Louisiana Accredited Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
Louisiana is a state with several bustling urban and metro areas. Many healthcare centers are located throughout the state, offering medical assistants good employment opportunities. Employment is generally more readily available in areas with high tourist populations, like New Orleans, where medical centers must be able to meet the demands of seasonal and year-round residents. Top cities for medical assisting jobs in Louisiana are:
- Baton Rouge
- New Orleans
- Lafayette
Louisiana has a few medical assisting schools to choose from. Some of the schools may not be accredited by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Accreditation is important as it allows you to take the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam after graduation. There are also other types of medical assistant certification, so be sure to check with the school you’re interested in for their accreditation status.
Louisiana Medical Assistant Certification Requirements
Contrasting sharply with other entry-level healthcare positions like nursing assistants (CNAs), lab assistants (CMLAs), and practical nurses (LPNs), medical assistants (MAs) working in Louisiana are not required by law to hold an institutionally recognized credential to find employment in the field. Despite this fact, however, there are two widely recognized credentials for medical assistants that can enhance their career prospects, boost their earning potential, and give them a competitive edge over their colleagues in the field.
MAs have a choice on which certification to pursue. While The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) administers the exam that must be passed in order to gain The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification, The American Medical Technologists (AMT) administers the exam for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification.
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
ONE of the following prerequisites must be fulfilled before an individual can be eligible to sit for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) credential exam:
1. Provide proof of having finished a college-level medical assistant program which:
a. Is accredited by agencies approved by one of the following institutions:
i. The US Department of Education
ii. The Council for Higher Education Accreditation
iii. The American Medical Technologists (AMT)
b. Is made up of at least 880 total contact hours: 720 hours of the in-class/online instruction (theoretical component) and 160 hours of supervised clinical practice at a doctor’s office or healthcare facility
2. Provide proof of having worked full-time as a medical assistant for at least 5 years
3. Provide proof of having worked as a medical assistant instructor for at least 5 years OR have taught for over one year and have worked as a medical assistant for at least three years
4. Provide proof of having completed a medical assistant program through the US Armed Forces with the following attributes:
a. 880 total contact hours of instruction: 720 hours of theoretical instruction and 160 hours of supervised clinical training
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
The following prerequisites must be satisfied before an individual is eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) credential exam:
- Provide proof of having a completed a medical assistant program with the following characteristics:
- Contain both theoretical and clinical components which incorporate administrative and clinical coursework like record-keeping, medication administration, anatomy, pharmacology, record keeping and accounting, medical law & ethics, computer competency, and more
- Accredited by at least ONE of the following organizations:
- Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP)
- CMA credentials must be renewed every 60 months by:
- Passing a 200 question recertification exam
- Completion of a certain number of continuing education credits
List of Louisiana Medical Assisting Programs
1. South Louisiana Community College
Location: Crowley, Ville Platte, Abbeville, Opelousas
South Louisiana Community College offers medical assistant education on several different campuses, including the Acadian Campus in Crowley, C.B. Coreil Campus in Ville Platte, the Gulf Area Campus in Abbeville, and the T.H. Harris Campus in Opelousas. SLCC has accreditation from SACS/CC. Studies are divided between two semesters and the total program length is 31 credits. There are some additional requirements for the medical assistant program, including proof of current immunizations and CPR certification for healthcare providers.
2. Blue Cliff College
Locations:Â Houma, Shreveport, Metairie, Alexandria
Blue Cliff College offers a Certificate in Medical Assisting. The college recommends students visit the website or meet with an admissions representative for more information about their medical assisting program. Blue Cliff College is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges; contact the school for information on certification eligibility upon graduation.
3. Gonzales Medical Assistant School
Locations: Gonzales
Gonzales Medical Assistant School offers students a medical assisting certificate program that can be completed in as little as 24 weeks. The program consists of in-class lectures, lab, and an 80-hour clinical externship. Technical topics covered in the program include phlebotomy, orthopedic medicine, medical coding, office management, claims processing, and more. Course are held on Saturdays from either 8:00am to 12:00pm or 1:00pm to 5:00pm. The total cost of the program ranges from $3,350 to $3,700 depending on which payment method the student chooses.
4. Delta College
Location: Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Covington, Slidell
Delta College offers a medical assisting certificate program which trains students for a future career in the healthcare industry. During the program, students will acquire clinical and lab competencies which include EKG procedures, phlebotomy techniques, infection control, specimen collection, and more. Students can choose to enroll in a day program that can be completed in as little as 7.5 months, or an evening program which takes 12 months to complete. Like most medical assisting programs, students will also be required to complete a clinical externship.
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.