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Stepful’s New York Medical Assistant Program is a 4-month program that prepares students to pass their Certified Clinical Medical Assisting (CCMA) exam.
Our classes are designed to help students understand and retain complex topics such as infection control, anatomy and physiology, phlebotomy, EKG reading, and more. We use a combination of live instruction, virtual simulations, quizzes, and other tools to make sure each student learns in a way that works for them.
In addition to our convenient schedule and easy-to-follow class structure, Stepful makes it easy to find an externship. Our program has partnerships with over 8,000 clinics across the Nation, which allows us to find a convenient externship site for every student.*
*Must be available during regular working hours | Mon to Fri, min 20 hours per week
*Must be in good academic and financial standing
Before starting on the journey to becoming a medical assistant, you must complete high school or earn a GED.If you need an alternative option to traditional high school, many online programs are available.
While completing a training course is not always required, most healthcare organizations want to hire medical assistants who have completed a formal training program. Professionals who complete a training course should become proficient in skills such as EKG measurements, patient safety, sterility, infection control, medical billing, phlebotomy, and documentation.
In New York, students can choose to complete either a certification-only program or earn an associate degree. Certification programs can be completed through a trade school or online in as little as 4 months. Degree programs take two years to complete and may cost over $10,000.
While some students may be tempted by a degree program, it is important to remember that no state or government agency requires medical assistants to earn a degree before working with patients.
Here at Stepful you can opt for our 4-month medical assistant program that prepares you for the most popular medical assistant certification. We support our students from enrollment to employment.
Externships give students the chance to shadow a working medical assistant, practice their hands-on skills, and feel comfortable working with patients.
This step can last several weeks, and students may spend 8-hour days with their externship guide. Externships are great learning opportunities and offer a great way to connect with potential employers and other medical assistants.
Organizations in New York that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, and Bellevue Hospital.
At Stepful, we help students secure externship opportunities by connecting them with healthcare institutions across New York. With thousands of partnered clinics, we make the interview process smoother and more accessible for our graduates to get the clinical hours they need.
After completing your training and before you start looking for a job, you need to pass your medical assisting certification exam.
Whether you choose to attend a certificate-only program or earn your associate degree in medical assisting, you should be prepared to take one of the most common medical assistant certification exams.
Certification exams include the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) offered by the American Medical Technologists, the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association, and the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Each of these exams contains about 150 questions and has a similar level of difficulty, cost, and passing rate. Once you have earned a certificate, you must ensure that you meet the annual renewal requirements for your certifying organization.
When you are ready to look for a job, consider using websites like Monster, GlassDoor, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter. Medical assistants in New York can also browse specific healthcare organization websites or search on the New York State Website.
At Stepful, our coaches also offer job search support, assisting students with interview preparation and resume building so they can land the job of their dreams.
New York law does not require medical assistants to complete formal training or earn a certification before working with patients.
Even though it isn't required, most medical assistants find that certification is worth it, since 87% of organizations prefer to hire certified assistants, according to the NHA.
Medical assistants in New York are not required to register with the state or obtain a license before working in healthcare.
The New York State Department of Education has specific rules about what a medical assistant should and should not do.
Whether or not they have a certification, medical assistants in New York are not permitted to:
The New York State Department of Education also has a specific list of tasks that can be delegated to a medical assistant.
These specific tasks include:
Administrative Responsibilities
As of May 2023, there are currently about 39,860 medical assisting jobs in the state, or 4.244 per 1,000 residents. New York cities with the highest number of medical assistants include New York, Newark, and Jersey City.
Medical assistants earn a decent salary in New York. The average salary for medical assistants in New York, in general, is $42,100 per year or $20.24 per hour. Medical assistants in New York State have an average pay of $20.90 per hour or $48,657 per year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job opportunities for all healthcare jobs are expected to increase by 12%. For medical assistants, specifically, job opportunities are expected to increase by 15% from 2023 to 2033. This is much higher than the average job growth across the country (4%).
There are no specific organizations for medical assistants in New York. However, medical assistants are supported by the Healthcare Association of New York.
The National Healthcareer Association, American Medical Technologists, and American Association of Medical Assistants are all national organizations that can help medical assistants pursue continuing education, earn a certification, network with other medical assistants, and search for job openings.
