Admission Requirements
Applicants must first apply to the college, then to our program. To receive an application,
you will need to attend an information session.
Information Packets
To obtain an information packet, please use the link below to print a copy.
Applicants to our program must first apply to the college.
- Get Started Guide
- Apply to Columbus State
- Applications to the Medical Assisting program are only available at an information session.
Health Record Form
You will need to complete the Health Record Form before you enter the program. Please submit it to
Health Records
Union Hall 132
Vanessa Lang, Program Coordinator
(614) 287-2450
APPLICATION DEADLINE IS AUGUST 10th FOR ENTRY INTO AUTUMN SEMESTER EACH YEAR.
This program requires both a BCI and drug testing - DO NOT proceed with this step until you have been instructed to do so.
All students who wish to enter the Medical Assisting Program must comply with the following requirements:
1. Admissions Criteria/Requirements:
The Medical Assisting Program is a rigorous program of study. Admission criteria includes specific college courses. All admission courses must be completed with a grade "C" or above.
Applications for admission to the program may be submitted prior to completion of all admission criteria. The application will be evaluated based on completion of the following admission requirements:
Biology: Placement into BIO 0100.
English: Placement into ENGL 1100 or completion of ENGL 0190
Reading: Placement of "No Reading Required" or completion of DEV 0145
Math: Placement into MATH 1104 or STAT 1350, or completion of MATH 1025, 1030, 1050, 1075.
CPR and First Aid: Completion of MULT 1130, or CPR from the American Heart Association AND Basic Life Support with AED Certification and First Aid Certification.
* A minimum grade of "C" or higher is required.
Students who are awarded transfer credit by Columbus State for MATH 1025, ENGL 1100, or BIO 1100 (or higher in each category) will be considered to have met the requirements for the respective coursework.
Placement Testing: All placement testing deficiencies including the requirement for reading skills or completion of DEV courses must be done by application deadline. (Requires official CSCC application on file.)
Achievement of a minimum GPA of 2.00 on a 4 point scale based on the completion of courses at the college most recently attended or Columbus State Community College (or high school). A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be maintained throughout the length of the Medical Assisting Program and all Technical (T) courses completed with a grade of "C" or above (see Plan of Study).Attendance at a Medical Assisting Information Session for the current application period.
2. Required Documentation to be submitted to the Admissions/Records and Registration Office:
- Final official high school transcript (sent directly by the high school to Columbus State) verifying date of graduation OR General Education Development (GED) test results with a minimum average standard score of 45 and a minimum of 35 in each subject.
- Official transcripts from other college(s) attended sent by the college directly to Columbus State for Official evaluation.
- Application to Columbus State (if not a current student).
International Students: See section 3-F
3. Required Documentation to be submitted to the Medical Assisting Program (all students)
- Medical Assisting Program Application
- Copy of final high school transcript verifying date of graduation OR General Education Development (GED) test results
- Current American Red Cross Health Care Provide CPR with AED Certification or completion of MULT 1130
- CPR and First Aid: Completion of MULT 1130, or CPR from the American Heart Association AND Basic Life Support with AED Certification and First Aid Certification.
- Copy of transcripts (unofficial copy is acceptable) from other college(s) attended (these will be cross-verified with the Admissions Office).
- Official transcripts from other college(s) attended sent by the college directly to Columbus State for Official evaluation.
- International Students must also submit foreign high school AND college transcripts to one of the following transcript evaluation agencies:
Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc., at http://www.ece.org OR,
World Education Services at http://www.wes.org
Check for deadlines for submission of transcripts to the evaluation agency. The cost of the evaluation is the responsibility of the student. Please ask the agency to send one copy of the completed evaluation directly to: Columbus State Community College, ATTN: Office of Enrollment Services, P.O. Box 1609, Columbus, Ohio 43215-1609
4. Additional Admission Information:
- If you are not a current or previous Columbus State student, you may Apply Online at www.cscc.edu and click on the RED Apply Button. You may also visit the Admissions Office located in Madison Hall.
- All students who are accepted into the program will be expected to attend a mandatory orientation session in the summer and to complete a series of “Health Record” forms and immunizations. Students who fail to complete health records, background check and drug test by the end of the first term to retain their place in the program. Accepted students will receive written information regarding these requirements in their acceptance packets.
5. Statement Regarding Infectious Diseases:
Students in any of the Healthcare Programs at CSCC, including Medical Assisting, perform their clinical work on real people. Columbus State does not discriminate against students, faculty, or patients in any way, or based on color, creed, national origin, gender, disability or sexual preference. The patient populations with whom we work come from all walks of life, and the students may therefore be exposed to many types of communicable diseases. These are not limited to but may include hepatitis (A, B, C), HIV/AIDS, TB, measles, mumps, rubella, rubeola, COVID-19, influenza, pneumonia RSV, etc. All students entering the Medical Assisting Program students must be aware of this slight, but real potential.
All students are required to have personal health insurance in effect by the first day of class, or sign an Insurance Waiver Form
For further information regarding the program requirements, please email Tonya Redden, Program Coordinator at tredden1@cscc.edu
To receive information regarding Information Sessions, please email mat@cscc.edu.
To contact the Health Records Office regarding your student health record requirements click on the following link: https://www.cscc.edu/services/health-records/
Medical Assisting Occupational Risks
Medical Assisting is a profession with many rewards, as practitioners may perform both administrative and clinical services, filling several roles in a variety of healthcare environments. The Bureau of Labor Statistics identifies medical assisting as a growth field, with an anticipated 18% growth from 2020 to 2030.
Medical Assistants work directly with providers and patients, with the goal of providing healthcare and ensuring patient safety. It is a position with a great deal of responsibility.
As with any healthcare position, there are occupational risks that may come into play with being a medical assistant. These potential hazards include the following:
- Exposure to infectious diseases
- Sharps (needles, scissors, etc.) injuries
- Bloodborne pathogens and biological hazards
- Chemical and drug exposure
- Bodily injuries from lifting, sitting, and repetitive tasks
- Latex allergies
- Stress
At the same time, there are protections set up through the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), that are particularly important within a healthcare environment. OSHA has a series of standards that protect the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
Accredited medical assisting programs, such as Columbus State’s Medical Assisting program, are required to teach students about the hazards that they face on the job and the protocols that may be put into place to ensure a workplace culture that prioritizes safety.