When a patient enters a clinic or hospital, a medical assistant may be the first person they encounter. Due to this face-to-face interaction, medical assistants should be attentive, calm, and thorough communicators. Administrative duties like record-keeping and answering phones may also be included in your list of responsibilities. Additionally, you may be expected to assist doctors or physicians as they diagnose and treat patients.[Leer en español]
Colorado, like most other states in the U.S., does not require medical assistants to complete any specialized medical assistant training or earn national certifications before practicing. When you begin your job search, however, you may find that most employers prefer to hire applicants with some level of experience or credentials within the trade. For this reason, it may be your best option to complete a medical assisting training program or earn voluntary national certification.
Completing a medical assisting program accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) is a wise choice, especially for those interested in earning certification. The following medical assistant programs are available in Colorado:
The college is located in the city of Edwards. Students can enroll in an undergraduate certificate in medical assisting, which takes 18 months to complete. This program is accredited by the CAAHEP. Students will sit for a certification exam upon program completion.
The college is located in the city of Arvada, Colorado. The school allows students to earn either a Certificate of Completion in Medical Assisting, which can be completed in less than three semesters or an Associate of Applied Sciences degree, which can be completed in about two years. This program is also accredited by the CAAHEP.
The college is located in the city of Aurora. The school allows students to earn a Certificate of Completion in Medical Assisting, which can be earned in as little as nine months. Clinical externships are a requirement for graduation, and this program is accredited by the ABHES.
As a medical assistant, you have the option of earning four types of certification. The two most common certifications include the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). Additionally, you may choose to earn the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credentials. All of these exams are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
While each of these certifications allows those who have recently graduated from an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited training program to sit for exams, you may also be eligible to earn this certification if you already have professional experience as a medical assistant.
Registered medical assistant certification is administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). The AMT offers two routes to certification:
Qualification Based on Graduation from an Approved Medical Assisting Program – You may sit for the RMA exam if you have graduated from a medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHEP or ABHES.
This is administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The AAMA offers two routes to certification:
Qualification Based on Graduation from an Approved Medical Assisting Program – You may sit for the CMA exam if you have graduated from a medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHEP or ABHES.
Qualification Based on Professional Experience – You may be eligible to sit for the CMA exam if you have worked a minimum of 5,000 hours in the past five years as a medical assistant.
This is administered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). The AMT offers two routes to certification:
Qualification Based on Graduation from an Approved Medical Assisting Program – You may sit for the RMA exam if you have graduated from a medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHEP or ABHES.
Qualification Based on Professional Experience – You may be eligible to sit for the RMA exam if you have worked a minimum of 3,000 hours in the past three years as a medical assistant.
This is administered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). The NCCT offers two routes to certification:
Qualification Based on Graduation from an Approved Medical Assisting Program – You may sit for the NCMA exam if you have graduated from a medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHEP or ABHES.
Qualification Based on Professional Experience – You may be eligible to sit for the NCMA exam if you have worked a minimum of 5,000 hours in the past five years as a medical assistant.
This is administered by the National Health career Association (NHA). The NHA offers two routes to certification:
Qualification Based on Graduation from an Approved Medical Assisting Program – You may sit for the CCMA exam if you have graduated from a medical assistant program accredited by either the CAAHEP or ABHES.
Qualification Based on Professional Experience – You may be eligible to sit for the CCMA exam if you have worked a minimum of 5,000 hours in the past five years as a medical assistant.
No matter which certification you choose, it is important to understand all of the requirements and eligibility guidelines before pursuing any of them. Additionally, you should take the time to research each exam in order to ensure that it best suits your skillset and career goals.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data presented in 2021 indicate that medical assistants in Colorado earned $18.29 per hour on average, which is equivalent to $38,040 per year. The highest-paid medical assistants in this state earned more than $48,260 annually according to the same data.
During 2020, BLS data also indicate that 12,090 medical assistants were working in Colorado. By 2030, it is projected that there will be 16,470 medical assistants working in this state. This indicates a 36 percent expansion in the job market during these 10 years.
Medical assistants working in Colorado can expect to earn the highest compensation in cities like Niwot, Boulder, and Eldorado Springs.
Employment will be available at hospitals, clinics, physicians’ offices, and other places where medical duties are performed. Your main responsibilities may include keeping track of patients’ medical histories, checking their vital signs, keeping medical records administrative tasks, or scheduling their visits to the medical facility and clinical duties. If this sounds exciting to you, consider getting started today.