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Stepful’s Medical Assistant program is designed for those looking to take the next step in their careers by becoming a certified medical assistant in Connecticut.
Our online program prepares you to earn your Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification from the National Healthcareer Association and perform all the duties of medical assistants, including both those in the front office as well as working with patients.
Our Connecticut Medical Assistant classes take 4 months to complete and cover all essential topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare systems, phlebotomy, EKG, patient care coordination, and much more.
The Stepful staff is here to support you at every stage of the journey. From career preparedness to help finding an in-person externship*, we're here to help you launch your career in healthcare.
*Please note, students must be available M-F, 9-5 p.m. to be eligible for externship support.
All medical assistants must graduate from high school or earn a GED. Having a solid foundation in basic math, reading comprehension, and science is essential for aspiring medical assistants, whether or not they choose to earn a certification.
Most students who did not complete high school can get a GED after just a few weeks of study.
While the state of Connecticut does not require medical assistants to complete formal training, completing a medical assistant course is still a good idea.
At Stepful, we prepare our students to take the NHA CCMA exam in 4 months. Get the right online training and classes to obtain your certification and get the job you want.
During an externship, students spend between 40 and 140 hours practicing their hands-on skills, getting more comfortable working with patients, and making connections with local healthcare organizations.
At Stepful, we support our students directly to get interviews for externships within their locations.
However, are other organizations in Connecticut that could offer externship opportunities independently to medical assistants may include Yale New Haven Health, Hartford Healthcare, and Middlesex Health.
Even though Connecticut does not require medical assistants to earn a certification, you can make yourself a more competitive job applicant by passing a certification exam.
Passing a medical assistant certification exam shows that you have a basic understanding of topics such as medical terminology, patient safety, infection control, phlebotomy, and healthcare documentation.
Our helpful career coaches at Stepful can help students find their dream job. Our staff helps students create a great resume, search for jobs, and practice their interview skills.
In addition, job search sites such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter can help aspiring medical assistants create resumes, fill out job applications, and compare different job opportunities in Connecticut.
While medical assistants are not required to be certified in Connecticut, 87% of employers state that they prefer or require their medical assisting staff to earn their certification. The Connecticut Department of Health does require medical assistants to be certified before they can be trained to administer vaccines.
While medical assistants are not required to have a license to work, the Connecticut Department of Health does state that medical assistants should be trained and supervised by a licensed advanced practice provider or registered nurse.
The Connecticut Board of Examiners for Nursing lists several guidelines about the scope of practice for medical assistants. They also specifically list several tasks that should and should not be delegated to medical assistants.
Medical assistants in Connecticut should not perform any task that requires advanced interpretation of data, or complex medical knowledge, or that can cause harm to a patient if performed incorrectly.
Specific things that medical assistants cannot do in Connecticut include
Medical assistants in Connecticut are expected to work closely with physicians and nurses.
These tasks may include:
Certified medical assistants in Connecticut are permitted to administer vaccinations, as long as they are supervised by a physician.
Medical assistants in Connecticut have a positive job outlook. In the United States, job growth for medical assistants is much higher than it is for other jobs. Medical assisting job openings are expected to increase by 15% between 2023 and 2033. This is 9% higher than the expected growth for other jobs across the United States (4%).
As of May 2023, there are currently about 9,160 medical assisting jobs in the state, or 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Connecticut cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Hartford, Bridgeport, and Norwalk.
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 Connecticut earn a decent salary, with an average pay of $49,324 per year, or $21.19 per hour, and a median pay of $22.01 per hour, or $45,780 per year.
The Connecticut Society of Medical Assistants connects medical assistants in Connecticut by offering an annual conference, promoting community service, and hosting quarterly meetings. They also offer continuing education courses, post job openings, and publish an informative newsletter.
Joining a professional organization such as the Connecticut Society of Medical Assistants is a great way to increase your knowledge and improve the state of the profession in your area.
Other organizations that offer similar support and educational opportunities to medical assistants include the American Medical Technologists, the National Healthcareer Association, and the American Association of Medical Assistants.
