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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 Delaware.
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 Delaware 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.
The first step to becoming a medical assistant is earning a high school diploma or earning a GED. Most students who did not complete high school can get a GED after just a few weeks of study.
Medical assistant courses can be done online, through a community college, or in a technical school. Some programs allow students to graduate with an associate degree and others prepare students to pass their certification exam only.
Online certificate programs are typically the shortest and least expensive, while degree programs take around two years and can cost more than $10,000. Here at Stepful we offer a 4 week program that prepares you to take the CCMA certification, at the lowest price in the market.
After completing a training program, many aspiring medical assistants seek out externships.
During an externship, students shadow an experienced medical assistant during their working hours. Stepful offers direct support to get the interviews for externships within proximity to your city.
Organizations in Delaware, not necessarily related to Stepfu, that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include Bayhealth, ChristinaCare, and Nurse Managed Primary Care Centers.
There are several different certification exams available for aspiring medical assistants. The most common include the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which is the one that Stepful prepares students for.
Another certification is the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
Students who complete our program at Stepful have the opportunity to work with career coaches who help them search for jobs. Our staff helps students create a great resume and practice their interview skills to land their dream job.
Alternatively, many people use job search engines such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter. These tools allow job candidates to create a resume, fill out multiple applications, and compare job offers all in one place.
Even though medical assistants in Delaware are not required to earn a certification, job candidates with a certification are much more desirable. 87% of employers state that they prefer or require their medical assisting staff to earn their certification. According to the Delaware Board of Nursing Regulation, medical assistants in Delaware must have a certification to be allowed to administer medications.
Medical assistants in Delaware do not need a license to work. However, a licensed physician, advanced practice provider, or registered nurse must supervise the medical assistants they work with.
The Delaware Board of Nursing has a specific list of tasks that should and should not be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel such as medical assistants.
Medical assistants cannot perform any task that requires advanced assessment skills or that may cause harm to a patient. Tasks that a medical assistant cannot do include:
Medical assistants without certification cannot administer any type of medication. Certified medical assistants can administer oral medications under the supervision of a physician.
There are specific tasks that medical assistants in Delaware can do. These are listed in the Board of Nursing Delegation Decision Tree.
These tasks include:
If you are looking for a job with a positive outlook, medical assisting is a great choice. 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 2,790 medical assisting jobs in the state, or 5.95 per 1,000 residents. Dover is a city in Delaware.
Because medical assistants have such a good job outlook, they can typically expect to have long-term security with regular increases in pay.
Medical assistants in Delaware earn a decent salary, with an average pay of $43,308 per year, or $18.60 per hour, and a median pay of $19.35 per hour, or $40,250 per year.
Medical assistants looking for support, continuing education opportunities, and in-person conferences can join the American Association of Medical Assistants, the National Healthcareer Association, or the American Medical Technologists.
Unlike other states, Delaware does not have its own branch of the American Association of Medical Assistants. However, the Delaware Board of Nursing supports and advocates for allied health professionals including medical assistants.
