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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 Iowa.
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 Iowa 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.
Not all medical assistants choose to become certified, but all must have a high school diploma or its equivalent to do so. Whether you choose to enroll in a training program or try to apply for jobs without any training, you will be required to present proof of high school graduation or a GED.
While it is not required in Iowa, many medical assistants choose to complete a training program before searching for jobs. Training programs can be completed online or in person, and may or may not result in an associate degree.
At Stepful, we equip our students to take the NHA CCMA exam in just 4 months. Receive the proper training and education to earn your certification and boost your job prospects!
An externship is an invaluable experience for aspiring medical assistants. During an externship, medical assisting students shadow working medical assistants and get hands-on experience working with patients and managing healthcare systems.
At Stepful, we assist students in good academic and financial standing in securing externships with our network of 8,000 partner clinics. These externships provide 80 to 160 hours of clinical experience, giving you valuable hands-on training before starting your full-time career.
Other organizations independent to Stepful in Iowa that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include UI Healthcare, Wayne County Hospital, and MercyOne.
There are several certification exams that medical assistants can prepare for. Our Iowa Medical Assistant Program equips students to take the NHA CCMA certification exam, which emphasizes the clinical aspects of medical assisting rather than administrative tasks.
Job candidates with a certification are much more competitive applicants than those who are uncertified. Earning certification shows potential employers that you have the knowledge to fulfill your job responsibilities safely and that you are dedicated to your career.
In addition to giving students a leg up by helping them earn their certification, our staff here at Stepful helps students create a great resume and practice their interview skills to land their dream job.
Aspiring medical assistants can also use job search engines such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter. If you are hoping to apply to a specific organization, you may be able to apply directly on the company website.
The Iowa Department of Health, Iowa Board of Nursing, and Iowa Medical Board all state that medical assistants do not need a certification to work as part of the healthcare team. However, they further clarify that medical assistants should only be given responsibilities for tasks that are appropriate for their level of training.
Medical assistants do not need a license to practice in the state of Iowa. Because they are unlicensed healthcare personnel, they are required to work under the supervision of a licensed physician or registered nurse.
A physician or nurse who assigns a task to a medical assistant must ensure that the task meets five criteria. These criteria keep patients safe by ensuring that a medical assistant is given responsibilities, that they have the training to carry out the tasks, and that no patient will be harmed if a mistake is made. These criteria include:
Medical assistants cannot perform any task that requires advanced assessment skills or that may cause harm to a patient. Tasks that a medical assistant should not do include:
Licensed physicians are ultimately responsible for any task they delegate to the medical assistant. Medical assistants can take on a lot of responsibilities in Iowa, as long as they have been trained to complete the task safely and are under the supervision of a physician.
Medical assistants in Iowa can:
According to the BLS, the average growth rate for jobs in the United States is around 4%. Medical assistants have a much better job outlook than average. Between 2023 and 2033, job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to increase by 15%.
As of May 2023, there are currently about 4,830 medical assisting jobs in the state or 3.125 jobs per 1,000 residents. If you live in Iowa and are looking for a job, Des Moines, Davenport, and Moline are the Iowa cities with the highest number of medical assistants.
Besides having a fantastic job outlook, medical assistants also earn a decent salary. Especially when compared to other healthcare support jobs, with an average hourly rate of $18.37 per hour.
Medical assistants in Iowa earn a decent salary, with a median pay of $20.67 per hour, or $42,980 per year, and an average pay of $23.77 per hour, or $55,005 per year.
The Iowa Society of Medical Assistants supports medical assistants in Iowa. They are affiliated with the American Association of Medical Assistants. In addition to hosting an annual conference and listing job opportunities for local medical assistants, they publish a monthly newsletter with practice updates, offer scholarships and awards to exceptional medical assistants, and give discounts on the CMA exam.
