
• MEDS B56 – Clinical Medical Assisting I (3 units): Begins clinical assistant training, including patient intake, vital signs, exam room preparation, and basic clinical procedures.
• MEDS B57 – Skills for the Medical Assistant (1 unit): Provides hands-on learning lab experience to practice essential clinical procedures and skills required for patient-care settings.
• MEDS B58 – Clinical Medical Assisting II (3 units): Continues clinical instruction with additional procedures, patient support responsibilities, and clinical workflow practices in ambulatory care environments.
• MEDS B59 – Clinical Medical Assisting Externship (3 units): Supervised clinical placement in a healthcare facility where students apply skills learned in previous courses under direct guidance.

This step-by-step course structure ensures that students have the required medical terminology, anatomy knowledge, and clinical skills before entering the externship. The format provides a gradual progression from classroom learning to hands-on skill development and ultimately real-world patient-care experience in an outpatient setting.