Administrative Medical Specialist

Certificate Program

The California State University, East Bay Administrative Medical Specialist Certificate prepares aspiring administrative medical specialists for entry-level positions in this fast-growing and challenging field. Those who complete the program also will be ready to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS) Certification Exams.

Cal State East Bay's intensive program gives students the skills, knowledge, and confidence they will need to succeed on the job. We train students to assume the myriad responsibilities expected of them, from scheduling appointments and collecting payments to preparing patient charts and coding and processing insurance claims.

Offered in partnership with Gatlin Education Services, our program's online-only format makes it convenient for anyone in the world, not just those who live or work in the San Francisco East Bay Area.

Program Objectives

• To give graduates proficiency in medical terminology, telephone techniques, time management, and other areas.
• To provide graduates an understanding of medical practice settings and specialties, the differences between traditional and managed care and how commercial, HMO/PPO, federal, and state insurance plans work, including their eligibility, coverage, and reimbursement methodologies.
• To give graduates the knowledge necessary to meet the highest legal and ethical standards of the profession, including the types of consents and disclosures that are required in a medical office environment and the rules for maintaining privacy of medical records and protected health information (such as the HIPPA mandates).
• To equip graduates to perform all tasks in the accounts receivable and revenue cycle, including scheduling and registering patients, posting accounting transactions, completing insurance claim forms, and making collections.
• To equip graduates to handle accounts payable, payroll and banking tasks, as well as inventory control and ordering duties.
• To prepare graduates to perform the day-to-day tasks associated with medical coding and billing.
• To provide graduates the training required to effectively input patient information, run office reports, and process insurance claims using medical software.
• To prepare graduates to sit for the Certified Coding Associate (CCA) and Certified Medical Administrative Specialist (CMAS) Certification Exams.
• To prepare graduates to take a more advanced medical coding course that will give them the skills and knowledge necessary to attain more advanced national certifications.

Who Should Attend

• Individuals interested in qualifying themselves to become medical office assistants or to assume other administrative roles in medical offices.
• Individuals interested in becoming medical coders.

Program Highlights