Medical Assistant Schools in Virginia

Medical assistants typically perform duties that can be categorized into two broad areas. The first area is administrative duties, where professionals in the field are expected to handle tasks like handling phone calls, updating records, and scheduling appointments.

The second group of duties is clinical, where candidates record medical histories, take measurements, and administer medications, among other tasks. There is no shortage of demand for administrative and clinical medical assistants in Virginia.

This page’s guide showcases all the requirements and considerations that individuals need to meet to launch a successful career in this field.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Virginia

The following are the steps that candidates need to follow to become successful medical assistants in Virginia.

Comprehensive Training

To prepare for a career as a medical assistant in Virginia, residents need to attend a training program. It is common for individuals in the field to go for a diploma or a certificate program in order to start their careers as quickly as possible.

However, they may also opt for an associate degree, which can ultimately be a source of advantage over competition.

The most important part, though, is that candidates must be properly trained and understand the fundamental principles behind medical assistant duties in clinical and administrative settings.

Externships & Practical Training

Training programs are great to give candidates an idea of what they will have to deal with once they start working in a practical environment. However, candidates shouldn’t move directly from a training program to a real-world environment in a full professional capacity.

The more popular alternative is to participate in real-world training through an externship. Here, candidates will perform actual clinical procedures and also perform career-out administrative duties before they secure full-time employment.

Employment & Career Opportunities

After practical training, candidates can secure employment and improve themselves by participating in continuing education programs. They may also use their positions as medical assistants to launch themselves into more advanced careers in allied healthcare.

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Licensure & Certification Requirements

Although proper academic and practical training is absolutely enough to start a career as a medical assistant in Virginia, candidates who would like to be competitive are usually advised to pursue certification. A lot of employers gravitate towards certified medical assistants over those who are not certified.

Regarding the actual certification credentials to pursue, the American Medical Association recognizes two certifications for medical assistants: the Certified Medical Assistant credential and the Registered Medical Assistant credential.

Obtaining either of these two credentials enhances a professional’s job options and gives them the platform to demand a higher annual income.

The American Association of Medical Assistants is responsible for the Certified Medical Assistant credential, while the American Medical Technologists offer the Registered Medical Assistant credential.

Top Medical Assistant Schools in Virginia

The following are the schools that offer top training programs for aspiring medical assistants in Virginia.

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Salary & Career Outlook

A survey of medical assistants in Virginia conducted by the employment platform Indeed.com showed that the annual average salary of these professionals can be as low as $36,195 for those just starting out and as high as $58,336 for those who have reached the peak of the profession.

Candidates don’t necessarily have to be within either extreme, however.

They can also be among the average earners in the state, whose annual returns can hover around $45,951. Unsurprisingly, factors like experience, location, employers, and credentials ultimately determine how much a medical assistant will earn in Virginia.

When we analyze the database by location only, we find that Arlington is the highest-paying city for medical assistants in Virginia, with an annual average salary of $50,056. Alexandria and Richmon are next, with annual average salaries of $49,602 and $46,410, respectively.