Elizabeth City – College of The Albemarle (COA) is pleased to announce that our Medical Assisting program was recently awarded continuing accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). The Council for Higher Education recognizes the CAAHEP as an accrediting agency.

College of The Albemarle’s Medical Assisting program prepares individuals for a career in the healthcare profession, skilled and prepared to perform administrative, clinical, and laboratory procedures.

“Accreditation is like icing on a cake; it makes a good thing even better,” said Rebecca Walker, COA Medical Assisting Associate Professor/Program Coordinator. “Maintaining the standards required by CAAHEP has helped strengthen our program, and that is worth all the work and long hours we put into the accreditation process. It adds value to our program, our college, our students, and especially our community.”

This accreditation validates the program’s adherence to national educational standards and fosters a culture of continuous self-evaluation and enhancement. It also establishes the practice of ongoing self-evaluation, which provides for continual reflection and improvement. The accreditation stands until Fall 2032 when the program will undergo another comprehensive evaluation and site visit.

During the October Board of Trustees meeting, Walker and the Medical Assisting program were recognized for being awarded continuing accreditation by CAAHEP. Photo (l-r): David Harris, Board of Trustees Chair; Amber Meads, Medical Assisting Adjunct Faculty; Rebecca Walker, Medical Assisting Associate Professor/Program Coordinator; and Dr. Jack Bagwell, President.

Robin Harris, COA Dean of Health Sciences and Wellness Programs, shared, “We are so proud of our faculty and students for this accomplishment and the continuation of accreditation status.  Providing our medical practices with well-trained and professional staff is a key component in helping provide quality care for our communities.  Rebecca Walker and her faculty have done an outstanding job during this review and have demonstrated the strength and excellence of the Medical Assisting program here at COA.”

For more information about COA’s Medical Assisting program, contact Rebecca Walker, Associate Professor/Program Coordinator, at 252-335-0821 ext. 2307 or [email protected].

For all other COA-related information, contact Tammy W. Sawyer, Director of Communications and Marketing, at 252.335.0821 ext. 2420 or [email protected].