Medical Assistant Schools in Raleigh

You wouldn’t be considering this field if you didn’t want to help people, and as a Medical Assistant, you’ll likely experience personal satisfaction and fulfillment on a regular basis. Also, with the healthcare career outlook stable and growing, you’ll have greater job security than many other mature industries. With each day you’ll perform and perfect different skills, and you may learn from the physicians and other healthcare staff you work with.

If you’re not completely certain you want to be a Medical Assistant, consider shadowing a medical assistant for a day to see if it’s right for you. You can also check with your local college to see if you can audit a class. An entry-level position into the profession with less of an educational commitment, like certified nurse’s aide, will give you an idea of what the job will entail. When you’re ready, use our schools listings to research the Medical Assisting Schools in NC near you!

School and Degree Options in Raleigh and Surrounding Areas

North Carolina is home to many medical assisting schools, with most located in or around major metropolitan centers like Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. As you narrow your list of schools, it’s important to ensure the school is accredited through one of the two accrediting agencies – the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Accreditation opens the door for you to sit for your national Medical Assistant certification.

Degree Options

Medical Assisting certificate programs can be completed in one year, and diploma programs in just nine months. If you’re just sampling the profession to see if it’s right for you, this may be a good option. However, if you’re committed to the profession and thinking you may continue your education, be aware that certificate programs aren’t usually considered college credits and will most likely not be transferable.

Associate Degree programs in Medical Assisting are usually a two-year commitment and include not only core clinical and administrative courses, but liberal arts classes as well. In return for that investment of time, you could reap the benefits of a higher starting salary and stand a better chance at advancement. In addition, your credits are more likely to be transferable should you decide to continue your education.

Local and State-Wide Associations and Scholarship Opportunities

The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) has 27 Chapters in North Carolina, including chapters in Nash and Lee-Moore counties which border Wake County. The goal of this association and other similar organizations is to inform and support the Medical Assistant in continuing education, certification and networking opportunities.

The North Carolina State Society of Medical Assistants (NCSMA) has many chapters across the state, including neighboring Nash County, and provides members with scholarship information, networking opportunities, seminar information and a job posting boards.

Career Specialization and Employment Opportunities in Raleigh

The opportunities for career specialization are many. They include Podiatry, EKG/Cardiology, Ophthalmology or OB/GYN to name a few. If the administrative sector of the profession appeals to you, consider specializing in Medical Coding and Billing or Medical Administrative Assistant.

If you want to work in your field but continue a relationship with academia, you’re in the right place. Duke University Health System in Raleigh and the University of North Carolina Health Care in Chapel Hill could offer employment opportunities as well as continuing education.

In your job search, you may want to also consider the Public Health Center which is located near WakeMed, another potential employer. Both are located at the intersection of Sunnybrook Road and New Bern Avenue in Raleigh. Additionally, the Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine in Raleigh or QuadMed, which is located in Durham may offer employment or networking opportunities.

Salary Expectations

Statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2016) indicate the median annual wage for Medical Assistants in North Carolina is $32,700.

If Medical Assisting sounds like the right field for you, continue to our school listings and request program information from schools that seem like a good fit!

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