Medical Assistant Schools in Arizona

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment rate of medical assistants in Arizona and around the country is expected to increase rapidly in the next 10 years. Demand for these professionals has already been high in the previous decade, but it is projected to grow by around 15% over the next 10 years.

Naturally, candidates who want to enter this profession must do everything they can to be properly trained and highly skilled. However, they must also maintain competitiveness through continuing education and other approaches.

The guide below explains how Arizona residents can achieve all of these objectives and launch a medical assistant career in Arizona with an excellent foundation.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Arizona

The following outline shows how to become a successful medical assistant in Arizona.

Developing Important Qualities

It is important to develop certain qualities if you want to become a successful medical assistant in Arizona. These qualities include analytical thinking (to understand medical charts and diagnoses) and communication skills (to convey information clearly to patients).

Compassion, detail orientation, and interpersonal skills are also highly valuable.

Educational Considerations

The following are some educational considerations to make as an aspiring medical assistant in Arizona.

• Academic Training: Medical assistants who aim to earn a certificate or an associate degree are advised to pass through a training program. Accredited programs give them a strong platform to launch their careers and allow candidates with credentials to become certified easily.

The most popular accrediting agencies for medical assistant schools and programs are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)

• On-the-Job Training—Candidates can also become medical assistants in Arizona through on-the-job training. Additionally, those who graduate from an academic program are expected to participate in an externship to build real-world confidence before securing full-time job placement.

Job Placement & Certification

Job placement should be straightforward for well-trained candidates. Professionals in the field may also choose to focus on one aspect of medical assisting, which can be clinical or administrative.

For career opportunities, certification can be very valuable, as seen below.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• Learn how to become a truck driver in Arizona

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The American Medical Technologists offers membership and certification opportunities for medical assistants in Arizona. To receive the association’s Registered Medical Assistant credential, applicants must pay a $120 application fee and pass a professional examination.

For candidates looking for an alternative, the American Association of Medical Assistants offers an equally prestigious credential that gives candidates the Certified Medical Assistant designation. This credential costs $125 and also requires a professional examination.

To qualify for either of these credentials, candidates must have graduated from a training program accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).

Top Medical Assistant Schools in Arizona

The following programs are suitable for prospective medical assistants in Arizona.

Explore medical assistant schools in Arizona by city:

• Medical assistant schools in Phoenix

Salary & Career Outlook

The annual average salary of a medical assistant in Arizona can be classified into three categories.

The first category includes the lowest-paid in the state. They are usually classified as such because they are just starting out or because they have yet to optimize other relevant factors.

For the lowest-paid, the annual average salary to expect as a medical assistant in Arizona is $37,688. However, these professionals can quickly move up to being among the median earners who take home an annual average salary of $46,117 and ultimately among the top 10% whose annual average salary is $56,582.

The factors that can be optimized to allow candidates to take home higher annual average income include experience level and location. Certification and particular employment establishments can also help professionals improve their yearly returns.

Medical assistants in Glendale earn the highest average annual salary in Arizona, $47,866. In Phoenix and Scottsdale, the average annual salary for professionals in this field is $47,695 and $47,591, respectively.