US Colleges >> By Career >> Medical Assistants

Medical Assistant Schools

Schools by State
for Medical Assistants:

AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MB MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK ON OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VA WA WI WV WY

Career Highlights for
Medical Assistants

Training generally required for this career includes: Moderate-term on-the-job training.

Jobs and Salary
Median Salary (2008)$28,300
Unemployment Vs. Other JobsLow
Jobs (2006)417,000
Job Growth (2006-2016)35.4%
Jobs (2016 forecast)565,000
Flexibility
Working Part-Time23%
Self-Employed0%
Education of Current Workers
Bachelor Degree or Higher10%
Some College59%
High School or Less31%

Relevant Job Titles

(Supplied by experts and industry contributors for this career category)

  • Autopsy Assistant
  • Certifed Medical Assistant (CMA)
  • Certified Coding Specialist
  • Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
  • Certified Ophthalmic Technician (COT)
  • Certified Phlebotomy Technician
  • Certified Professional Coder (CPC)
  • Chiropractic Assistant
  • Chiropractor Assistant
  • Clinic Assistant
  • Clinical Assistant
  • Clinical Medical Assistant
  • Clinical Office Technician
  • Doctor Assistant
  • Doctor's Assistant
  • Eye Technician
  • Health Unit Clerk
  • Hospital Clinic Assistant
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Billing Coder
  • Medical Billing Specialist
  • Medical Department Secretary
  • Medical Insurance Coding Specialist
  • Medical Office Assistant
  • Medical Office Technician
  • Medical Office Worker
  • Morgue Attendant
  • Morgue Technician
  • Ocular Care Aide
  • Ophthalmic Aide
  • Ophthalmic Assistant
  • Ophthalmic Technician
  • Optometric Aide
  • Optometric Assistant
  • Optometric Technician
  • Optometrist Assistant
  • Optometry Assistant
  • Orthopedic Assistant
  • Orthopedic Cast Specialist
  • Outpatient Surgery Assistant
  • Phlebotomist
  • Physician's Aide
  • Podiatric Assistant
  • Podiatrist Assistant
  • Registered Medical Assistant
  • Respiratory Therapist Assistant
  • Sleep Technician
  • Sterile Processing Technician
  • Surgery Scheduler
  • Vein Access Technician
  • Visual Training Aide

Information Sources

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Medical Assistants photo

Medical Assistant Job Description

Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.

Doctors and other healthcare practitioners rely on medical assistants to take care of a variety of office and patient-care related tasks. Medical assistants may work in a small office handling many tasks, or a large office filling a specific role within a team. Their responsibilities differ from physician assistants, who are trained to diagnose and treat patients.

Administrative Tasks

  • Updating and filing patients' medical records
  • Processing insurance forms
  • Scheduling hospital admissions
  • Arranging laboratory services
  • Acting as receptionist
  • Processing mail and writing letters
  • Bookkeeping and billing
  • Arranging and maintaining exam room equipment and instruments
  • Purchasing supplies
  • Keeping waiting areas and exam rooms clean

Clinical Tasks (vary by state law)

  • Taking a patient's medical history and recording his or her vital signs
  • Getting a patient ready for an exam and explaining treatments
  • Assisting the physician during an exam
  • Following a physician's instructions for authorizing and administering medications
  • Preparing a patient for x-rays and performing electrocardiograms
  • Changing bandages and removing sutures
  • Providing instructions to a patient about special diets and medications
  • Drawing blood, processing lab specimens, and performing basic laboratory tests
  • Disposing of contaminated supplies and sterilizing medical instruments
  • Submitting authorized prescription orders to pharmacies

Areas of specialty include podiatry (foot-related care), ophthalmology (eye-health related care) and optometry (vision-related care).

Medical Assistant Degrees and Medical Assistant Schools

Many community colleges and vocational schools offer medical assistant programs. Some offer one-year programs for a diploma or certificate, while others offer two-year associate's degrees. Good programs include a requirement for an internship or externship at a local doctor's office, clinic or hospital.

Employers frequently prefer graduates of schools that are accredited by organizations such as the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).

Medical Assistant Classes

Postsecondary education programs for medical assistants usually include coursework in the following areas:

  • medical terminology
  • anatomy and physiology
  • typing and transcription
  • accounting and bookkeeping
  • medical record keeping and patient privacy policy
  • insurance processing
  • lab testing, techniques and procedures
  • pharmaceuticals and medication administration
  • diagnostic and clinical procedures
  • medical law and ethics
  • technology and office practices
  • patient relations

In addition to coursework, hands-on experience through an internship or externship is often required.

