Medical Assistant Schools in Los Angeles
If you want to play a key role in the medical care of Los Angeles’ 4 million residents, have you ever considered becoming a medical assistant? Medical assistants, who work under the supervision of doctors and nurses, provide care in a variety of areas.
The first step you take towards becoming a medical assistant involves getting a comprehensive education from one of the many schools in Los Angeles. Not sure where to start? Consult our school list below and contact any schools you’re interested in attending.
Medical assistants work in a variety of settings. Los Angeles is home to many public health clinics, specialty medical clinics, and general practitioner offices. You may also work for some of the biggest hospitals in the area, including UCLA Medical Center, Keck Hospital of USC, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and Huntington Memorial Hospital.
Los Angeles is a big city, but you don’t have to worry about getting around when you rely on the Los Angeles Metro. With a variety of bus and rail schedules that fit even your earliest classes, you can skip the costs of car ownership while studying in Los Angeles.
Medical Assistant Education in Los Angeles
Your journey to becoming a medical assistant starts with an education from one of the many accredited schools in Los Angeles. The majority of medical assistant programs are held at technical and community colleges. The more common option is a certificate/diploma program, which can be completed in one year. A two-year Associate’s degree is the less common option. One of the big differences in these programs is how much you pay in tuition. Tuition varies widely; for instance, tuition at West Los Angeles College is $46 per unit for residents and $236 per unit for non-residents.
Since medical professionals are in high demand, there may be plenty of scholarships you can consider. The Health Professions Education Foundation funds the Allied Healthcare Scholarship Program and the Health Professions Education Scholarship Program.
No matter what type of program you attend, you can begin preparing for Certified Medical Assistant licensure. This level of certification can help you find higher-paying jobs. If you want to become a CMA, check your school’s curriculum against the CMA requirements.
Most schools in Los Angeles have a rigorous curriculum that educates you in all aspects of medical assisting. Commonly required courses include Pharmacology, Medical Terminology, Health Records, and Health Care Concepts. In addition to traditional lecture and book courses, you may be required to take multiple practicum courses. In your practicum courses, you get out of the classroom and head to a local clinic or hospital. This allows you to gain valuable experience in working with patients.
Career Outlook for Medical Assistant Graduates in Los Angeles
You can enjoy the fruits of your labor when you start a career in the field of medical assisting. Most graduates choose to work as medical assistants in clinics or hospitals. In Los Angeles, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for a medical assistant is $33,200 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics claims that Los Angeles has one of the highest rates of employment for medical assistants in the country, with 29,080 MAs working in the metro as of 2014.
If you would rather work on the clerical end of the field, you can look into becoming a medical records technician. Los Angeles has the second-highest employment level in the country, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The average salary for a medical reports technician is $33,820 per year (BLS, 2014).
You can learn about new career prospects and network with others in the field by joining the California Society of Medical Assistants. As a member, you can attend networking events, meet prospective employers, and learn about changes in the field.
Salary numbers provided are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.