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MEDICAL ASSISTANT

ADMISSION PACKET FOR AUGUST 2024 FULL-TIME PROGRAM

Admission procedures require you to:

1. Be admitted to the College and have a student ID number before applying to the program.

2. Apply to the program before registering for the pre-entrance exam.

(JALC). The career that you are considering is truly exciting! Graduates of this program earn a

Certificate of Achievement in Medical Assistant.

The College has an open admission policy; however, there are some programs which have

additional entrance requirements. Please examine this packet, which will provide you with

information about the profession and career of a Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)

and the Medical Assistant Program at JALC. Links to online applications, general and program,

and test registration are included. Enclosed you will find information about:

• ADMISSION PROCEDURES

• CERTIFICATION

• LEGAL LIMITATIONS

• EXTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• REQUIREMENTS OF ADMITTED STUDENTS

• PROGRAM GUIDE AND COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

• GENERAL COURSE REQUIREMENTS

• PROGRAM COSTS

• FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Further information is included in this packet and available on our website at Restricted Allied

Coordinator of Testing Services

Renee Lacy

Program Coordinator and Associate Professor of Medical Assisting

Changes effective 7/20/23 - please note information listed in this packet is subject to change.

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ADMISSION PROCEDURES

not having sufficient space and resources to accommodate all applicants will accept those

applicants best qualified, using ranking, ability and achievement test scores as guides, with

preference given to students residing in-district.

The JALC MDA program admission process does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed,

color, national origin, gender, age, or the presence of a non-job-related condition or disability.

To be eligible for admission in the full-time program beginning fall 2024, an applicant must meet

these criteria and submit the following credentials to the designated office by the deadline date.

If an application for general admission has previously been submitted, please update any

relevant information online in the MyJALC portal, if necessary.

Need help accessing student accounts click here, contact the Admissions and Records Office

at (618) 985-2828 Ext. 8298.

□ Submit current placement scores to the Admissions and Records Office by March 31, 2024.

We will accept scores from ACCUPLACER, ACT, or SAT taken within the past three years.

An applicant who has not already completed a college-level English and Mathematics course

or scored below the minimum requirement in English and Math on the ACT or SAT, must

remedial courses required, all applicants desiring to apply for the MDA program will be allowed

to take the MDA pre-entrance exam. However, if an applicant scores low on any general

admission placement test, counselors may advise against continuing the MDA application

process.

□ Submit all transcripts, high school and college, to the Admissions and Records Office by

March 31, 2024. An official copy of a final high school or GED® (High School

Equivalency) transcript with a graduation date is required. In addition, official transcripts

from other colleges attended are required if transferring any courses. Transcript must show

when the course was taken, and the grade received. It is the applicant’s responsibility to

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acceptable proof of residency to be RANKED as an in-district applicant:

• A valid Illinois driver’s license with an address in JALC College District #530

• A valid Illinois state identification card with an address in JALC College District #530

• A valid Illinois voter’s registration card that indicates JALC College District #530

• A current Illinois real estate tax bill that indicates property is owned within the JALC

College District #530

• A CAREER Agreement approved by JALC’s V.P. for Instruction

In-district applicants will be rank ordered before applicants’ out-of-district, if one of the above

an approved course or program guide, these forms DO NOT qualify as acceptable proof of

residency to be RANKED as an in-district applicant. Therefore, the applicant will be rank

ordered at the bottom of the in-district list with all other out-of-district applicants.

• A letter from an employer that indicates employment in JALC College District #530

• A lease agreement that indicates residence in JALC College District #530

• A bank statement or utility bill that indicates residence in JALC College District #530

• A valid Illinois FOID card with an address in JALC College District #530

• A final transcript from an in-district high school with a graduation date within the past

five years

and Records Office at (618) 985-2828 Ext. 8298.

STEP 2: Program Application Requirement

AN APPLICANT MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE JALC STUDENT ID NUMBER AND VOLMAIL EMAIL

BEFORE APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM.

□ Apply to the Medical Assistant program by completing the online application form by March

31, 2024. Fill out application completely and hit the submit button. Once submitted, click on

the link provided to register for the pre-entrance exam. A new program application is required

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before the registration deadline set below for each test session.

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STEP 4: Prerequisite Course Requirements

□ Submit an official college transcript that shows successful completion of prerequisite course

requirements listed with a minimum of a C grade to the Admissions and Records Office by

March 31, 2024. No transcript required if courses completed at JALC.

• BUS 115 – Basic Keyboarding

• NAD 101 – Nursing Assistant Training

If an applicant is accepted into the program and all the above courses are not completed with a

STEP 5: Admission Selection Process

The selection of applicants is based on the stated admission criteria. The test scores are very

important in the selection process because they are rank ordered from highest to lowest.

Applicants that earn the highest total points and complete the admission criteria by the program

deadline will be selected. Priority will be given to applicants residing in-district or in a CAREER

Agreement district. Rank order for the MDA program is based exclusively upon the following:

1. Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) scores. All four sections of the test will be given.

