Where to Study Medical Assisting in Illinois

With 10,000 baby boomers entering the Medicare age of 65 every day, the U.S. 65+ population, now comprising 15% of all Americans, is projected to double over the next decade.

This rapidly aging group holds great promise for those entering the medical field at practically any level (specialist doctors, general physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and other). [Leer en español]

Earning your diploma is a great first career step that embarks you into this vastly promising medical field. Medical assistants are critical to the effective in administrative and clinical duties and functioning of most medical centers, whether in doctors’ offices, hospitals, and wherever else people go for their health needs.

Illinois State Requirements

There is a distinction in Illinois between “medical assistant” and “certified medical assistant”.

Illinois Medical assistants

For medical assistants, the State of Illinois does not have any specific licensing or certification requirements, other than being aware of the regulations of the Illinois Department of Medical and Professional Regulation (DMFR).

The Department empowers licensed health care providers, at their discretion, to train employees, either through a formal study program, or by way of hands-on training, or both. The licensed health practitioner can however require that the medical assistant they hire be certified.

Certified medical assistant

While the State of Illinois does not have any certification requirements, you can obtain a certificate through one of these two certifying institutions, both accredited by the Illinois Department of Medical and Professional Regulation:

• You can get a national certification as a Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) by American Medical technologists (AMT). AMT provides a list of study requirements that lead to the exam you must pass to obtain your certification.
• Or you can also get nationally certified as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). They require that you first graduate from an accredited medical assisting program (CAAHEP¹ or ABHES²), then sit for their exam.

Job outlook

Medical assistants in Illinois earn an average annual salary of $39,020, which is slightly above the national average. The entry-level wage for the lowest 10% is $31,540 annually, indicating a higher starting point compared to many other states. The top 10% of earners in Illinois make $48,530 or more, showcasing the potential for wage growth within this occupation in the state.

Compared to the national average, medical assistants in the United States earn an average of $38,270 annually, with the lowest 10% earning $30,390 and the highest 10% earning $51,710 or more. This comparison highlights Illinois’s competitive position in terms of compensation for medical assistants.

Salary Comparison – National vs. Illinois

Salaries and Percentiles by Region in Illinois

Medical Assistant Trends in Illinois

In 2020, Illinois employed 22,160 medical assistants. This number is projected to increase to 24,630 by 2030, marking an 11% growth over the decade. This growth rate, while slightly below the national average growth rate of 14% for medical assistants from 2022 to 2032, still represents a significant increase in employment opportunities within the state. Annually, Illinois is expected to have 2,960 job openings for medical assistants from 2020 to 2030, which includes openings due to growth and replacements for vacated positions. This data highlights the steady demand for medical assistants in Illinois, reflecting broader trends in healthcare employment across the state.

Employment Trends for Medical Assistants in Illinois

Illinois entry-level (First 10%) wages break down into the following sample of regions:

• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin: hourly mean wage of  $18.03 ($37,500 annually)
• Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights, Metropolitan Division: hourly mean wage of $16.37 ($34,050 annually)
• Champaign-Urbana: hourly mean wage of $18.03 ($28,960 annually)
• Peoria: hourly mean wage of $13.56 ($28,210 annually)
• Springfield: hourly mean wage of $13.86 ($28,820 annually)

Sources of data:

1. Illinois Data: The employment figures and projections for Illinois are sourced from Projections Central, specifically their 2020-2030 long-term projections. Projections Central specializes in state-level employment projections, providing detailed insights into various occupations.
2. United States Data: The national employment statistics and projections are obtained from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), particularly their 2022-2032 employment projections.

Well-Known Schools in Illinois

The first thing to do is pick from the list we provide those schools that are close to you and research them carefully. Generally, a one-year diploma at a vocational school costs $1,200-$4,000+, depending on each program.

The same can cost $2,500-$10,000 for an associate’s degree at a community college. In view of these disparities, you will need to contact the school of your choice and ask about tuition costs and other expenses. Here though is a description of what a few typical schools offer:

Parkland College-Champaign

Located at 2400 W Bradley Avenue, Champaign, Illinois 61821 (217-351-2200), Parkland offers small classes (maximum of 20 students per class) leading to a Medical Assistant certificate program. Admitted only at the beginning of each fall semester, students must complete the program in 4 consecutive semesters, with a C or higher score in each semester to remain in the program.

Each semester is 25-28 credit hours, and their certification is approved by the American Registry of Medical Assistants (arma-cert.org), and by the National Health career Association (www.nhanow.com).

Midwestern Career College-Chicago

Located at 20 North Wacker Drive, Suite 3800, Chicago, Illinois 60606 (312-236-9000), Midwestern offers a Medical Assisting Diploma program that can be completed in as little as 40 weeks. With the diploma in hand, students then have the option of participating in a 160-hour medical assisting externship, and a120-hour optional phlebotomy externship. Midwestern’s diploma program is approved by the Council on Occupational Education.

College of Lake County-Grayslake

Located at 19351 Washington street, Grayslake, Illinois 60030 (847-543-2000), the college’s campus (operating since 1969) spans over 226 acres, offering a Medical Assistant Applied Science (AAS) certificate that can be completed in less than one year. Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared to sit for the AAMA certification exam to become Certified Medical Assistants (CMA). Their certificate program is approved by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health education programs (www.caahep.org).

Southwestern College, Southwestern Campus-Bridgeview

Located at 7725 South Harlem avenue, Bridgeview, Illinois 60455 (), Southwestern offers a Medical Assisting Associate in Applied Science (AAS) certificate program that can be completed in less than one year.

This has an average student satisfaction rating of 90.67% for the 5-year period 2011-2015, and an average employer satisfaction rate of 95.83% for the same period.

Their certificate program is approved by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and the Higher Learning Commission.

Medical Assistant School Illinois

Employment Options

Employment options are plentiful in Illinois. To cite just the one example of the Chicago area, there are numerous hospitals, specialized doctors’ offices and other medical centers to which you could apply. Here are but a few:

• Shriners Hospital for Children
• Chicago Lakeshore Hospital
• University of Chicago Medicine
• Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
• Adventist Glen Oaks Hospital
• Community First Medical Center
• Presence Health
• Kenilworth Medical Associates
• Midwest Primary Care
• Pinnacle Dermatology
• Presence Center for Advanced Care

References

¹ CAAHEP refers to Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs

² ABHES refers to Accredited Bureau of Health Education Schools

Popular Medical Assistant Schools in Illinois

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FAQs

How much do medical assistants earn in the state of Illinois?

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants in the state of Illinois made an average of $37,500 per year in 2021. Entry-level medical assistants earned around $28,990 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $47,370.

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