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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 Oregon.
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 Oregon 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 enroll in a medical assistant training program like Stepful’s. Both traditional and online diplomas are accepted, and many can be completed in just a few months. Earning a diploma or GED is the first step toward a rewarding career in healthcare, opening the door to hands-on training and certification.
Choosing the right program depends on cost, length, certification success rates, and available student support.
Top training programs offer externships to provide hands-on experience under expert supervision. Stepful’s program facilitates externships opportunities after the course is completed. Interview preparations and curriculum services are also available for students to succeed with their first interviews.
Organizations in Oregon that may offer externship opportunities, not necessarily in partnership with Stepful but that the general student population could apply, include Oregon Health & Science University, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, and Providence St. Vincent Medical Center.
When you have finished your classwork and externship hours, you will be ready for your certification exam. Oregon does not mandate certification, but most employers prefer certified medical assistants. Popular certification options include:
Each certification exam covers essential healthcare knowledge, including infection control, anatomy, and patient safety.
Aspiring medical assistants can search for opportunities on job boards like Monster, Glassdoor, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter, as well as the Oregon state job site. Hospitals and clinics also post openings directly and are open for general applications.
Stepful graduates receive job placement support, including resume building and interview coaching to help them secure their first medical assistant role.
There are no certification requirements for medical assistants in Oregon. However, having a certificate gives job applicants an edge over the competition. Research shows that 87% of organizations prefer to hire certified assistants.
Medical assistants in Oregon are not required to have a license or register with the state.
While it is usually up to the licensed provider to decide whether or not a responsibility can be delegated to a medical assistant, there are a few things that a medical assistant in Oregon should not do.
These include:
The responsibilities of a medical assistant can vary based on their experience, training, competence, and the stability of their patient. An on-site licensed provider should always be present when a medical assistant is working with patients. Tasks that may be delegated to a medical assistant include:
Depending on where they work, medical assistants may have administrative or clinical responsibilities. Many medical assistants switch back and forth between the two. Common Oregon Medical Assistant responsibilities might include: Clinical responsibilities
Administrative Responsibilities
Job openings for medical assistants across the United States are expected to increase by 15% between 2023 and 2033. This is more than three times better than the outlook for other jobs across the United States (4%), and is still better than the average outlook for other healthcare support jobs (12%), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
As of May 2023, there are currently about 11,650 medical assisting jobs in the state, or 5.997 per 1,000 residents. Oregon cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Portland, Medford, and Eugene.
Medical assistants in Oregon earn a decent salary. The median salary for medical assistants in Oregon is $48,350 per year or $23.25 per hour. They have an average pay of $23.44 per hour or $54,586 per year.
The Oregon Society of Medical Assistants (OSMA) was created for medical assistants and is a great way to stay up to date with best practices and current events. They offer members continuing education courses, mentorship opportunities, certification study guides, and much more.
The OSMA holds an annual conference for medical assistants to network, share ideas, and support each other.
Additional organizations that support medical assistants in their careers include the American Medical Technologists, the National Healthcareer Association, and the American Association of Medical Assistants.