2. Additional points will be given for achieved passing grades in previously taken courses of NAD

101, and HIT 217. No points will be given for BUS 115. Courses must be completed by March

31, 2024 for points to be added. Courses completed after that time will not count as points

toward admission. Each course must have been passed with a minimum of a C grade. No

points will be given without an official transcript. Official transcripts must show when the

course was taken, and the grade received. The following points will be added for each grade

earned: A = 3 points, B = 2 points, and C = 1 point.

Total percentage score achieved will be used as a raw score. Rank ordering of applicants for

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accept or no response is obtained, the applicant will be dropped from future consideration and

the next applicant in rank order on the list will be notified of provisional acceptance.

When all available positions are filled, notification of an alternate position will be sent via email to

the next few applicants on the list. Notification of denial into the program will be sent via email

when all alternate positions are filled, typically before late June. Any individual, not receiving an

email by late June, should contact the Coordinator of Testing. Applicants who are not admitted

and remain on the list after the program starts will not be carried over for the next year. If interested

in applying for the next year’s program, a new program application must be submitted.

must seek approval from the MDA Coordinator for re-application.

All correspondence will be sent via email, including acceptance, alternate, and denial notifications.

Therefore, an applicant must provide an email, Volmail or personal, that is checked on a regular

basis. The mailing address provided on the program application will be used for residency

purposes and verification of residence at that address will be required (see residency

requirements under STEP 1).

It is extremely important to abide by the deadline dates outlined in this packet. It is the applicant’s

responsibility to assure that these documents have been received in the designated office by the

deadline date.

needs of the practice. They are not to be confused with physician assistants (PA).

Administrative tasks of a medical assistant include updating and filing patients’ medical records,

filling out insurance forms, arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services, answering

telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling

billing and bookkeeping. Some common clinical tasks include taking medical histories and

recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for

examinations, and assisting physicians during examinations. Medical assistants collect and

prepare laboratory specimens and sometimes perform basic laboratory tests on the premises,

dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They might instruct patients

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technological advances in medicine and the growth and aging of the population, there will be an

increased need for all health care workers.

For more information on the profession, visit American Association of Medical Assistants.

CERTIFICATION

Graduates of this program earn a certificate of achievement upon graduation. They are not

certified as a medical assistant until they successfully pass a professional certification exam.

Students may sit for the following exam: National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) through the

NCCT (National Center for Comprehensive Testing). Certification as a medical assistant is not

required by law; however, some employers prefer or require certification because they recognize

that individuals who are certified are committed to their profession and to quality patient care. The

If you have a criminal conviction, you should not pursue this program until you apply and receive

a waiver from the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Potential applicants with questions concerning the above may wish to make an appointment with

the Coordinator of Medical Assistant at (618) 985-2828 ext: 8368.

EXTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS

The following requirements must be completed prior to starting the MDA externship which begins

in March of the spring semester. Students will receive more information during a new student

Hepatitis B vaccine series. Start the vaccine process immediately.) This mandate is a result

of a federal OSHA law and a state Public Health law which began July 1, 1992. If you have

elected not to receive the Hepatitis B vaccine, you will be required to sign a waiver form

declining the vaccination. Your physician should discuss with you the risk, as a member of the

health care team, in not being protected against Hepatitis B.

2. You must demonstrate immunity to Measles, Mumps and Rubella by proof that you have

received the MMR Vaccine Series or by the results of a titer test. If the titer tests indicate that

you cannot demonstrate immunity, then you will be required to have the vaccines.

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5. You must demonstrate immunity to Varicella (chickenpox). A current titer showing proof of

immunity is required or you must have the vaccination.

6. A drug/alcohol screen is performed as part of the externship requirement and possibly

throughout the program for all MDA students at the student’s expense. If a student has a

positive drug screen, they may not participate in the externship. The College does not

guarantee a student with a positive drug screen that they will be able to complete any

externship experience. A student who cannot be reasonably assigned an externship site will

be dropped from the program.

student to enter their facility without proof of any of the above, then the unprotected student cannot

be allowed into the health care facility for educational purposes. When clinical sites do not accept

unprotected students, it is impossible for those students to be educated in the MDA program.

own head, move quickly, utilize fine motor control of hands and work under stress. These

requirements are consistent with medical assisting duties commonly performed.

The student must meet performance standards of functional abilities for the profession. Students

in lab/externship settings are not allowed conscious altering substances, prescribed or over the

counter.

Twenty-four (24) students are selected for full-time classes beginning in August of every year.

All MDA courses must be taken consecutively as listed on the program guide. If a student has not

completed the prerequisite courses listed in the program guide, they will begin the program in

June (summer semester). If a student has completed the prerequisite courses listed in the

program guide, they will begin the program in August (fall semester) and complete the program

the following May (spring semester). Students are not admitted to the program during any other

time throughout the year. Students may, however, take BUS 115, NAD 101, and HIT 217 prior to

applying for admission to the program.

During fall semester, students are on the Carterville campus two days a week, Tuesday and