Indiana Accredited Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
With so many schools for medical assisting available from which students can choose, potential students may be overwhelmed with the many options open to them to obtain their education. Finding a reputable medical assisting school in the state of Indiana will require research into the appropriate accrediting bodies for medical assisting educational programs. Finding schools that meet the rigorous accreditation requirements from organizations such as the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Career Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) is key to ensuring a well-rounded and high-quality program.
There are 54 accredited programs in the state of Indiana according to the CAAHEP website. Many of these programs are located on multiple campuses throughout the state. Because different locations may have varying entrance requirements, researching each location individually is recommended to obtain the most up-to-date prerequisite information.
Indiana Medical Assistant Certification Requirements
Like elsewhere in the country, individuals working in the medical assistant profession in the state of Indiana aren’t required by law to hold a national certification or credential in order to practice. Regardless, currently employed medical assistants as well as students considering entering into the field should both look into the medical assisting credentials that are available. Becoming credentialed can give one a competitive edge over their colleagues, boost career prospects, and increase earning potential, among other things.
There is currently a pair of medical assistant credentials that are nationally recognized. While the exam that must be passed to earn the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential is administered by The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the exam for the second certification – the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential – is administered by The American Medical Technologists (AMT).
The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Credential
The following requirements need to be satisfied to be eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential exam which is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA):
- Complete a medical assistant program which:
- Is composed of both theoretical and clinical components
- Features coursework which includes but isn’t limited to medication administration, computer competency, clinical and diagnostic procedures, medical law & ethics, medical terminology, human anatomy, as well as recording keeping & accounting
- Is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) are required to renew their credential every 60 months
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Credential
Just ONE of the following requirements has to be satisfied to be eligible to take the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential exam administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT):
Option I: Complete a college-level medical assistant program with the following characteristics:
- Composed of 880 hours of instruction: 720 hours of in-class, theoretical instruction and 160 hours of supervised clinical practice in a real-world medical setting
- Accredited by agencies which have been approved by:
- AMT Board of Directors
- The US Department of Education
- The Council for Higher Education Accreditation
Option II: Complete a medical assistant program via the US Armed Forces with the following characteristics:
- Composed of 880 hours of instruction: 720 hours of in-class, theoretical instruction and 160 hours of supervised, hands-on clinical practice in a medical setting
Option III: Prove previous employment as a medical assistant for at least five of the last seven years, performing clinical and administrative functions
Option IV: Prove having been employed as a medical assistant program instructor for at least five years OR for more than a year combined with no less than three years of employment in the field
List of Indiana Medical Assisting Programs
1. Harrison College
Locations: Elkhart, Anderson, Columbus, Indianapolis, Lafayette, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Muncie, Terre Haute
Harrison College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in medical assisting at many of its campuses in Indiana. Total credit hours for completion of the program are 96; taking varying amounts of credit hours each quarter will dictate how quickly the program can be completed. Harrison College is very proud of their job placement rates and gives potential students full access to this information right on their website.
2. Ivy Tech Community College
Locations: Central Indiana, Columbus, Anderson, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Kokomo, Lafayette, Lawrenceburg, Madison, Marion, Muncie, Northwest Region, Richmond, Sellersburg, South Bend, Terre Haute
Ivy Tech has many campuses that offer medical assisting certificates and the Associate of Applied Science degree. Certificate programs typically run for one year, after which students are eligible to take the nationally recognized certification exam through the American Association of Medical Assistants or the nationally recognized registry exam through the American Medical Technologists, Registered Medical Assistant.
3. Purdue Global University (formerly Kaplan College)
Location: Indianapolis
Purdue Global University is a national proprietary education system that offers a variety of degree and certificate programs in a number of disciplines. The Indianapolis location offers both a diploma in medical assisting and an Associate’s Degree. With Purdue Global being a nationally recognized institution of higher learning, many graduates may find that recognition of their alma mater can greatly influence potential employers.
4. Ross Medical Education Center
Locations: Kokomo, Fort Wayne, Evansville, Granger, Lafayette, and Muncie
Ross Medical Education Center is a private, for-profit medical career training institution which offers students a Medical Assisting program that can be completed during daytime or evening hours. The daytime program can be completed in 30 weeks, whereas the evening program takes 36 weeks to complete. Both programs are composed of six modules and a clinical externship. Throughout the program, students are introduced to topics like medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, medical office procedures, and more.
5. International Business College
International Business College is a private, for-profit career training institution that offers students a Medical Assisting program which can be completed in either ten or sixteen weeks. Both programs prepare students to sit for the AAMA Certified Medical Assistant exam. During the program, students learn how to assist doctors during examinations, how to give injections, how to collect and prepare lab specimens, and more. IBC’s Medical Assistant Diploma program costs roughly $14,000 to attend.
6. Indiana School of Phlebotomy
Indiana School of Phlebotomy is an entry-level medical career training institution that offers students an eleven-week Clinical Medical Assisting (CMA) program. Classes meet two times per week for four hours. At the end of the first eleven weeks, given that a student has an overall grade of ‘B’ or higher, he or she has the option to go on to a three-month clinical externship (CMX). Throughout the course, students will learn professionalism, EKG administration, HIPAA & Patient’s rights, and much more. The CMA costs a total of $1,800 and the CMX costs $300.
Rachel Dennis works as both a professional writer and health care provider. She has been a licensed health care provider since 1998, with work experience as a medical assistant, certified nursing assistant and emergency medical technician. She has been writing since 1994 and has been published both on-line and in print.