Medical Assistant Programs in Louisiana
In order to become a trained medical assistant in Louisiana, you should pursue a medical assistant program or associate degree in medical assisting. Certification or licensing is not legally required to work as a medical assistant in the state of Louisiana, but gaining this extra medical assistant training would better prepare you for your medical assisting job and give you a competitive edge in the job market. Additionally, more and more healthcare employers are viewing this elective medical assistant training as necessary.
You can become a certified medical assistant (CMA) either by completing a one-year medical assistant program or by earning a two-year associate degree in medical assisting. Both are offered at a few different technical and community colleges in Louisiana. Online medical assistant programs in Louisiana are also an option. Just be certain that the medical assistant program you choose is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). You can find a list of current accredited programs below or on the websites for the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or just check the programs listed below.
Medical Assistant Training Programs in Louisiana
Medical assistant programs in Louisiana will provide training in administrative skills as well as clinical skills. Medical assistants have varied duties and will need to competently handle record keeping, billing, medical coding, and effectively communicate with patients, insurance companies, and other healthcare workers. Clinical training is also taught in these medical assistant schools in Louisiana. Some of the duties that medical assistants need to be prepared for include taking vital signs, explaining treatment, helping physicians during exams, explaining procedures to patients and preparing them for exams, and taking electrocardiograms. Once you have completed this medical assistant training, you are qualified to take the certified medical assistant exam. Passing that exam enables you to begin your job search as a CMA.
There were over 4,500 medical assistants working in Louisiana in 2008, and the outlook for growth in this area is very good. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are among the fastest growing professions. Louisiana as a state has many organizations that are working hard to keep their rural healthcare system connected, up to date, and efficiently caring for its aging population. The mean salary is $24,700, although this will increase with experience and will also vary based on place of employment and duties. Find the right accredited program for you to get started on your CMA training and your career in healthcare.
The Medical Billing and Coding programs in Louisiana have also been a popular career training path with great career potential.
(Sources: American Association of Medical Assistants, Bureau of Labor and Statistics)
