Kansas Accredited Medical Assistant Schools and Programs

The state of Kansas has plenty of options when it comes to Medical Assistant programs. To begin practicing as a medical assistant in Kansas, individuals do not need to complete post-secondary education or acquire a national certification. Gaining the latter, however, is highly encouraged, as most employers prefer it. Students who complete an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting (A.A.S.) or a Medical Assistant Certificate program will be well-suited for future employment in the field. Those working in the metropolitan areas of the state like Kansas City, Wichita, and Overland Park are likely to have the highest salaries.

Top cities in Kansas for medical assisting jobs are:

• Kansas City
• Wichita
• Overland Park
• Topeka

For its relatively small population, Kanas has many medical assisting schools operating across the state. After students graduate from an accredited program in this state, they’ll be eligible to sit for the certified medical assistant (CMA) exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Kansas Medical Assistant Certification Requirements

Medical assistants (MAs) in the United States are not required by law to hold any kind of credential or certification in order to work in their field. This stands in stark contrast with other entry-level healthcare professionals like phlebotomy techs (CPTs), practical nurses (LPNs), nursing assistants (CNAs), medical technologists (MTs), and lab assistants (CMLAs) which all are obligated by law to hold institutionally recognized credentials to practice.

Despite this, there are two widely recognized certifications which MAs – who may be looking to make themselves more competitive, enhance their career prospects, and increase their earning potential – often pursue. These include the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT) and the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).

Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)

To qualify for the exam – administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) – which an individual must pass to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), the following requirements must be fulfilled:

• Confirm that you’ve completed a medical assistant program accredited by the:
  • Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP)
  • Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Confirm that the medical assistant program has:
  • Both theoretical instruction and a clinical externship
  • Exposes students to both administrative and clinical duties via courses which must include but are not limited to human anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, record keeping and accounting, computer competency, office practices, patient relations, medication administration, medical law & ethics, and clinical and diagnostic procedures
• The CMA credential must be renewed every 60 months by:
  • Passing a 200 question recertification exam
  • Collecting a certain number of pertinent continuing education credits

Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)

To qualify for the exam – administered by American Medical Technologists (AMT) – which an individual must pass to become Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), ONE the following requirements must be satisfied:

1. Completion of a medical assistant program:
   1. Accredited by an accrediting agency approved by the US Department of Education, The Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the AMT Board of Directors
   1. Composed of 720 hours of theoretical instruction and 170 hours of hands-on clinical training at a healthcare facility or doctor’s office
2. Five years of full-time work experience as a medical assistant
3. Five years of experience working as an MA program instructor OR more than one year of experience working as an MA program instructor combined with three years of clinical/administrative work experience in the field
4. Completion of a program comparable to a college-level medical assistant program through the U.S. Armed Forces
5. The program must consist of 720 hours of in-class, theoretical instruction and 160 hours of hands-on clinical practice at a healthcare facility or physician’s office

List of Kansas Medical Assisting Programs

1. Coffeyville Community College

Location: Coffeyville

Coffeyville Community College is a public, two-year community college that offers a Medical Assistant Certificate program and an Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Medical Assisting. Students who opt for the 47 credit-hour certificate program can usually finish in about a year, while those who choose the A.A.S. degree will need to take 15 credit hours in general education on top of the 47 credits needed for the certificate. The A.A.S. degree program generally takes students five semesters to complete. Both programs are offered in a hybrid online/in-class format, with courses meeting two days a week from 9am to 4pm. Once enrolled, students will take courses like Patient Care, Phlebotomy, Pharmacology, Insurance Billing & Coding, and many more. CCC’s Medical Assisting program has reported a 100 percent pass rate on national certification exams in the past five years.

2. Wichita Technical Institute

Locations: Wichita

Wichita Technical Institute is a post-secondary career training institute that offers a 60-quarter credit hour Medical Assistant Certificate program that can be completed in 48 weeks. WTI’s program seeks to prepare students for entry-level positions in various medical settings by giving them the administrative and clinical skills needed for medical assisting. During the program, students will learn phlebotomy techniques, how to administer EKGs, how to administer medication, emergency medical procedures, and a lot more. After students make it through the in-class lecture and hands-on lab portions of the program, they’ll be expected to complete a clinical externship at an approved medical facility.

3. Rasmussen College

Locations: Kansas City/Overland Park, Topeka

Rasmussen College is a private, for-profit college with campuses operating throughout the country. RC offers students – at its campuses in Overland Park and Topeka – a Medical Assistant Certificate program that can be completed in about one year. The 52 credit-hour program combines in-class and online learning with hands-on lab experience and a clinical externship. During their studies, students can expect to take courses like Fundamentals of Clinical Techniques, Clinical Lab Applications & Diagnostic Procedures, Administrative Medical Assistant Practices, and others. Following successful completion of the program, students will be armed with the knowledge and skills needed to find entry-level work as a medical assistant.

4. Kansas City Kansas Community College

Location: Kansas City

Kansas City Kansas Community College is a public, two-year community college that offers students a 38 semester-credit hour Medical Assistant Certificate program that’s designed to prepare students for future entry-level MA careers. KCKCC’s program teaches students how to conduct both administrative and clinical tasks like taking vitals, collecting specimens, insurance billing, patient data, taking patient histories, and more. After students complete the in-class instruction and lab portions of the program, they’ll be expected to complete a 180-hour hands-on clinical externship. KCKCC reports that graduates from their Medical Assistant Certificate program have a national certification pass rate of 94 percent.

5. Barton Community College

Location: Great Bend

Barton Community College is a public, two-year community college that offers a 68 credit-hour Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting degree program and a 43 credit-hour Certificate program. Each program prepares students for an entry-level career in the healthcare industry. BCC’s A.A.S. degree program includes administrative, clinical, and general education courses, while the certificate program leaves out the general education courses. The program is delivered in a hybrid online/in-class format, with courses meeting during the evening hours so that working adults can attend.

6. Neosho County Community College

Locations: Chanute, Ottawa

Neosho County Community College is a public, two-year community college that offers a 41 credit-hour Medical Assistant Certificate program that can be completed in three and a half semesters. The program, focusing on both the clinical and administrative aspects of medical assisting, delivers courses like Human Body and Disease, Fundamentals of Phlebotomy, Clinical Aspects of Medical Assisting, and others. After students have completed the in-class lecture and lab portions of the course, they’ll need to finish a clinical externship at a local healthcare facility in order to graduate and be eligible to take the certification exam.

Article Written by Rachel Dennis

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.