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Stepful’s Alabama Medical Assistant Training is a great option for those looking to start their career as a medical assistant in Alabama.
Our online program prepares students for the Certified Medical Clinical Assistant (CCMA) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). This nationally recognized certificate makes you a more competitive job applicant and shows that you are ready to work.
In addition to covering essential topics such as healthcare systems, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, infection control, phlebotomy, and EKG measurements, Stepful helps students find an in-person externship where they can get comfortable with their hands-on skills.*
*Please note, students must be available M-F, 9-5 p.m. to be eligible for externship support.
Stepful’s students have an 87% CCMA Certification Exam pass rate, which is over 10 percentage points above the national average. Our experienced instructors offer live courses and one-on-one help to ensure that you are prepared to take your exam and enter the workforce with confidence.
No matter which medical assistant course you enroll in or where you want to work, you will need to earn a high school diploma or GED first. Most people who do not graduate from high school are able to get their GED with a few months of studying.
A medical assistant course will help you learn the basics of medical assisting and prepare you to take your certification exam.
While certification is not required in Alabama, taking a course makes you a more competitive job applicant, prepares you to enter the workforce with confidence, and allows you to get experience before working with real patients.
Completing an externship is an excellent way to learn from an experienced medical assistant and make connections that can help you get a job. Medical assistant externships are typically unpaid and last between 40-120 hours.
Organizations in Alabama that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include East Alabama Health, UAB, and Moundville Health and Rehabilitation.
Here at Stepful, we assist students with everything they need to get started, from setting up an interview to completing their background check and drug screening tests.
There are multiple certifying agencies for medical assistants. Since Alabama does not require medical assistants to be certified, you can choose the certification exam that makes the most sense for you.
Here at Stepful, we prepare students for the CCMA exam, which focuses more on clinical skills than other types of medical assisting certifications. The CCMA is offered by the National Healthcareer Association, a leader in healthcare certifications since 1998.
Websites such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter are great places to start a job search. Aspiring medical assistants in Alabama may also search through the Alabama Public Health website to find career opportunities.
Here at Stepful, we support you with the job search. Students have access to resume services, mock interviews, and support finding a job in their areas.
Medical assistants’ scope of practice varies by state. While there are no specific regulations for medical assistants in Alabama, the Alabama Board of Nursing does give some guidance on what healthcare tasks should and should not be delegated to medical assistants.
Certain tasks should not be performed by a medical assistant in Alabama, even with the supervision of a licensed care provider. These tasks include:
The Alabama Board of Nursing specifically states that these tasks can be delegated to a medical assistant:
One of the best things about starting a career as a medical assistant in Alabama is the positive job outlook.
As of May 2023, there were 12,360 medical assisting jobs in the state, or 6 per 1,000 residents. Alabama cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Anniston, Auburn, and Birmingham.
Nationally, job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow 15% between 2023 and 2033. This is more than three times higher than the average growth expected for all jobs across the nation (4%).
This high demand for medical assistants means that certified medical assistants should be able to find a job easily and may be able to negotiate for higher starting wages.
Medical assistants in Alabama earn a decent salary, with an average pay of $34,160 per year, or $16.42 per hour, and a median pay of $35,050 per year, or $16.37 per hour.
The Alabama Society of Medical Assistants is the most prominent professional organization for medical assistants in Alabama. They host events such as the Alabama Medical Assistant Conference, where medical assistants and other healthcare providers can come together to discuss practice changes, stay updated on laws and regulations, and learn how to excel in their careers.
