Medical Assistant Schools & Salaries in Ohio

Medical assistants in Ohio are important team members in a variety of medical practices and settings. They are often the first professional many patients see when they enter a hospital, medical clinic or doctor’s office. Ohio is among those states that employ the greatest number of medical assistants, both in total and per capita, in the nation. Additionally, job growth for medical assistants is strong and expected to continue that way for years to come. All of this adds up to a positive outlook for careers in medical assisting in Ohio.

If you think you may be interested in a career in the field, read on to learn about job and education opportunities for medical assistants in Ohio today

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

Those who want to help others and get started on a career in health care can do just that with a degree or certificate in medical assisting. With the necessary education out of the way, a medical assistant can make a big difference in a hospital, clinic or physician’s office by helping with back-end office work or working directly with patients. To find the right program to meet your career aspirations, do some research. Our handy list of Ohio’s 2017 Top Schools for Medical Assisting is a good starting point. We looked at a number of factors, like class sizes and career placement, to develop this list and save you some time.

There are currently more than 100 medical assisting schools in Ohio to choose from, located throughout all parts of the state. Finding the right one for a particular student requires a time and effort. The tool below is designed to make that search for the right school and program quicker and easier

1. How does Ohio define “medical assistant?”

Ohio state law does not offer a specific definition for the term “medical assistant.” It does, however, provide for the delegation of medical tasks by physicians to “unlicensed persons,” a group that includes medical assistants in Ohio. Under Ohio Administrative Code Section 4731.23, an “unlicensed person” is defined as, ” an individual who is not licensed or otherwise specifically authorized by the Revised Code to perform the delegated medical task.”

2.Is a formal education and/or training required to work as a medical assistant in Ohio?

According to the State Medical Board of Ohio, there are no legal or specified standard training requirements for the education or training of medical assistants in the state.

3. Is certification required?

State certification to practice as a medical assistant in Ohio is not required. There are also no state licensure or registration requirements, but because many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants, a certification could be an important step on the road to becoming a medical assistant in Ohio.

4. Is certification available?

Yes. While certification is not a legal requirement in Ohio, voluntary certification is strongly recommended. There are no certifications specifically for medical assisting in Ohio, but several organizations and associations offer certifications on a national level, as described below:

5. Does Ohio’s state codes provide any description or guidance regarding scope of practice for medical assistants?

Yes. While Ohio law does not offer lists of specific tasks that can or cannot be performed by medical assistants, it does provide very specific guidelines to physicians regarding the conditions under which he or she may delegate medical activities or tasks to “unlicensed persons” such as medical assistants. Prior to delegating a task to a medical assistant, a physician must determine, among other things:

6. Are there tasks specifically prohibited from the practice of medical assistants in Ohio?

Again, no specific task list is provided. However, state law does prohibit a physician from delegating a number of tasks to unlicensed persons, including those:

Salaries for medical assistants in Ohio are below national averages and tend to be among the lowest nationwide, according to 2014 figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Here’s a look at Ohio wages for medical assistants, as compared with national averages:

Source: BLS, 2014

Geographic location factors such as population play a major role in determining actual salary figures for specific occupations. The chart below offers a glimpse at how location influences salaries for medical assistants in Ohio.

Source: BLS, 2014

While expected job growth for medical assistants in Ohio over the coming years trends lower than for the nation at large, the prospects for finding work as a medical assistant in the state are strong when compared to the overall job market

*Source: Projections Central, 2012-2022

There are dozens of formal educational options for prospective Ohio medical assistants, each offering its own quality academic program designed to suit the unique needs of its students. Highlighted here are three different types of medical assisting schools in Ohio for comparison.

School Type:

Community College

Accreditation:

CAAHEP

School highlights:

Clark State operates on three campus locations in Ohio: Springfield, Beavercreek and Bellefontaine. The college has per semester enrollment of over 5000 students.

Programs offered:

Associate of Applied Science-Medical Assisting and Certificate in Medical Assisting. Students pursuing the associate degree complete all coursework required for the Certificate in Medical Assisting at the completion of their first year of study and may apply for the Certificate at that time.

Clark State Community College

School Type:

Public College

Accreditation:

CAAHEP

School highlights:

Stark is a public, two-year college offering associate degrees, certificates and professional development programs in over 230 majors.

Programs offered:

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Medical Assisting. The degree is designed to be completed in two years (including a summer semester) of full-time study and is available in both day time and night time tracks. Offered on Stark’s campus in Canton.

Stark State College

School Type:

Private Non-Profit College

Accreditation:

CAAHEP

School highlights:

UNOH is a private four-year college with its campus in Lima offering certificate, associate, bachelor and master degree programs to a 4,500 student population.

Programs offered:

Associate of Applied Business in Medical Assistant Technology. This degree is designed to be completed in six quarters of full-time study.

University of Northwestern Ohio

Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)

Website for the major medical assistant education program accreditation organization. Provides a search tool for locating accredited programs throughout the country

Ohio Revised Code, Chapter 4731 – Physicians; Limited Practitioners

State code chapter concerning physicians that includes laws and regulations pertaining to the scope and practice of medical assistants in Ohio.

Ohio State Society of Medical Assistants (OSSMA)

The state affiliate of the AAMA. The OSSMA site provides information on the association’s networking events and scholarship programs, a job board, blog and more.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Medical Assistants

Excellent site for government information and statistics on the medical assisting profession. Includes descriptions of job duties, education and training qualifications, job outlook, and more.