Online Medical Assistant Programs in NC: Finding a School

What to Expect: Inside NC Programs

The route to becoming a medical assistant in North Carolina starts with choosing the right program. As an entry-level job, it is possible to get a certificate in as little as six weeks and begin working in the field ASAP. If you’re looking to pave the way to eventually becoming a nurse or earning a bachelor’s degree, a two-year associate’s degree may be the best route. Some certificate programs are entirely online, while others (including degree programs) require in-person clinicals or externships.

With online learning options, you commonly receive the same curriculum as an in-person course but utilize a virtual classroom setting. Classes may be taken synchronously — in real-time on a schedule — or asynchronously — completed on your own time. Here’s a look at three solid medical assistant programs in North Carolina currently offering online options.

FAQs for North Carolina Medical Assistant Students

More questions will naturally arise as you research online MA programs and learn about becoming a medical assistant in North Carolina. To answer these, we’ve compiled the most commonly asked questions and collected relevant information on everything from financial aid to professional medical assistant organizations.

Are there scholarships and grants available for NC medical assistant students?

Getting an online medical assistant certification or degree can be expensive, but you don’t have to tackle the financial burden alone. To supplement potential financial aid opportunities and national funding sources, here are a few active scholarships for medical assistant students in NC that can help ease the cost burden.

• The NCCHCA Medical Assistant Apprenticeship covers the cost of training through select NC online medical assistant programs.
• There is a program featuring need-based scholarships for NC residents attending private colleges.
• The Joan Michaels Memorial Scholarship Award distributes $300-$500 scholarships to medical assistant students in North Carolina.

What are the opportunities for networking for North Carolina medical assistants?

Your best bet for networking is to joina professional organization. It can help make the prospect of finding a job as a medical assistant program graduate less overwhelming. In fact, joining a professional organization is one of the best ways to gain career clarity as you work toward your certification. It’s also ideal to make this connection early so you can take advantage of professional networking as you advance in your career.

There are three popular professional organizations for North Carolina medical assistants:

• North Carolina Society of Medical Assistants
• North Carolina Community Healthcare Association
• American Association of Medical Assistants

What are the admission requirements for NC medical assistant programs?

As you can see from the examples above, the admission requirements can be varied for people who want to enter a medical assistant program. For the most part, though, NC online medical assistant programs require a high school diploma or GED.

There may be requirements for the GPA you earned during your high school years, though, and there also may be some prerequisites for entry-level college courses from the institution you choose. This is especially true if you earn an associate degree instead of a certificate, for which the requirements are usually more straightforward.

How much should I expect to pay for my program?

The prices for programs commonly depend on what “piece of paper” you are earning in order to enter the workplace. As per the examples above, certificate program costs are around $2,500 to $3,000 as a one-time fee. Sometimes, that cost includes textbooks, exam vouchers, or other items you will need to earn that certificate.

It’s a different and more expensive story if you earn an associate degree in allied health or a similar health-oriented degree. You’ll be studying for a longer time and will learn more extensive information, so that the costs will be higher — somewhere around $5,000 to $6,000,

What does an online medical assistant curriculum cover for North Carolina students?

Medicalassistant course curriculum is the same for most students around the country. Often, it covers medical terminology, anatomy, patient privacy, and medical documentation procedures. There can also be deep dives into legal responsibilities and state-specific medical regulations.

There is often an introductory clinical side to medical assistant education, with courses on potential patient symptoms, drug therapy, and utilizing medical equipment. Many programs also offer in-depth looks at certification exams and what they may entail so you can have an advantage before you need to pass them at the start of your career.

Certifications and Continuing Education in North Carolina

As part of your journey to a medical assistant, you likely will need to show you have the skills necessary to succeed. This includes passing a certification exam and renewing your license as required. Although you don’t legally need to be certified as a medical assistant in North Carolina, most employers prefer certification. Three accrediting bodies administer exams:

• American Medical Technologists and its Registered Medical Assistant exam
• The American Association of Medical Assistants and its Certified Medical Assistant exam
• The National Healthcareer Association and its Certified Clinical Medical Assistant exam

To maintain your certification, you must renew your license and take continuing education credits. Here’s how it’s done:

• At the NHA, renewal occurs every two years, and you must have earned 10 CE credits.
• The AMT grants license renewals via exam or proof of 30 CE credits every three years.
• The AAMS requires proof of 30 CE credits every 60 months to renew your license.

Salary & Career Outlook for Medical Assistants in North Carolina

Best Online Medical Assistant Programs in North Carolina