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Medical Assisting Technology Awarded Continuing Accreditation Through CAAHEP

Update: As of March 2023, the Medical Assisting Technology degree is no longer accredited by CAAHEP.

The Medical Assisting Technology (A.A.S.) associate degree program at Pennsylvania Highlands Community College has been awarded continuing accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Medical Assisting Technology associate degree program received its initial accreditation in 2016.

“This accomplishment is a testament to the dedication and hard work put in by our Professor of Health Professions, Gaynelle Schmieder, and the rest of our Health Professions team,” stated Robert Farinelli, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “Students enrolled in Medical Assisting at Penn Highlands Community College can feel confident in knowing that their education will set them up for success with this accreditation status.”

Penn Highlands’ students will benefit the most from CAAHEP accreditation. Those that graduate from Penn Highlands with a Medical Assisting Technology degree will automatically be qualified to sit for the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) exam and become certified medical assistants.

Medical assisting, a multi-skilled allied health profession, allows medical assistants to function as members of the health care delivery team by performing both administrative and clinical procedures.

CAAHEP is the largest programmatic accreditor of the health sciences profession. The organization reviews and accredits over 2,100 educational programs in 32 health science occupations. CAAHEP is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Continuing accreditation is awarded after a program has already been initially accredited and then subsequently reviewed by the Committees on Accreditation at specified intervals. Continuing accreditation remains in place until the CAAHEP Board votes otherwise, and it is not time limited.