Technical Standards 

Admission or progression in the UCLA-Health Medical Assistant Program will be denied if a student is unable to demonstrate the technical standards.

Technical Standards are nonacademic criteria essential for program participation. These core competencies are the minimum skills necessary for successful completion of the Medical Assistant Program.

Students must be able to:

• Motor Skills:
  • Apply general care & emergency treatment to patients.
  • Help lift patients who may be unable to move themselves to and from the examination table.
  • Lift equipment up to 50 pounds and manipulate mechanical and patient care equipment.
  • Work standing on his/her feet 75% of the time.
  • Have adequate physical mobility, fine and gross motor skills, sensation, balance and equilibrium.
• Cognitive:
  • Read and comprehend written instructions, patients’ charts, and other written material.
  • Perform basic mathematical equations and dosage calculations.
  • Demonstrate sufficient critical thinking skills to provide quality patient care within the scope of practice of the Medical Assistant.
  • Provide care safely, responsibly and efficiently during medical emergencies and other stressful situations.
• Communication:
  • Communicate effectively (verbal, non-verbal and written) with patients, their families, and other members of the healthcare team.
  • Be able to hear and observe clinical staff and patients in order to accurately assess vital signs, elicit information, perceive nonverbal communications, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and recognize and respond to an emergency.
  • Possess appropriate interpersonal communication skills to interact positively with all persons, regardless of race, ethnicity, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
  • Apply the principles of confidentiality, respect, and discretion.
• Behavioral/Social Attributes:
  • Display flexibility to adjust to changing environments.
  • Demonstrate professionalism and a positive work ethic.
  • Accept responsibility and accountability for actions in the classroom, lab, or clinic setting.
• Functional Ability:
  • Individuals must possess a functional level of ability to perform the duties required of a Medical Assistant with or without reasonable accommodations. 
  • If an individual experiences a change during the program, so that the technical standards cannot be met, with or without reasonable accommodations, the student will be withdrawn from the Medical Assistant Program. 
  • In order to assist with the evaluation of the student’s ability to perform the technical standards of the program, the Medical Assisting team reserves the right to require an assessment by a qualified healthcare provider, for cause, at the student’s expense.