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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 North Dakota.
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 North Dakota 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.
A high school diploma or GED is required to become a medical assistant. For those needing flexible options, online high school programs are available and can often be completed in a few months, depending on prior coursework.
Aspiring medical assistants in North Dakota can choose from several training options:
Regardless of the program type, students will learn essential skills such as medical terminology, phlebotomy, healthcare ethics, and patient care.
No state requires medical assistants to hold a degree, so a certification-only program is often the fastest route to employment. Stepful’s online medical assistant program provides a flexible, affordable path to certification in just four months.
The best training programs offer externships to provide hands-on experience.
Externships allow students to work one-on-one with an experienced medical assistant, gaining confidence in clinical tasks like taking vital signs, drawing blood, and patient communication. Many employers count externship hours toward work experience requirements.
Organizations in North Dakota that may offer externship opportunities include:
Stepful can also connect students with healthcare institutions offering externships and provide interview opportunities to help them gain hands-on experience. We also offer comprehensive job search support, including interview preparation and career guidance, to ensure students secure employment after certification.
While certification is not required by law, most employers prefer certified candidates. Common certifications include:
Stepful prepares their students to the CCMa certification, which is the one with more emphasis in the clinical aspect. To qualify for an exam, students must complete an accredited training program or meet work experience requirements set by the certifying body.
Certification exams are taken either online with a proctor or at a testing center. Each exam consists of about 150 questions and has similar costs, difficulty, and pass rates.
Job search platforms like Monster, Glassdoor, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter have numerous postings for certified medical assistants. Candidates can also check the North Dakota State Website or apply directly through healthcare employers.
Stepful’s medical assistant program offers career support, including resume editing, job search assistance, and interview coaching.
North Dakota requires medical assistants to have a certification in order to perform some tasks, but not others.
Even in cases where certification is not required, medical assistants may want to earn their certificate. According to the NHA, 87% of healthcare organizations prefer to hire certified assistants.
Medical assistants in North Dakota must register with the State but are not required to obtain a license. In addition, medical assistants must always work under the direction of a licensed medical provider.
The North Dakota Medical Board created specific guidelines regarding what a medical assistant should and should not do.
Medical assistants in North Dakota are not permitted to perform the following tasks:
In North Dakota, medical assistants must be certified before they will be allowed to give injections or vaccinations.
Other tasks can be done by both certified or uncertified medical assistants.
These tasks include:
Administrative Responsibilities
As of May 2023, there are currently about 1,010 medical assisting jobs in the state, or 2.46 per 1,000 residents. North Dakota cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Bismark, Grand Forks, and Fargo.
Medical assistants in North Dakota earn a decent salary. The median salary for medical assistants in North Dakota is $40,880 per year or $19.65 per hour. Medical assistants in North Dakota State have an average pay of $19.80 per hour or $46,099 per year.
Job openings for medical assistants are expected to increase by 15% between 2023 and 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is much higher than the average job growth across the country (4%).
Medical assistants in North Dakota can count on the National Healthcareer Association, American Medical Technologists, and American Association of Medical Assistants to support them throughout their careers.
Each of these is a nationally recognized organization that can help medical assistants earn their certification, network with other medical assistants, pursue continuing education, search for job openings, and stay up to date on current healthcare trends.
