Medical assistants must communicate with others on a regular basis. This communication may involve scheduling appointments for patients, recording important personal information or taking a patient’s vitals during a hospital or office visit. You may also need to be present as physicians evaluate and diagnose patients, in case they need your help in multitasking during the process.[Leer en español]
Medical assistants in Oklahoma simply need to earn a high school diploma or GED to find employment. You may find that many employers seek candidates who have earned credentials in the medical field, so it is a great idea to also complete a medical assistant training program and earn national certification. While these are not requirements, they will help you land more employment opportunities and exemplify your dedication to the craft.
You are not required by law to complete a training program to practice as a medical assistant in this state, but doing so could make it easier to find employment. Each of the Medical Assitant Schools below has accredited medical assisting programs by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Metro Technology Center is located in Oklahoma City. The school allows students to complete a certificate program in medical assisting, which takes about one year of study.
Moore Norman Technology Center is located in the city of Norman. Students can earn a diploma in medical assisting within less than one year. Moore Norman Technology Center also offers continuing education courses for medical assistants who would like to update their skills and knowledge.
Tulsa Technology Center is located in Tulsa. This school offers a diploma program in medical assisting that requires one year of study. The program includes instruction in both clinical and administrative procedures related to the field of medical assisting.
Community Care College is located in the city of Tulsa. The school offers a certificate program, which can be completed with only 10 months of study.
The four different certifications available to medical assistants include the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA), and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Each certification exam is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Once you have earned a high school diploma or GED, you may also need to complete an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant training program to sit for one of these exams. Those with professional experience in the medical field will typically be able to use such experience in place of meeting educational requirements. In other cases, some exams may require candidates to have a combination of both experience and education to earn certification.
To become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), you must first meet the qualifications for certification, which include completion of an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant program. You may also be able to qualify for the exam with at least five years of recent professional experience as a medical assistant. Once these requirements have been met, you must pass the CMA exam.
The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification is awarded by the American Medical Technologists organization and requires applicants to have completed an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant program. Once these requirements are met, applicants need to pass the RMA exam.
The National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) certification is awarded by the National Center for Competency Testing and requires applicants to have completed an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant program. Once these requirements are met, applicants need to pass the NCMA exam.
The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification is also awarded by the National Center for Competency Testing and requires applicants to have completed an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant program. Once these requirements are met, applicants need to pass the CCMA exam.
Once you have earned certification, it is important to keep your credentials current. Recertification for medical assistants in Oklahoma must be completed every three years by either taking continuing education courses or by retaking the certification exam. By maintaining a valid certification, you may be able to find more job opportunities and potentially earn higher pay as a medical assistant in Oklahoma.
Overall, becoming a medical assistant in Oklahoma is an achievable career goal. With the right training and certifications, you can be on your way to a successful and rewarding career.
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data, medical assistants in Oklahoma earned $14.44 per hour on average in 2021. The top-paid medical assistants in Oklahoma earned more than $38,000 during the same year.
BLS data also indicate that there were 9,290 people employed as medical assistants in this state in 2020. By 2030, the same data show there will be 11,520 people working in this field in Oklahoma, which represents a 24 percent expansion in the job market over these 10 years.
Medical assistants in Oklahoma may want to seek employment in cities like Durant, Mead, and Kingston, as these are the places where some of the highest-earning medical assistants can be found working in this state.
While more complex tasks will be left up to those who have higher levels of education, training, and experience, you will still be able to establish a low level of specialization in the medical field. For example, you may choose to build your experience working under certain types of physicians, like gynecologists, cardiologists, or pediatricians. Employment will be available in places like clinics, private practices, hospitals, urgent care facilities, and more.
No matter how you choose to establish your career, with a good work ethic and strong dedication, you can see amazing results as a medical assistant.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants in the state of Oklahoma made an average of $30,030 per year in 2021. Entry-level medical assistants earned around $24,840 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $38,000.