4 week medical assistant program near me

4 week medical assistant program near me

If you think that you would enjoy a career in the medical field, but don’t have the means or the desire for years and years of expensive education, consider becoming a medical assistant in six weeks.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for a medical assistant is $35,850 ($17.23 / hour), and the need for medical assistants is expected to grow by 19% during the next ten years.

Online MA Programs That Might Interest You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

 

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

Medical Assistants help with both clinical and administrative tasks in hospitals, doctor’s offices, and a variety of other healthcare facilities. On the clinical side of things, they

  • Assist physicians or nurses during patient exams
  • Draw blood for laboratory tests
  • Perform routine tests such as EKGs
  • Dress wounds and remove sutures
  • Take patient histories and record a patient’s vital signs
  • Give injections
  • Educate patients about at-home care and how to take their medications

On the administrative side of things, they

  • Welcome patients and help them with all the required paperwork
  • Answer the phones
  • Schedule procedures and surgeries
  • Update patient records
  • Correspond with insurance companies: code insurance forms and obtain pre-authorizations
  • Handle accounting, bookkeeping, and billing responsibilities

It is possible to be hired as a medical assistant with only a High School Diploma and learn on the job. However, most employers prefer to hire those with a post-secondary certificate or degree.

Accelerated medical assistant programs are available online that allow you to become a medical assistant in six weeks. Other fast medical assistant programs allow you to start earning in less than two months. Still, other programs require six months to two years to complete. Generally speaking, the longer your training course, the higher your starting salary. Many of the longer programs offer certificates and/or associate degrees.

The National Commission for Certifying Agencies accredits five certifications for medical assistants:

  • CMA (Certified Medical Assistant awarded by the American Association of Medical Assistants)
  • CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant awarded by the National Healthcareer Association)
  • RMA (Registered Medical Assistant awarded by American Medical Technologists)
  • CMAA (Certified Medical Administrative Assistant awarded by the National Healthcareer Association)
  • NCMA (National Certified Medical Assistant awarded by the National Center for Competency Testing)

State requirements for medical assistants differ. In order to practice as a medical assistant, some states may require that you have graduated from an accredited training program, passed an exam, or a combination of the two. Before you begin a training program, contact your state board of medicine for their exact requirements.

What type of training is best for you?

Before choosing a program, you need to decide whether accelerated medical assistant programs are right for you, or whether a one or two-year course at a local community college is a better fit. You should definitely consider fast medical assistant programs if you want to be employable as soon as possible and if you can devote enough time to learn and keep up with all the assignments.

You also need to decide whether you prefer online instruction or a regular classroom setting. Online programs are best for people whose schedules need to be flexible and who are highly self-motivated. They also work very well for people who learn best at their own pace where they can go over and over the material until they learn it.

Regardless of your learning style, your financial constraints, and the time you have to devote to your studies, there is a medical assistant program that is right for you.

Before enrolling in any courses, especially those offering six-week medical assistant programs, you should always check with the Better Business Bureau and the accrediting agencies listed earlier in this article. You should also check the school’s graduation/completion rate, as well as their student’s employment rate following graduation.

If you are uncomfortable with any of the reviews or statistics, just keep looking! Listed below are examples of some of the well-known medical assistant programs.

6-Week Medical Assistant Program

Phlebotomy Career Training

Phlebotomy Career Training gives you the chance to take the Medical Assistant course at your own pace. There are no deadlines or time limits, but students run the risk of having their advancement opportunities reduced if they don’t finish within 6 months. If you finish your course, internship, and exams within 6 months, the institution will pay for your national license exam. This can save them money and relieve some stress from life’s busy schedule. Most students complete the course in as little as 6 weeks. The registration fee is $700. The Medical Assistant Course includes 996 hours of class instruction and 204 hours of internship work learning the skills necessary to function in the medical field. You’ll be trained in vital signs, performing electrocardiograms, phlebotomies, and more.

Healthcare students will learn a variety of skills to help them in their future careers, including workplace management and administrative tasks. They’ll also be required to be knowledgeable about HIPPA and OSHA regulations. Students will be taught the importance of professional conduct at all times. Upon successful course completion, all students will need to take and pass the certification exam in order to be certified as Medical assistants. Phlebotomy Career Training offers educational pathways to licensure opportunities through national accreditation exams in the U.S. and Canada. Recent graduates have been doing very well in the workforce, with 95% of them finding jobs that match their skill set.

Accelerated Medical Assisting Programs: 4, 6, 24-month programs

CareerStep’s Medical Assistant with Externship program—4 months

With CareerStep’s fast online medical assistant programs, you will be prepared to take the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam. The program included 492 hours of online course material. Upon successful completion of your course material, you are required to complete a 130-hour clinical externship.

This 622-hour program is designed to be completed in 4 months if you study full-time. It also allows you to study at your own pace, so you will have a total of 12 months to complete it.

During the course, you will receive the following training.

  • Microsoft Office skills
  • Healthcare reimbursement
  • Basic anatomy
  • Medical terminology
  • Medical office procedures
  • Routine patient care
  • Clinical patient care
  • Medical office administration
  • Phlebotomy
  • EKG testing

The entire cost of the course is $3,999, which includes 12-month access to online training, one on one help from trainers and tech support, a 130-hour externship, and a voucher to take the CCMA certification exam.

