Clinical Assistant: Diploma Coursework Summary

About this article
Clinical assistants will work in medical offices, labs, and hospitals conducting research and assisting physicians with patient exams. Working in a clinic or hospital requires an attention to detail, people skills, and knowledge of clinical terminology. Read more about this career below.
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What is Clinical Assistant Diploma Coursework?

Clinical assistant diploma coursework will train students in simple clinical procedures, lab work, and assisting physicians during routine patient exams. This coursework may include internships that are completed after a student has finished the required course material.

Required Courses:

Many clinical assistant diplomas take nine months to a year to complete if a student is enrolled in the diploma program full-time. Students may also earn additional certificates so they can specialize in certain medical areas. Basic courses required include:

  • Medical law
  • Records management
  • Clinical skills
  • Health and safety

Skills Obtained:

The skills obtained from earning a clinical assistant diploma prepare students for working in a clinic or medical office. Other skills include CPR, coding, and preparing medical equipment. Clinical assistants should also know how to talk to patients and relieve their anxiety and fear of being in a doctor's office.

Career Related Information

Reasons to Earn a Clinical Assistant Diploma:

There are areas within this field that students can explore further, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, that include cytotechnology, phlebotomy, and histotechnology. These areas may require students to earn certificates or be trained on the job. Many labs offer training to employees that already have their diploma.

Salary Information:

Those who have a clinical assistant diploma can expect to earn between $38,000 and $54,000 annually.

Economic Outlook and Growth of the Clinical Assistant Field:

Due to advances in medical technology, the clinical assistant field is expected to grow, as more people are needed who know how to perform laboratory procedures using the new technology.

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Bryant & Stratton College

    Program Options

    Bachelor's
      • Health Services Administration - BS
      • Health Services Administration - BS
    Associate's
      • Health Services Administration - AAS
      • Health Services Administration - AAS
    Certificate
      • Medical Assisting - Diploma
      • Health Services Admin Diploma
      • Health Services Assistant - Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    2. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
      • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Quantitative Leadership)
    Master's
      • MBA: Health Systems Management
      • Master of Science in Health Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Penn Foster High School

    Program Options

    High School Diploma
      • HS Diploma
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: Trauma Informed Care
      • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
      • Doctor of Health Sciences: General
    Certificate
      • CTG: Clinical Leadership
  • Chicago, IL

    Northwestern College

  • Richmond, KY

    Eastern Kentucky University

  • Dayton, OH

    Southwestern College

  • Missoula, MT

    The University of Montana

  • Western Governors University

Featured Schools

Bryant & Stratton College

  • Health Services Administration - BS
  • Health Services Administration - AAS
  • Medical Assisting - Diploma

What is your high school graduation status?

Grand Canyon University

  • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Qualitative Research)
  • Doctor of Health Administration: Operational Leadership (Quantitative Leadership)
  • MBA: Health Systems Management
  • Master of Science in Health Administration with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality and Patient Safety

What is your highest level of education?

Penn Foster High School

  • HS Diploma

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: Trauma Informed Care
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences: General
  • CTG: Clinical Leadership

What is your highest level of education?

Southwestern College