Medical Assistant Schools in Houston
(found 12 schools)
Medical assistants play a crucial role in hospitals and medical clinics all over the country, especially in a large city like Houston. If you want to use your people skills to work towards a new career, consider becoming a medical assistant.
Of course, the first step to becoming a successful medical assistant is getting a thorough education in your job duties and responsibilities. There are several schools in the Houston area that can help you get started. Consult our school list below and contact any schools you may be interested in attending.
You may be able to work in many different settings as a medical assistant. The 2.1 million residents of Houston rely on the services of Houston’s best hospitals. You may have the opportunity to work for great hospitals like Houston Methodist Hospital, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center.
It’s easy to save money on transportation costs when you use the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Houston to get to and from class. They even have student passes that can help you save money on your travel costs.
Medical Assistant Education in Houston
Getting your education is an exciting part of beginning your career in medical assisting. You can look at many Houston-area schools for the perfect program for you. Most programs are offered through technical or community colleges, where tuition is often very affordable. For instance, tuition at Houston Community College is $92.40 per credit for residents and $306.90 per credit for non-residents.
The classes you take as an MA student prepare you to treat patients, perform clerical duties, and take on various office tasks. Because this job is so multi-faceted, your curriculum covers many different topics. Some of the classes you may have to take include Basic Life Support, Insurance Coding & Billing, Healthcare Informatics, and Medical Ethics. In addition to traditional lecture courses, you can expect to take a practicum course at the end of your program. In this course, you get to work at a local health care facility.
While certification is not required for prospective medical assistants, many programs provide you with the education you need to become a Certified Medical Assistant. If you would like to become certified, you can apply to take the CMA exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants as early as 30 days before graduation. Certification is good for five years.
Career Outlook for Medical Assistant Graduates in Houston
Houston can be an excellent city for new medical assistant graduates! You can use your degree in Houston, which has high employment levels for MAs. Houston reports that 13,280 medical assistants work in the metro (BLS, 2016).
Salaries in this area can be very competitive, which is another great incentive to work in the Houston area. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that Houston medical assistants earn an average salary of $29,550 per year (BLS, 2016).
Becoming a part of your local medical community is a great way to take your career to the next level. You may want to join the Texas Society of Medical Assistants. You can join as soon as you begin your medical assisting career, and in fact, networking in this group may help you find your first job. Other membership benefits include job postings, continuing education seminars, and advocacy help on a legislative level.
Salary numbers provided are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.