Find more information HERE from CareerStep’s Site.

Emily Griffith Technical College—6 months

Emily Griffith Technical College is located in Denver, Colorado, and offers an on-campus medical assisting program that prepares students for both clinical and administrative work. Upon completion of this program, students are prepared to take the Registered Medical Assistant exam.

The approximate cost of this program is $6,069. Additional costs for books and fees may also apply. There are no application fees and no obligation to attend if you are accepted. Federal Aid (FAFSA) and Pell grants are available.

Emily Griffith Technical College is just one of the hundreds of public and private institutions that offer fast and affordable training for medical assistants. If you learn best in a classroom setting, search for medical assistant programs in your state. If they qualify for FAFSA, you can be sure that they offer an accredited degree. If they do not qualify for FAFSA, be certain before you register that their certificates will be accepted by your future employers.

Penn Foster College Medical Assistant Associate Degree—2 years

This is a 4-semester associate degree program that also prepares you to sit for 4 industry-standard certifications.

  • RMA (Registered Medical Assistant awarded by American Medical Technologists)
  • CCMA (Certified Clinical Medical Assistant awarded by the National Healthcareer Association)
  • NCMA (National Certified Medical Assistant awarded by the National Center for Competency Testing)
  • CMAC (Clinical Medical Assistant Certification awarded by the American Medical Certification Association)

The curriculum for this program is divided into 4 semesters and includes courses specific to the medical assistant program as well as general education courses which will qualify you for an associate’s degree.

  • Semester 1—14 credits: Introduction to Allied Health, Information Literacy, Computer Applications, English Composition, Law, Ethics, and confidentiality in Allied Health, Medical Terminology
  • Semester 2—16 credits: Nutrition, Anatomy and Physiology 1, Anatomy and Physiology 2, Arts ad Humanities elective, Business and Technology Writing or Interpersonal Communication
  • Semester 3—15 credits: Reimbursement Methodologies, Medical Coding, Electronic Medical Records, Essentials of Psychology, Intermediate Algebra
  • Semester 4—15 credits: Pharmacology, Clinical Procedures Theory, Medical-Surgical Procedures, clinical Procedures Labs
  • Externship

All the courses except the externship are available online and completed at your own pace. However, you will be required to take proctored exams each semester.

Tuition is currently set at $79/credit with various discounts depending on your choice of payment options. This puts the total cost of the program at slightly under $5,000. Included in your tuition are

  • Certification Prep Materials
  • Voucher for Certification
  • Mobile-friendly coursework
  • Dedicated success coach
  • All study materials
  • Goal setting-progress tracking tools
  • Unlimited student support
  • Career services

All costs associated with the externship are the responsibility of the student.

Ready to Start Your Journey  

Conclusion

Whether you want to earn a medical assistant degree online in six weeks, are looking for fast online medical assistant programs that take several months, or want a more comprehensive 2-year degree program, training to become a certified medical assistant can lead to a rewarding career. For many, it has also served as a stepping stone to other careers in the medical field.

FAQs

How long does it take to get certified as a medical assistant?

According to best-universities.net, the fastest a person can become a certified medical assistant is 6 weeks. The typical timeframe to become certified is 6 months to 2 years.

What career can I get in 6 months?

There are many careers that a person can get in six months. One of the careers in high demand is a medical assistant. Best-Universities.net has information about other careers that may take longer than 6 months to get if medical assisting is not one of your interests.

What is the quickest certification to get?

According to Best-Universities.net, one of the quickest certifications to get is Medical Assistant.

Are there any 4-week medical assistant programs online?

In our research, we did not find any 4-week medical assistant degree programs online. We did, however, find that St. Augustine School of Medical Assistants has a 6-week certificate program offered online.

What is the fastest way to become a medical assistant?

Completing a CMA certificate or diploma program is the fastest way to become a medical assistant.

Can you become a CMA online?

Yes, you can become a certified medical assistant online. Online medical assistant programs and certificates offer a larger variety of course lengths helping students to learn at their own pace.

Online Programs That Might Interest You

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

 

What is the shortest medical assistant program?

The quickest medical assistant program is six weeks long but most medical assistant training is three months or longer. Medical assistant courses vary from a total of 5 days to two years, depending on the certificate or diploma you are earning.

How long are most medical assistant programs?

Although the exact amount of time can vary, it typically takes nine months to two years for most aspiring medical assistants. Becoming a medical assistant involves a number of steps, including graduating from high school, acquiring medical assistant training, and obtaining certifications.

How do I become a CMA in Florida?

How to Become a Medical Assistant?.
Step 1: Earn Your High School Diploma. ... .
Step 2: Research Post-Secondary Programs. ... .
Step 3: Enroll in and Complete a Medical Assistant Program. ... .
Step 4: Gain Experience through an Externship. ... .
Step 5: Apply and Interview for Open Positions. ... .
Step 6: Get Certified..

Which is the shortest medical course?

Phlebotomy certification can be obtained in a matter of weeks. Once a patient's blood is taken, it's the phlebotomist's responsibility to prepare it for lab testing.