Looking At Medical Assistant Programs In Washington

Becoming a medical assistant in Washington is an easy matter when you consider the large number of medical assistant programs in Washington that are on offer. It is essential that the program you attend to complete your qualification is, in fact, accredited. This information can be found online form the accrediting agencies. Training to be a medical assistant in Washington is a very rewarding process that gains you access to the health care industry, one of the fastest growing industries out there.

Overview

Washington is an extremely well populated state, which means that there are a large number of people who get sick and need medical attention. Consequently any job in the medical industry is a good choice in this state. The state has more than 6.5 million people residing in it. It is also one of the more beautiful states in the country. Like most states Washington is experiencing a shortage in medical assistants and the health care professionals, and there are, consequently, a large number of job openings available. Becoming a medical assistant in Washington requires that you complete a medical assistant training program. There are a number of schools that offer medical assistant training programs in Washington available, but it is important that you choose a school that is not only suited to your personal needs and ambitions, but one that also meets all of the state requirements. Finding a school that is appropriately accredited, for example, is a priority, as is one that has a good reputation for producing highly skilled and well qualified medical assistants at the end of the day. Any job in the health care industry is a good choice at present.

What Is A Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant is an individual that assists a doctor or physician with their daily tasks. The role of a medical assistant is both administrative as well as clinical. As a medical assistant you will be required to:

Take patient histories and measure their vital signs
Help the physician with patient examinations
Give patient injections as directed by the physician
Schedule patient appointments
Prepare blood for laboratory tests

Consequently a medical assistant has a fair amount of responsibility. Most medical assistants work in physician’s offices and many are also employed in health care facilities. Usually medical assistants have set Monday to Friday job with normal office hours but, because many medical facilities are open at all times, they are sometimes required to work weekend and evening shifts to fill the gap. In most states you do not need formal educational training other than a high school diploma in order to be a medical assistant. However, by completing one of the medical assistant programs in Washington you will be in a position to improve your chances of employment in the medical field significantly as you will be a more attractive option to the eyes of potential employers.

Medical Assistant Training In Washington

A medical assistant training program in Washington can result in many different qualifications, including certificates, diplomas and degrees. Completing the program and meeting all of the course requirements will mean that you have completed your training.

Medical assistant programs in Washington can be expensive, but luckily in this state there are a large number of financial aid options available to help you pay for your studies, including:

The Washington State Scholarship Foundation
The Washington State Need Grant
The Washington PROMISE Scholarships
The Nancy Fortin Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship is a monetary amount awarded to students who have shown great academic merit and who stand out from the rest of the crowd. The money does not need to be repaid. Neither does the money that is given as a grant, but grants are generally based on financial need rather than on academic merit. The government provides grants and scholarship opportunities which can be accessed by applying through FAFSA. Federal student loans also come with very good interests rates to help you pay for your tuition fees, and there are a number of loan forgiveness programs through which a portion of your loan will be ‘forgiven’ in return for which you will work in a designated facility for a set period of time.

Medical Assistant Careers In Washington

A career in Washington as a medical assistant is one of the best careers that you could hope to pursue in this state. This is because this state is one of the highest paying states for employees in this profession in the entire country. To compete in Washington State’s well-paying job market for medical assistants, it’s advisable to gain certification through the American Association of Medical Assistants. Certification is not a requirement, but if you want to seriously pursue this line of work as a career, it is advisable that you should seek certification as this will give you an advantage when looking for a job. In addition belonging to associations of this kind can come with a variety of other benefits, including continuing education opportunities and other opportunities that may lead to advancement in your career. Networking with other medical assistants and people who work closely with medical assistants will allow you to come into contact with opportunities you may otherwise have missed. Associations such as the American Association of Medical Assistants offer such networking opportunities. With the right attitude you can have a very good career as a medical assistant in Washington.

List Of Medical Assistant Programs In Washington

When considering medical assistant programs in Washington it is important that you only look at those that are accredited by an appropriate body. These programs are the best accredited programs that can be found in the state of Washington.

Everest College

Programs: Medical Administrative Assistant Diploma, Medical Assistant Associate Degree, Medical Assistant Diploma

Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES, CAAHEP

Carrington College

Programs: Medical Administration, Medical Assistant

Programmatic Accreditation: ABHES

Clark College

Programs: Medical Assistant Program