Medical Assistant Programs Minnesota
Becoming a certified medical assistant (CMA) in Minnesota is possible in less than a year by enrolling in a certification program and passing an exam. Certification is not legally required to work in medical assisting in Minnesota, but it is strongly recommended for a competitive edge in the job market and a head start on your healthcare career. Healthcare employers are seeking certified medical assistants more and more as well.
Medical Assistant Training Programs in Minnesota
There are many CMA training programs at various colleges, universities, and community colleges throughout the state. Be sure to enroll in a program that it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). You can check the American Association of Medical Assistants for updated lists of accredited schools. These programs typically take about one year. They include instruction that covers both the administrative side of the job as well as the clinical side. Depending on the size of the clinic or office, some medical assistants strictly work on the administrative side, some are strictly clinical workers, and some have varied responsibilities that require both clerical and technical skills. You will be trained in how to assess patients, take vital signs, take blood, administer injections, and record a patient’s medical history, among many other tasks. You’ll also learn to operate x-ray machines, and other equipment such as EKG. Administrative work for a CMA involves taking appointments, billing, filing medical records, communicating with insurance companies, and other basic office organization and management. You could also pursue an associate degree at a community college and gain more specialized training. This usually requires four semesters.
Once you have completed or are close to completing your training, you can register to take the exam. This is a computer-based, multiple-choice test that is given by the certifying board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Training from an accredited medical assistant program is a requirement for registration.
The mean annual salary for medical assistants in Minnesota is $31,980. This will vary based on employer and location, and will be higher as you gain more work experience. You could also pursue more on-the-job training and become a medical assistant with a specialization, which would also mean a higher salary.
Whether you reside in a small town or in one of the state’s larger cities, the job outlook for medical assistants in Minnesota is excellent. Not only is healthcare a rapidly booming sector in the state, but medical support positions like CMAs are some of the fastest growing jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In 2008, there were over 6,700 medical assistants working in the state of Minnesota, and this number will continue to climb. Minnesota has five different local chapters of the AAMA, which could help you network and stay abreast of career developments and trends in your state. Get started now on your career in healthcare by finding the best certification program for you.
Check out the Medical Billing and Coding programs in Minnesota. This is a career training that once completed has opportune career growth potential.
