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Medical Assistant Schools in St. Louis
(found 5 schools)

As a prospective medical student in St. Louis, there are a number of things you’ll need to look out for to get the best experience out of your studies and job search. St. Louis is full of possible opportunities for advancement, though you have to know and take advantage of them in order to make the most of your time.

The first step in the process is figuring out where to go to school. At the bottom of the page, you’ll find a list of medical assistant programs in St. Louis that offer medical assisting programs. You may request information from as many schools as you’d like to find the best MA program for you!

Going to School in St. Louis

There are 18 medical assistant schools in Missouri, and many of them have campuses or are located in St. Louis, which is the second-largest city in the state, second only to Kansas City. When thinking about what schools you want to attend, consider the different types of certificates, diplomas and degrees available to you.

In general, training to be a medical assistant takes 1-2 years and leads either to a job certificate or to an associate’s degree. While the 2-year degree is more difficult and required a greater time investment, it may help to get a better job immediately or provide better opportunities for future educational advancement.

Some of the jobs that a medical assistant degree may lead to include: being a clinical assistant, administrative assistant, or specialty assistant at a physician’s office, hospital or outpatient care center. With additional training and education, a medical assistant degree opens the door to a job as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.

Medical Assistant Programs in St. Louis

Most medical assistant programs offered in St. Louis cover a range of topics that new hires will be expected to know. These include billing and coding procedures, basic office procedures, general physiology and anatomy, and medical terminology. These will prepare you to perform all of the support tasks you will need in most job settings. Associate degree programs go more in-depth and also provide general education courses which may be transferred to a four-year bachelor’s degree in the future.

The best programs are accredited either by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). These will prepare you to take an exam to receive your CMA, or Certified Medical Assistant credentials.

Getting Around St. Louis

Getting around St. Louis is possible by car or by public transportation. The public transit system in the city is known as the Metro, and it includes both buses and light rail. The Metro may be used to get to locations all around the greater St. Louis area in locations in both Missouri and Illinois. As of December 2014, a one-time ride costs $2.50. Students may receive a reduced-price pass, and there are both weekly and monthly passes available.

Finding a Job in St. Louis

Once you have your credentials, it is time to begin searching for a job. The job outlook for medical assistants is expected to grow by 29 percent between 2012 and 2022, according to BLS projections. The average annual wage for St. Louis medical assistants is $31,440 according to BSL, 2016.

There are several different types of medical assistant job that you may want to consider. This is important to consider during your tenure as a student, so you can focus your studies on the career you want to achieve. The three main categories of medical assistant job are clinical, administrative and specialty. When starting out or at a smaller location, you may be expected to perform duties of both clinical and administrative assistants.

Clinical assistants typically assist nurses and physicians in providing patient care. Some of the tasks they carry out include preparing patients for examination, documenting medical histories, providing instruction on home care, conducting minor assessments, performing minor treatments, and assisting during examinations.

Administrative assistants typically manage the front desks of offices. Tasks include answering phones, making appointments, taking reception, managing records and performing billing and accounting procedures.

Specialty assistants often receive additional training and may be required to take additional examinations. They offer key support for specific medical fields such as physical therapy, anesthesia, radiology, ob/gyn, or other such categories of medical work.

Contact the schools on this page to learn more about your options for study. The information is free, and can help you get started on the road to a solid and sustainable career.

Salary numbers provided are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.