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Stepful’s Maryland Medical Assistant Program prepares students to take the Certified Medical Clinical Assistant (CCMA) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
This clinically focused exam shows employers that you have mastered the basics of medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare systems, phlebotomy, EKG, patient care coordination, and much more.
Stepful offers a completely online learning program that can meet the needs of almost any type of student. Our 90-minute classes are held in the morning, afternoon, and evening, allowing each student to pursue their career goals.
Before anyone can start working as a medical assistant or enroll in a training program, they must earn either a high school diploma or a GED.
Students who do not have a high school diploma can often prepare for and take their GED exam after just a few weeks of study.
While training courses are not always required by the state of Maryland, medical assisting training course helps students master the basics of patient care, anatomy and physiology, infection control, phlebotomy, and much more.
Students who want to have an advantage over other job candidates can choose to complete a training program. Programs are available online, in technical schools, and at larger colleges. Online programs can be completed the fastest and are the least expensive, while college degree programs take about two years to complete.
An externship is one of the most important parts of a medical assistant training program.
During an externship, students will spend between 40 and 140 hours working under the supervision of an experienced medical assistant. During their externship, students get to practice hands-on skills such as phlebotomy, placing EKG leads, and collecting samples.
It can sometimes be difficult for students to find an externship on their own. That is why our program at Stepful has partnered with over 8,000 clinics across the country - providing a way for each of our students to find an externship in their area.
Organizations in Maryland that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include Calvert Health, MedStar Health, and the University of Maryland Medical Center.
After completing the classroom portion of your training program and finishing your externship, you will be ready to take your certification exam. There are several medical assistant certification options for students to choose from.
The most common certifications are the Certified Medical Assistant offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants, the Registered Medical Assistant offered by the American Medical Technologists, and the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
Students preparing for their certification exam should focus on studying infection control, patient safety, and healthcare ethics.
Job search sites such as Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, and Live, Work, Maryland are great resources for hopeful medical assistants.
If creating a resume feels overwhelming or the thought of an interview makes you nervous, the career coaches at Stepful can offer additional support. Our team works one-on-one with students to help them put together a resume and get more comfortable answering interview questions.
While medical assistants are not required to be certified in Maryland, 87% of organizations prefer to hire certified assistants.
While they do not need a license to work with patients, medical assistants in Maryland must work under the supervision of a licensed advanced practice provider or registered nurse.
The Maryland Code of Regulations has specific guidance about what falls within the scope of practice of a medical assistant in Maryland.
In Maryland, medical assistants should not perform any task that requires advanced knowledge of medicine or has the potential to seriously harm anyone.
Medical assistants in Maryland are prohibited from:
The Maryland State Practice Laws specifically list many tasks that medical assistants can do.
These tasks include:
Some tasks can only be done by a medical assistant with on-site supervision by a licensed physician or registered nurse. These tasks include:
While every office and hospital is different, medical assistants generally share the same responsibilities. These include both clinical and administrative tasks.
Common Maryland Medical Assistant responsibilities might include:
Administrative Responsibilities
Clinical responsibilities
Medical assistants in the United States have a positive job outlook. In fact, job openings for medical assistants are expected to increase by 15% between 2023 and 2033. This is especially impressive when you consider that the outlook for other jobs across the United States is 4%, and for other healthcare jobs, 12%.
As of May 2023, there are currently about 14,440 medical assisting jobs in the state or 5.392 per 1,000 residents. Maryland cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Baltimore, Colombia, and Towson.
Medical assistants in Maryland earn a decent salary. The median salary for medical assistants in Maryland is $44,010 per year or $21.16 per hour. They have an average pay of $19.09 per hour, or $44,447 per year.
The Maryland State Society of Medical Assistants supports medical assistants in Maryland by offering continuing education courses, an annual member conference, and a place for members to connect and chat with each other. In addition, they host fundraisers and offer scholarships.
Other organizations that support medical assistants in their careers include the American Medical Technologists, the National Healthcareer Association, and the American Association of Medical Assistants.
