More trained health care workers will enter the workforce thanks to Beaufort County Community College’s registered medical assistant program.

On July 25, four students were honored with certifications from the program. Annette Calhoun, Keshauna McIntyre, Jennifer Perry and Hope Warren were part of the second cohort of RMAs at BCCC and can now take the American Medical Technologists exam to complete their certification.

RMAs can play a highly versatile role at a clinical office. They can help with patient intake, take vital signs, draw blood and carry out other office skills. They can shift from clerical duties to clinical duties as the needs of an office change throughout the day. This makes them invaluable assets in a clinic, and the RMA can enjoy a variety of tasks to keep them engaged with patients.

The RMA course is a comprehensive, two-part training program preparing students to enter the health care workforce. Part one of the program consists of classroom, computer-based and laboratory instructional time learning basic clinical and administrative skills.

Part two of the program includes more complex office skills, medical assisting procedures and hands-on clinical experience in local medical offices and clinics, such as Vidant Family Medicine, Agape Community Health Center, Carolina East Medical Associates and Urgent Care Down East. To help place students into the local health care workforce, the program also includes employment strategies, resume building and review for credentialing exams.

The BCCC RMA course is formatted within the guidelines recommended by the American Medical Technologists credentialing agency. Medical assistants who pass the AMT certification exam are certified as registered medical assistants.

To sign up now for the next RMA program, please contact Jackie Butcher at Jackie.butcher@beaufortccc.edu or 252-940-6263.