Apply to Medical Assisting

Medical Assisting

To join this program, you must apply for admission. This somewhat competitive program currently accepts 24 students each term. Successful candidates have strong communication skills. The selection process is based on a point system – see below how to earn points and become a more competitive applicant.

There are now two options to join this program:

Option #1 is a guaranteed admissions process in which you complete required courses and can be automatically admitted to an upcoming cohort of your choosing – see below for more details and how to qualify. In order to move forward with this option you will need to reach out to healthca@pcc.edu. Guaranteed Admission will begin with the Winter 2024 Cohort.
Option #2 is an application based system in which the selection process is based on a point system – see below how to earn points and become a more competitive applicant.

Questions? Schedule a visit or talk with a program advisor.

Option 1: guaranteed admission

Apply to PCC

Applying to PCC is free and only takes a few minutes. Complete this step as soon as possible so you can start using PCC resources.
Apply to PCC

Application timeline

Term you want to start	Apply to Medical Assisting
Summer 2024 – Willow Creek	Admission closed
Fall 2024 – Cascade	Admission closed
Winter 2025 – Willow Creek	October 7 – October 25, 2024 Currently full
Spring 2025 – Sylvania	January 6 – January 24, 2025 Currently full

Check basic qualifications

This program includes or requires educational experiences that take place in clinical/field environments. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division requires students in clinical/field environments to comply with all vaccination requirements. Clinical sites may have additional requirements, including COVID-19 vaccination. Students are also required to pass a criminal background check and drug screenings. If you have any questions, please contact healthca@pcc.edu.
Email us

Contact healthca@pcc.edu to express your interest in moving forward with guaranteed admissions. Our admissions coordinator will guide you through the next steps.
Create guaranteed admission plan

Plans will include all program prerequisites as well as the “recommended” courses. A plan must be created no later than the end of the third week of the term prior to the term you would like to start in the program.
- Prerequisites:
  - WR 121: English Composition
  - MP 111: Medical Terminology
  - BI 120: Survey of Body Systems (will also accept BI 121 or 231 and 232, see recommended biology prerequisite information below)
- Recommended classes (graduation requirements):
  - MP140: Intro to Health Law and Ethics
  - MP 135: Pharmacology – Allied Health
  - BI 122 if you took BI 121, BI 233 if you took BI 231 and 232
Please contact admissions at healthca@pcc.edu before taking any prerequisite or recommended class as a Pass/No Pass grading option. There is a limit to how many classes can be P/NP.
Follow admissions plan

Complete the required courses in the agreed upon timeline.
Complete guaranteed admission application

Students will receive a special application to the program. As long as students are on track to complete all classes on their plan by the end of the term prior to the term they plan to start they will be admitted into the program.

After you apply

You’ll be notified about your application status by one month after the close of the application period. Check your MyPCC email: all communication is done through your PCC email account.

If you miss the guaranteed admission window for any term, and there are still seats available, you can apply through standard admission. Contact healthca@pcc.edu for more information about this and see the standard application tab for more details.

Option 2: standard application

Apply to PCC

Applying to PCC is free and only takes a few minutes. Complete this step as soon as possible so you can start using PCC resources.
Apply to PCC

Application timeline

Term you want to start	Apply to Medical Assisting
Summer 2024 – Willow Creek	admission closed
Fall 2024 – Cascade	admission closed
Winter 2025 – Willow Creek	Standard admission: October 7 – October 25, 2024
Spring 2025 – Sylvania	Standard admission: January 6 – January 24, 2025

Take prerequisites

All prerequisite classes must be passed with a grade “C” or above. If you are applying for the Summer Cohort, they must be completed by the end of Winter term. For the Fall Cohort, they must be completed by the end of Spring term. If you are applying for the Spring Cohort, they must be completed by the end of Fall term. If you have met the core requirements of any of these classes at other colleges, please contact healthca@pcc.edu to have your transcripts unofficially evaluated.

WR 121: English Composition
MP 111: Medical Terminology
BI 120: Survey of Body Systems (will also accept BI 121 or 231 and 232, see recommended biology prerequisite information below)

Check basic qualifications

This program includes or requires educational experiences that take place in clinical/field environments. The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Public Health Division requires students in clinical/field environments to comply with all vaccination requirements. Clinical sites may have additional requirements, including COVID-19 vaccination. Students are also required to pass a criminal background check and drug screenings. If you have any questions, please contact healthca@pcc.edu.
Prepare essays

Write answers to the following questions. Each response should be 200-400 words. You’ll submit these with your application, below. Be sure to include examples to support each response. Need a bit of support to get your ideas from your thoughts to the paper? The career center at Cascade Campus can help. Make an appointment for some guidance, a bit of proofreading, and idea brainstorming. Contact connect2@pcc.edu or 971-722-5600 and ask for an appointment with Tanya Maldonado.
- Describe your experience related to healthcare and how this experience led you to apply to this program.
- In your own words, please explain why you think a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is important to a successful career in healthcare. As part of your response, include at least one example of your approach to working with people from different backgrounds or cultures.
- Optional Question: This is not required and will not be given any specific points but will help us learn more about you (100 – 200 words). We understand that grades and experience are just one part of who you are. What would you like the admissions committee to know about you that has not been addressed in the other application sections?
Submit application

Standard applications for the Winter 2025 program will be accepted October 7 – October 25.

After you apply

You’ll be notified about your application status by one month after the close of the application period. Check your MyPCC email: all communication is done through your PCC email account.

How are applicants selected?

The admission team will use the points applicants receive from essay questions 1 and 2, combined with a more holistic review process of the applicant pool, to make final admission decisions. Each applicant’s unique profile will be reviewed and a final cohort will be selected considering this information to best ensure we admit a cohort that meets our mission statement and that will add value to the field of Medical Assisting.

Essay question 1: Related experience – up to 25 points
Essay question 2: Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion – up to 25 points

See the printable admissions advising guide for detailed information on the point system.

Applicants who qualify, but do not have the top points for admission, will be notified of their status as a program alternate. Often, alternates are eventually selected for the program. Alternates will be listed in order of points, and in the case of students receiving the same points by the order of applications received by admissions.

Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

Medical Assisting