Oregon Accredited Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
The current demand is high for medical assistants in Oregon. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to increase by 31% over the next several years. Also, the median annual income for medical assistants in Oregon is over $32,000.00. That’s good news if you’ve been considering a career as a medical assistant in Oregon.
The three largest cities in Oregon are Portland, Eugene, and Salem. These areas play host to many hospitals and medical facilities. Along with a variety of job opportunities, Oregon is nationally known for its scenic outdoor state parks and an over-abundance of recreational activities that include hiking, fishing, horseback riding, skiing and just about any outdoor fun you can imagine.
Before you begin your career as a medical assistant in Oregon, you will need to equip yourself with the necessary skills that will help you succeed in this rewarding healthcare field.
Certification
Medical assistants aren’t required to be certified in Oregon however, it’s preferred by most employers. Obtaining certification will show employers that you are serious about your profession. To obtain certification, you must graduate from an accredited medical assistant program; you can then take the national certification examination -administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Education
Medical assistant schools in Oregon take anywhere from nine months to two years to complete – depending on if you choose a diploma or associates degree option. Many schools in Oregon offer financial aid packages for qualified applicants to include:
- Oregon Rural Health Schools Loan Repayment Program
- Oregon Opportunity Grants
- Ford Family Foundation Scholarship
Contact your school’s guidance counselor to see if you qualify for any student financial aid programs. Once you are enrolled in a program, you can expect to encounter clinical and administrative instruction that include courses in:
- Assessing patients
- Administering vital signs
- Drawing blood
- Record billing
- Making appointments
- Assisting physicians
When looking at potential schools, make sure that they are accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
List of Accredited Oregon Medical Assisting Schools
1. Portland Community College
Campus Location: Portland
Students at Portland Community College can earn a medical assistant diploma. Students must earn 45 credits related to the program, and the diploma takes one year to complete. Prior to beginning the program, students meet with a medical assistant program advisor to discuss career options and prerequisites that include computer proficiency and two letters of recommendation from a recent instructor or employer. Once students successfully pass all of the training requirements, they can register for the AAMA certification exam.
2. Lane Community College
Campus Location: Eugene
Lane Community College has an accredited program which offers a medical assistant diploma. The curriculum usually takes just over a year to complete. Prerequisite classes consist of health, science and laboratory coursework. The training includes courses in anatomy, physiology, laboratory procedures and curriculum concerning other administrative duties. Successful graduates are eligible to sit for the certified medical assistant examination. A job-related externship is also available to students prior to graduation.
3. Sanford-Brown College
Campus Location: Portland
Sanford-Brown College offers students a diploma program that provides the necessary skills to become a professional medical assistant. The curriculum is available in both English and Spanish, and includes courses in medical ethics, patient preparation, insurance, medical billing as well as skills required for administrative and clinical setting. Students will also receive hands-on training in any one of the local participating medical facilities. Upon graduation, students are qualified to take the coveted medical assistant certification examination.
4. Central Oregon Community College
Campus Location: Bend
Students at Central Oregon Community College receive a medical assistant diploma, which takes about a year to complete. The coursework at this school provides students with the tools necessary to become a medical assistant in both – the clinical and administrative aspects- of the office. The instruction includes patient care, pre-examination, first aid, basic anatomy and physiology, medical office procedures, medical law, patient psychology and treatment procedures.
5. Mt. Hood Community College
Campus Location: Gresham
Mt. Hood Community College provides students with the opportunity to earn an associate in applied science degree in medical assisting. Full-time students can complete the program anywhere from 18 to 24 months. The program offers courses related to administrative and clinical duties required by working medical assistants. Graduates are also eligible to sit for the AAMA certification exam.
6. Oregon Coast Community College
Campus Location: Newport
Oregon Coast Community College is public community college that has a Medical Assistant Certificate Program which prepares students for future entry-level employment in a variety of healthcare settings including doctors’ clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and more. The program can be completed in four semesters or roughly two years, and covers the administrative, clinical, and clerical aspects of medical assisting. Following the completion of the program, students well be know how to effectively communicate with patients and healthcare colleagues, maintain medical records, take vitals, carry out routine lab and diagnostic procedures, and others.
7. Southwestern Oregon Community College
Campus Location: Coos Bay
Southwestern Oregon Community College is public, two-year community college that has a 90 credit-hour Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Medical Assisting which teaches students administrative, clinical, and clerical skills and techniques need for entry-level careers in healthcare. Following the successful completion of the program, which generally takes two years, students will be well prepared to perform medical and insurance coding, maintain medical records, conduct routine diagnostic and lab procedures, administer medications, apply first aid, and much more. The program is comprised of courses like pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, ethics, patient psychology, medical office procedures, and others.
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.