Online Medical Assistant Classes and Programs

Medical assistant certification and degree programs are well-suited to online education, offering convenience and flexibility. These programs might not provide the local internship, externship and job-placement assistance that many on-campus programs offer.

Medical Assistant Requirements

Many employers prefer to hire graduates of accredited postsecondary programs. However, although formal training can help a medical assistant get hired, it's not always necessary. Many medical assistants are trained on the job, especially if they have previous work experience in an office or volunteer experience in the health care field. A high school diploma is considered the minimum requirement.

Medical assistants can obtain certification through various associations such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT) to bolster their employability.

How to Evaluate Medical Assistant Schools

Asking the following questions can help in choosing a medical assisting educational program:

  • School and class size - How many students are in an average course? Does the school offer a large variety of desirable amenities, such as specialized services or facilities?
  • Tuition and financial assistance - What resources are available to students to help them take advantage of financial aid options such as scholarships, grants, loans, work study, etc.?
  • Accreditation - Has the ABHES, CAAHEP or other organization accredited the program? If the program is offered online, has it been accredited by an organization for distance learning?
  • Practical experience - Does the program facilitate hands-on experience? Are internships or externships coordinated? Are there plenty of desirable positions from which to choose?
  • Graduate success - How many graduates get certified by the AAMA, AMT or other organizations? What is the program's success rate for graduate job placement?

Relevant Schools That Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site

School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.

