Online Medical Assistant Programs in Mississippi: Discover the Best Schools

You likely already know that medical assisting is the right career field for you. After all, it is an outstanding choice for many reasons. First, a short path to entry means that you won’t have to wait long to start helping patients and physicians by doing purposeful, fulfilling, and varied work. Furthermore, you’ll gain valuable experience that you can use to further your career — maybe even as a bridge to a more advanced role in healthcare.

Above all, the demand for medical assistants across the nation is absolutely booming. In fact, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job is expected to grow 15% in the next decade, which is much faster than average.

Yes, you have your sights firmly set on this worthy goal, but you may be unsure what comes next. That’s where this guide can help. Below, you’ll be introduced to a few of the best online medical assistant programs in Mississippi. You’ll also gain insight into state salary figures and employment outlook, get answers to your questions, and learn about the scope of duties you’ll be authorized to perform once you’re employed.

Ready to dive in? Keep scrolling to take the first step toward your brand-new medical assisting career.

Popular Programs for Medical Assistants in Mississippi

There are many online medical assistant programs in Mississippi that can help you reach your career goals. In the next section, you’ll learn about two of the state’s popular programs to give you an idea of what to look for as you conduct your search. Keep reading to start exploring your options.

Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University’s Medical Assistant Training Program covers the subjects graduates need to know to earn three separate credentials — Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CBT), and Certified EKG Technician (CET). The first part of the program consists of 100% online theory courses that employ a variety of instructional approaches, including videos, images, training games, and interactive instructional simulations. Students can access these self-paced online courses for 12 months.

Once the online courses are finished, students must move on to the second part of training —100 hours of clinical externship experience with one of the providers in the program’s network of partners. To gain placement, students can apply online through the school’s Learner Placement Portal.

The total cost for the medical assistant program at Mississippi State is $3,799, which includes a venipuncture kit. Throughout the program, students have access to one-on-one support via phone, live chat, and email.

Mississippi State University holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).

Mississippi College

For those who are looking for a straightforward, affordable online medical assistant program in Mississippi, the 540-credit training offered at Mississippi College is a great option. This Certified Clinical Medical Assistant program is self-paced, so students can enroll and begin any time. Once enrolled, the online materials remain accessible for 12 months, which makes it much easier to fit studies into a busy schedule. Its curriculum covers everything medical assistants need to know to work in a variety of front- and back-office roles.

After completing the online portion of the program, students apply their learning in a hands-on clinical experience, and they also have the option to gain CPR certification. Graduates who complete all requirements are prepared to pass the CCMA exam and become certified.

In total, the online medical assistant certification program at Mississippi College costs $2,795, which includes a voucher for the CCMA exam. Students who need help managing this cost can take advantage of payment plans.

Mississippi College is also accredited by the SACSCOC.

Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Assistants in MS

To get a realistic idea of what prospects you will find once you finish your online medical assistant program in Mississippi and gain certification, it is helpful to look at salary and job growth figures from across the state. Let’s analyze the information in the tables above to figure out what all of these numbers actually mean for you.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, mean wages for medical assistants fall around $43,350 annually. Unfortunately, they tend to earn significantly less than this statewide in Mississippi, where the mean annual wage is $34,630. However, it’s important to note that the Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that Mississippi has the lowest per capita cost of living in the nation ($39,678 in 2022).

Overall, the best prospects for earning the highest wages are in Jackson, where the mean wage is $36,520, and those in the 90th percentile earn $45,160. But past this, the average pay in the state’s other major metropolitan areas is almost identical.

Although wages for medical assistants in Mississippi may be a bit low, the demand for them is absolutely booming. Nationally, the job is expected to grow an extremely healthy 18.4% over the next 10 years. And in Mississippi, this number is projected to skyrocket to 22.4%, with 820 new jobs anticipated. In short, medical assistants in Mississippi should not have difficulty finding plenty of employment opportunities.

Your Questions, Answered

What is the cost of a medical assistant certification program?

Unsurprisingly, the cost of online medical assistant programs in MS can vary a bit from school to school, but affordable options exist here and throughout the country. In general, programs that offer an associate degree instead of a diploma often cost more. But on average, tuition costs for basic certification programs in Mississippi usually average around $2,500. A program on the higher end of this spectrum is offered at Mississippi State University, which costs $3,799. Conversely, the program offered at Pearl River Community College is one of the most affordable in the state at a price of only $2,000. When calculating overall costs, remember to factor in supplies, additional fees, and any financial aid or assistance that you may qualify for.

How much do medical assistants make in Mississippi?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants earn an annual mean wage of $34,630 in the state of Mississippi. And on the low and high ends of the spectrum, medical assistants in the 10th percentile earn $27,110, while those in the 90th percentile bring in around $42,380. Furthermore, data from ZipRecruiter indicates that the average hourly pay range for medical assistants in Mississippi can vary quite a bit (by as much as $4.57), which indicates that there are likely many opportunities for advancement based on experience, skill, and location.

Can a medical assistant program be completed online?

Many online medical assistant programs in MS have online components, but students will always have some in-person requirements. The nature of the work requires more than learning theory through online courses; you must also be able to effectively and competently apply your learning to real-life situations. Therefore, labs and clinicals are indispensable components of any legitimate program that allow you to gain the hands-on experience you will need. Furthermore, eligibility requirements for certification exams such as the CMA specify that you must complete a set number of practicum or externship hours before taking the test.

How do I become a certified medical assistant?

The first step to becoming a certified medical assistant in Mississippi is to complete an accredited training program. Look for programmatic accreditation through organizations such as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Colleges and universities hosting medical assisting programs typically have institutional accreditation, which can be researched through the U.S. Department of Education’s database.

After you finish your program, you will need to pass a certification exam administered by a recognized certification body.

What Tasks Can Medical Assistants Perform?

To many people, one of the most appealing aspects of a medical assistant’s job is the sheer variety of the work. Their responsibilities can span business administrative duties, patient work, and various other tasks that keep clinics running efficiently. These duties can also shift from day to day depending on the needs of the specific healthcare facilities where they are employed.

According to the Medical Assisting Technology Mississippi Curriculum Framework, which prescribes curriculum for Mississippi’s community colleges, some of the business administrative duties that medical assistants routinely perform include scheduling, answering phone calls and correspondence, collecting patient data, and handling insurance matters. A medical assistant’s clinical duties will vary depending upon the specific training they have received as well as their level of certification.

While Mississippi law does not prescribe licensure or certification for medical assistants, the policies of the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure state that medical assistants must, first and foremost, never perform any activity that they are not adequately trained for. Furthermore, they are also not permitted to provide any type of patient care unless the physician is physically present at the clinic. And finally, medical assistants are strictly forbidden from presenting themselves as physicians, physician assistants, or nurses. In fact, when on duty, they are required at all times to wear a name tag, placard, or plate that identifies them as medical assistants.