Medical Assistant Schools & Salaries in Michigan

Students seeking a medical assisting program can find one in numerous schools in Michigan. These programs prepare students to sit for certification exams; those certifications might then help graduates stand out among the pack of otherwise qualified applicants. From working the front desk to handling more advanced medical tasks in the office setting, medical assistants in Michigan can look forward to a challenging, promising career.

This guide focuses on what students can expect from their education, as well as what they might encounter when they graduate, such as employment outlook and salary expectations.

Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.

Starting a career as a medical assistant can be as simple as earning a degree or certificate in the field. Graduates of quality programs can get a good foot in the door working in hospitals, clinics and other health care facilities, working with patients and helping to reduce workloads for other professionals in the office. But it all starts with an education from a quality school that meets your personal and professional needs. We’ve taking the lead on the research, providing our list of the Best Michigan Schools for Medical Assisting in 2017. We looked at student promotion rates, class sizes, program availability, tuition and other factors to help you get started on the right foot.

Michigan offers numerous medical assisting schools and programs for those who are interested in the profession. This search tool allows students to compare programs based on their particular budget and educational needs.

1.How does Michigan describe medical assistants?

The state recognizes medical assistants as multi-skilled health professionals who have received proper training to work in healthcare settings performing clinical and administrative duties as deemed appropriate and delegated by licensed medical personnel. According to the state’s Medical Assistant Education Review Board, “The practice of medical assisting directly influences the public’s health and well-being, and requires mastery of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills requiring both formal education and practical experience that serve as standards for entry into the profession.”

2.Is medical assistant certification required?

Certification is not required in the state; however, since many employers prefer it, many students opt to earn certification and enhance their job prospects in the state. Please note that Michigan only accepts certifications from three specific agencies, as listed below.

3.Is certification available?

Michigan recognizes three specific agencies when considering a medical assistant certified. The following agencies are approved by the Michigan Board of Health.

4.Is formal education and/or training required?

Formal education is not required in order to become a medical assistant in Michigan; however, those who want to obtain certification must undergo formal training or education in order to sit for the exam. Since certification can provide a boost at hiring time, many students seek out formal education.

5.Are there tasks outside the scope of medical assistants in Michigan?

Michigan statues clearly state that those with a medical license can delegate tasks to those that do not have a license (unlicensed personnel), assuming that a license is not required in order to legally complete the task. For instance, a license is not required to take vital signs of a patient, but a license is required to write prescriptions. Therefore, a medical assistant could be allowed to take vital signs, but it would be illegal to allow them to write a prescription.

To make an informed decision about any career, it’s important to know what salary to expect. The following chart breaks down the annual median wage for medical assistants in Michigan and compares it with the national average.

Source: BLS, 2014

Income for medical assistants can vary widely depending upon the area in which they work. For instance, someone who works in Ann Arbor might see a higher wage than someone who works in Bay City or Battle Creek. In addition, those who work in metro areas might make more than those who work in non-metropolitan areas, though this is not always the case. The following chart breaks down annual wages for medical assistants based on where they work in the state.

Source: BLS, 2014

Growth of jobs for medical assistants in Michigan is expected to hit 15 percent between 2012 and 2022, according to Projections Central. Though that is impressive growth, it is still almost half of the growth expected throughout the rest of the nation. Here is a more detailed breakdown of employment trends for Michigan medical assistants.

*Source: Projections Central, 2012-2022

Students in Michigan have dozens of accredited medical assisting schools to choose from. Detailed information about a few of the schools can be found below.

School Type:Public College
Accreditation:Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
School highlights:Macomb Community College allows students multiple options to enter the medical assisting career field. It also facilitates the transfer process for students who want to earn a bachelor’s degree
Programs offered:The medical assisting certificate consists of 47 credits, while the associate of applied science requires 65 credits. Either program will prepare students to sit for Certified Medical Assistant exam.

Macomb Community College

School Type:Public College
Accreditation:Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
School highlights:This college offers plenty of options to becoming a medical assistant, with several degree and certificate options. After graduation, students will be prepared to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant exam.
Programs offered:OCC allows students to get either a certificate or associate’s degree in medical assisting. However, students can obtain additional medical education by earning a specialty certificate in areas such as insurance billing and coding and phlebotomy.

Oakland Community College

American Association of Medical Assistants
In addition to providing resources to students and medical assisting professionals, the AAMA also administers the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) certification examination.

American Medical Technologists
The AMT website helps students study for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification exam, employers to confirm RMA certification and provides professional development opportunities for medical assistant professionals.

Michigan Society of Medical Assistants
The Michigan Society of Medical Assistants exists to help improve patient care delivered by medical assistants, promote the medical assistant profession and provide networking opportunities to Michigan medical assistants.

Michigan Statutes
Michigan’s public health laws concerning tasks a physician may delegate to unlicensed medical professionals such as medical assistants.

National Center for Competency Testing
The NCCT issues the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) certification, which is one of the major certifications available to medical assistants.