SchoolCampusesAwardsInfo
ACT CollegeVADiplomaInfo From School
ATI Career Training CenterFL, NM, OK, TXDiplomaInfo From School
ATI College of HealthFLDiplomaInfo From School
Academy of Healing ArtsNVDiplomaInfo From School
Advantage Career InstituteNJCourseworkInfo From School
Akron InstituteOHDiplomaInfo From School
All-State Career Healthcare DivisionMD, PADiplomaInfo From School
Allied CollegeMOAssociateInfo From School
Allied Medical & Technical InstitutePAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
American Career CollegeCACertificateInfo From School
Andover CollegeMEAssociateInfo From School
Angley CollegeOnlineAssociateInfo From School
Anthem InstituteNY, NJ, PADiplomaInfo From School
Apollo CollegeAZ, ID, WA, OR, NMDiplomaInfo From School
Argosy UniversityMNAssociateInfo From School
Baker College CampusMIAssociate, CertificateInfo From School
Bauder CollegeGAAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Berdan InstituteNJCertificateInfo From School
Berks Technical InstitutePAAssociateInfo From School
Blue Cliff CollegeMS, LAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Bohecker CollegeOHAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Bradford School ColumbusOHAssociateInfo From School
Bradford School PittsburghPAAssociateInfo From School
Branford Hall Career InstituteNY, CT, MACertificateInfo From School
Brookline CollegeAZ, NMDiplomaInfo From School
CDM InstituteNJ, PACertificateInfo From School
CHI InstitutePAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
California College San DiegoCAAssociateInfo From School
Cambridge CollegeCO, ORDiplomaInfo From School
Career Centers of TexasTXDiplomaInfo From School
Career College of Northern NevadaNVAssociateInfo From School
Career Point CollegeOK, TXAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Career Quest Learning CentersMICourseworkInfo From School
Career Technical CollegeLAAssociateInfo From School
Central Coast CollegeCADiplomaInfo From School
Central Florida CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
CollegeAmericaAZ, CO, WYAssociateInfo From School
Colorado Technical UniversityCO, MO, SDAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Computer Career CenterTX, NMAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Coyne American InstituteILAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
DeVry UniversityILBachelorInfo From School
Dover Business CollegeNJDiplomaInfo From School
Empire CollegeCAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Everest CollegeNVCourseworkInfo From School
Everest InstituteMD, GA, PA, TX, MI, WV, NJ, OH, FL, MN, MADiplomaInfo From School
Everest UniversityFLAssociateInfo From School
First InstituteILCertificateInfo From School
Florida Career CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Florida Career InstituteFLDiplomaInfo From School
Florida Technical CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Fox CollegeILAssociateInfo From School
Goodwin CollegeCTAssociateInfo From School
Gulf Coast CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Hallmark CollegeTXAssociate, CertificateInfo From School
Harris School of BusinessDE, NJCertificateInfo From School
Harrison CollegeINAssociateInfo From School
Heald CollegeCA, HI, ORAssociateInfo From School
Health Training CenterMACertificateInfo From School
Herzing CollegeMBDiplomaInfo From School
Herzing UniversityOH, WI, FL, MN, LAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Herzing University OnlineOnlineAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Hesser CollegeNHAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
High-Tech InstituteAZ, TN, CA, WI, MN, FL, TX, MO, NVDiplomaInfo From School
Illinois School of Health CareersILDiplomaInfo From School
Institute for Business and TechnologyCADiplomaInfo From School
IntelliTec Medical InstituteCOAssociate, CertificateInfo From School
International Business College Fort WayneINAssociateInfo From School
International Business College IndianapolisINAssociateInfo From School
Kaplan Career InstituteOH, TN, PA, TX, MA, MIAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Kaplan CollegeAZ, MD, WA, IN, NV, CO, OH, CA, WIAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Kaplan UniversityNE, IAAssociateInfo From School
Keiser UniversityFLAssociateInfo From School
Keiser University eCampus OnlineOnlineAssociateInfo From School
King's CollegeNCAssociateInfo From School
Lamson CollegeAZDiplomaInfo From School
Lincoln College of TechnologyIL, GA, FLCourseworkInfo From School
Lincoln Tech®RI, NJ, PA, CT, MACourseworkInfo From School
McCann School of Business & TechnologyPAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Medical Careers InstituteVA, NC, SCAssociateInfo From School
MedixON, MD, GACertificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Miami-Jacobs Career CollegeOHAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Milan InstituteID, CA, TX, NVDiplomaInfo From School
Miller-Motte Technical CollegeVA, NC, TN, SCAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Minneapolis Business CollegeMNAssociateInfo From School
Minnesota School of BusinessMNAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Missouri CollegeMODiplomaInfo From School
National American University CampusCO, MN, KS, MO, NM, SDAssociateInfo From School
National Career EducationCADiplomaInfo From School
National CollegeVA, OH, TN, KY, INAssociateInfo From School
National Institute of Technology OhioOHAssociateInfo From School
New England Institute of TechnologyRIAssociateInfo From School
North Florida InstituteFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Northwestern CollegeILAssociateInfo From School
Ohio Institute of Photography and TechnologyOHAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Pennsylvania Institute of TechnologyPACertificateInfo From School
Pioneer Pacific CollegeORAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Pittsburgh Technical InstitutePAAssociate, CertificateInfo From School
Platt CollegeCAAssociateInfo From School
Plaza CollegeNYAssociateInfo From School
Prism Career InstituteNJCourseworkInfo From School
RETS CollegeOHDiplomaInfo From School
Rasmussen CollegeFL, ND, WI, MNAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Remington CollegeAL, TX, AR, CO, OH, TN, FL, LA, HIAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Salter CollegeMAAssociate, CertificateInfo From School
Sanford-Brown CollegeVA, IL, OH, MO, TXAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Sanford-Brown InstituteNJ, MD, NY, GA, FL, PA, TXAssociate, Certificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Seacoast Career SchoolsNH, MECertificateInfo From School
South Texas Vocational Technical InstituteTXDiplomaInfo From School
South UniversityOnlineAssociateInfo From School
South University CampusAL, GA, SCAssociateInfo From School
Southern Technical CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Southwest Florida CollegeFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Southwestern CollegeOH, KYCourseworkInfo From School
Spencerian CollegeKYDiplomaInfo From School
Stevens-Henager CollegeID, UTAssociateInfo From School
Suburban Technical SchoolNYCertificateInfo From School
Sullivan UniversityKYAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
TESST College of TechnologyMDCertificate, DiplomaInfo From School
Technical Career InstituteFLAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Technology Education CollegeOHAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Texas CareersTXDiplomaInfo From School
The Bryman School of PhoenixAZAssociateInfo From School
The Career Institute of American International CollegeMACertificateInfo From School
The College of WestchesterNYAssociateInfo From School
The Salter SchoolMACertificateInfo From School
Thompson InstitutePADiplomaInfo From School
Tucson CollegeAZDiplomaInfo From School
UEI CollegeCADiplomaInfo From School
Ultimate Medical AcademyFLDiplomaInfo From School
Utah Career CollegeUTAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Vatterott CollegeIL, TN, KS, MO, NE, OK, IAAssociate, DiplomaInfo From School
Vista CollegeUTCertificateInfo From School
Western Career CollegeCAAssociate, CertificateInfo From School
Westwood CollegeIL, GA, TXAssociate, Bachelor, DiplomaInfo From School
Wood Tobé-Coburn SchoolNYAssociateInfo From School

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More data on medical assistant schools and jobs can be found at CityTownInfo.com.