Getting Started

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There is no application for the medical assisting (MA) program.


PLEASE NOTE: Our clinical sites require a completely clean drug screen*, and this includes medical/prescription and/or recreational marijuana. Students who test positive for marijuana, even if they hold a medical marijuana card/prescription, will not be accepted to the program.

PLEASE NOTE: Our clinical sites require a completely clean background*. If the student has any items that show up on their background check, the student will not be allowed to attend the externships. Misdemeanors may, or may not, show up on a background check. If nothing shows up on the background check, then the student is considered clear, and can be admitted (as long as all other requirements are met, and there is space in the program at the time). Click here for the CastleBranch Criminal Record Info Sheet which provides detail as to the types of city, county, state, and federal criminal/background searches that are performed.

*If you have further questions or concerns about the background check and/or drug screen, please email Kat Slusser at kslusser@santarosa.edu for a confidential inquiry. A confidential phone call can also be arranged.

After you have determined that you would like to enroll in the MA program, and are confident you can pass a background check and drug screen, please go through the following steps:

  1. If you have never been a student at SRJC before, then you will need to apply to SRJC as a new student by going to the Steps For New Students link and going through the required steps:
    • If you are a current or returning SRJC student, go to step B.
  2. Go through your assessment testing here: https://assessment.santarosa.edu/  
  3. Enroll in other supportive courses to assist you in note taking, study skills, and test-taking skills prior to entry into the MA programs. To do this, please go to the following link: https://classes.santarosa.edu/. When you choose "Desktop" version, click the bubble that says "Course Search", then then in the "Select Term" drop down box on the left, select the current (or next) semester. Then from the "Course Discipline" drop down, choose CSKLS - College Skills". This list will show all the college skills courses that are available.
  4. Go through the college orientation.
  5. See a counselor to develop an educational plan.
  6. Be sure you are at least 18 years of age by the beginning of your first MA class.
  7. Completion of a high school level of education with a high school diploma, GED/Equivalency, or HiSET is highly recommended, but not required.
  8. Be sure you are free from the effects of alcohol and drugs while in class, the laboratory, and externship sites. This will be verified by a drug screen.
  9. Be sure you have the physical, emotional, and mental ability to participate effectively in coursework and to work with and care for patients in medical assisting settings.
  10. Complete the following prerequisites for the MA program before you start taking the core MA classes:
    1. ANAT 140 and HLC 140
    2. HLC 160
    3. LIR 10
    4. PSYCH 1A
    5. It is also highly recommended that you also take EMC 114 Basic Arrhythmia and CSKLS 733 Basic Math Review prior to starting the core MA courses. 
  11. Once the above prerequisites are complete, the core MA courses must be taken together (co-requisites) and in sequence as shown on the Program of Study web page. 
  12. Entry into the summer onsite externship:
    • Requires completion of all health requirements. See this page for details: Health Requirements.
    • Once all of the health requirements are complete, the student will be given an add code to register for the externship.

 

Click here to go to the next section: Fees & Costs