Medical Assistant Schools in Iowa

Many medical assistants in Iowa work at clinics and hospitals. However, these professionals are also needed in physician offices and anywhere healthcare is provided.

One reason the profession continues to grow is that medical assistants can perform so many duties encompassing both clinical and administrative functions. Data from the BLS, for example, indicates that tens of thousands of medical assistant openings will occur across the country every year for the next ten years.

All in all, there is no denying that now is as good a time as any to start a career as a medical assistant in Iowa. The guide on this page makes the process a lot more convenient for interested individuals in the state by laying out all the necessary considerations and revealing important information that all candidates must know.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Iowa

The following is a guideline showcasing the steps needed to become a medical assistant in Iowa.

Formal Education

Iowa is one of the states where employers are usually more accommodating to medical assistants who have already received formal training at an academic institution. Such destinations provide a well-rounded educational experience and allow candidates to ease into the field through extensive theoretical knowledge.

For their formal education, Iowa candidates have the luxury of choosing between certificate programs and associate degree programs. The former typically have faster completion times.

Real-World Experience

Real-world experience is just as important for a new medical assistant as academic training. While academic programs lay the foundation, candidates can test themselves and become confident enough to work in a full-fledged position through real-world training.

For academic graduates, real-world experience can be obtained through externships and volunteer work.

Career Advancement Choices

Medical assistants who want to grow in healthcare may pursue continuing education as nurses. Several nursing associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs are suitable for this.

Those who prefer other career choices may become EKG technicians, surgical technicians, phlebotomy technicians, or project managers.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• How to become an auto mechanic in Iowa

Licensure & Certification Requirements

The most important step in becoming a successful medical assistant is receiving proper training. However, receiving proper certification is another step that cannot be overestimated.

Certified medical assistants enjoy more professional credibility than non-certified medical assistants. Moreover, becoming certified can help candidates network with successful professionals who have been certified by the same organizations.

As a new medical assistant looking for credentials from prominent organizations, the American Association of Medical Assistants and the Certified Medical Assistant credential come to mind. For those who have already worked in the field for a few years, the Registered Medical Assistant credential from the American Medical Technologists is a common pathway.

Boat credentials require graduation from an accredited program, an application fee, and a professional examination.

Top Medical Assistant Schools in Iowa

These schools offer quality training experiences for prospective medical assistants in Iowa.

Explore medical assistant schools in Iowa by city:

• Medical assistant schools in Des Moines

Salary & Career Outlook

Medical assistants in Iowa can be divided into three broad categories, depending on how much they manage at the end of the year. Before looking at the figures, it is worth pointing out that there are several reasons why candidates fall on either end of the salary category, and this can include experience, location, and professional credentials, among others.

The first category belongs to the median earner, who is the most common and has an annual average salary of $47,654. In the second category, we have the low-level earners who are just starting and whose annual average salary can be around $34,786.

Finally, the highest-paid medical assistants in Iowa, with an annual average salary of $65,281 or higher, are in the top category.

It is also possible to group the annual average salary of medical assistants in Iowa by location. In this case, the highest earners are in West Des Moines, with an annual average salary of around $51,193.

The top four cities also include Des Moines, with an annual average salary of $49,204; Iowa City, where the average salary is around $47,126 per year; and London, with an annual average salary of $46,621.