Patient Access Associate Certificate

An entry-level job in health care that doesn't take years of college.

In four courses, the Patient Access Associate Certificate prepares students for the frontline of healthcare services for patients entering a clinic or hospital.

Program location

Available in West Burlington Not available in Keokuk Available online

Skills you'll learn

  • Customer service
  • Medical terminology
  • Registration and scheduling
  • Revenue cycle
  • Electronic health records
  • HIPAA and standards of care

Key classes you'll take

  • Medical Terminology
  • Medical Law and Ethics
  • Human Relations
  • Patient Access to Healthcare

Last-Dollar Scholarship

Last-Dollar Scholarship

If you're an Iowan, you may be eligible to earn this degree tuition-free.

Last-Dollar Scholarship

Where this program can take you

  • Patient Access Associate
  • Medical Office Assistant

Contact Us

West Burlington Campus Admissions
Call: (319) 208-5155
Text: (319) 250-7144
Email: admissionswb@scciowa.edu

Keokuk Campus Admissions
Call: (319) 313-1923
Text: (319) 220-3266
Email: admissionskeo@scciowa.edu

Schedule an Appointment

The Patient Access Associate program prepares students for the front line of healthcare services for patients entering a hospital or clinic.  Students will learn customer service skills, medical terminology, registration and scheduling skills, specifics of revenue cycle, and use of electronic health records, HIPAA training and other standards of care, and different types of insurance offerings.  The Patient Access Associate will assist patients to effectively navigate health appointments with providers or services.  Upon successful completion of the four courses contained in the program the student will earn the Patient Access Associate Certificate.

Pre-requisite; BIO-163 Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology

Summary Sheet

The summary sheet provides a program overview and other information.

Download the Summary Sheet.

Curriculum Sequence


Fall Semester I Course Title Credit
HSC-114 Medical Terminology 3
MAP-401 Medical Law and Ethics 1
MAP-431 Human Relations 1
CPC-170 Patient Access to Healthcare 2
TOTAL CREDITS 7

HSC-114 - Medical Terminology

Lecture: 2

Lab: 2

Credit: 3

This course is designed to study the basic language related to medical science with emphasis on word analysis, construction, definitions, pronunciations, spelling and standard abbreviations.

MAP-401 - Medical Law and Ethics

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course is designed to familiarize the student with legal concepts of standard of care, scope of employment, criminal and civil acts, contracts, negligence and ethical concepts.

MAP-431 - Human Relations

Lecture: 1

Credit: 1

This course includes fundamental principles related to human relations. Basic psychological and developmental theorists, factors that influence behavior, professional attitudes and behavior, self-improvement, and communication in the health care setting are emphasized.

CPC-170 - Patient Access to Healthcare

Lecture: 32

Credit: 2

This course prepares the student for the front line of healthcare services for patients entering a hospital or clinic. This course places an emphasis on customer service skills, patient registration, patient scheduling, the fundamentals of the revenue cycle, billing and reimbursement, HIPAA and practical experience and understanding of electronic health records. Corequisites: HSC-114, MAP-401 and MAP-431.

Megan Massner - Instructor - Medical Assistant

Email: mmassner@scciowa.edu
Diploma, Southeastern Community College

Anne Abel - Instructor - Medical Coding & Billing

Email: aabel@scciowa.edu
CPC Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders
CPC-I Certification of American Academy of Professional Coders

Debra Shaffer - Instructor - Medical Assistant/Program Coordinator

Email: dshaffer@scciowa.edu
AAS, Mount St. Clare College
ADN, Southeastern Community College