Why medical assisting? It’s one of the nation's fastest growing careers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employment in medical assisting is projected to grow 23 percent from 2014 to 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations. The growth of the aging baby-boom population will continue to increase demand for preventive medical services. As physicians expand their practices to meet this need, they will hire more medical assistants to serve more patients.

Demand for medical assistants is also high in the Lowcountry. “A growing number of area health care facilities are seeking qualified medical assistants to help their offices run more smoothly,” program director Jaclyn Howarth said. “Medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills.”

Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical duties. They may answer phones, schedule appointments, manage medical records and greet patients. On the clinical side, they take medical histories, prepare patients for examination, assist the doctor during appointments, and perform numerous point- of- care tests, venipuncture, and electrocardiograms.”

Once eligible and accepted, TCL’s medical assisting course path will prepare students to graduate in three semesters with a total of 40 in-program credit-hours. The program’s general education, science and medical assisting courses are taught in the classroom and at various clinical sites in Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton and Hampton counties. Graduates earn a TCL certificate and are then eligible to take the credentialing exam.