Medical Assistant School Cost

How Much Does Medical Assistant School Cost?

Low: Training School Runs $1,200-$4,200

Medium: One Year Certification Can Run $2,500-$10,000

High: An Associate Degree Runs $600-$5,400 In-State; $5,490-$10,800 Out of State

Medical assistants work with doctors in both private practice and hospital settings. While duties vary by office, general administrative work includes updating medical records and insurance forms, scheduling appointments, admitting, billing and bookkeeping. Clinical tasks may include explaining procedures, assisting in exams, collecting and preparing lab specimens and changing dressings. While on-the-job training is available at no cost, to become a certified medical assistant through a vocational school or community college, the program must be accredited by the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Typical costs:

Completing a course as a clinical medical assistant at a training school costs around $1,200 -$4,200. Courses may vary from a few weeks to a year depending on the school, how many classes are included and the length of the externship. The Heart of Georgia Technical College offers a six-quarter diploma course for $4,250, that also includes books, fees and supplies. Across the continent, Boston Reed in Northern California requires 134 hours of classroom study followed by a 160-hour externship for their diploma program that costs $1,595.
A one-year certificate program through a community college averages $2,500 -$10,000. For students who want to earn an Associate Degree the cost is about $600 -$5,400 per year for residents or $5,490 -$10,800 for out of state students for the two-year program. Oakland Community College in Michigan offers a one-year certificate for about $2,500 for area residents, $4,250 for students from out of the district and $5,900 for out of state residents.

Additional costs:

The Certified Medical Assistant exam is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). While not required, those with accredited training and certification are generally preferred in the job market, according to the US Department of Labor Statistics. Exam cost for student AAMA members is currently $95 while non members pay $170. The cost is expected to rise to about $170 for members and $250 for non members in February 2009.

Discounts:

Vocational schools often advertise half off tuition rates during enrollment drives.
Health care jobs.org offers scholarship and tuition information for those entering the health care field.

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