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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 Rhode Island.
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 Rhode Island 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.
Medical assistants can decide whether or not they want to complete formal training or earn a degree, but all must have at least a school diploma. Students who seek an alternative to in-person high school can often complete a GED in just a few weeks.
Choosing a medical assistant training program is an important step on the way to becoming a medical assistant. Before making a final decision, students should consider the cost, schedule length, and passing rate of each program.
Options include:
Often, employers want to hire certified medical assistants but are not worried about whether or not they have earned a degree in medical assisting.
Top-tier training programs provide externship opportunities, allowing students to gain hands-on experience. Stepful’s program includes an externship component to ensure students gain real-world practice before entering the workforce.
During an externship, students will spend between 60 and 100 hours practicing with and getting feedback from an experienced medical assistant. Throughout the experience, students will practice working with real patients and master skills such as venipuncture, measuring vital signs, and placing EKG leads.
Brown University Health and other similar facilities not necessarily related to Stepful may offer medical assisting externship opportunities to interested students in the Rhode Island area.
To become certified, students must pass a certification exam, which typically includes around 150 questions covering topics such as anatomy, infection control, healthcare ethics, and patient safety.
Certification options include:
All these certifications are recognized in Rhode Island.
When starting a job search, most medical assistants choose to browse sites such as Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, and Rhode Island government websites.
For students who need support, the staff at Stepful are ready to help. Our faculty helps students build their resumes and strengthen their interview skills while supporting them in their job search.
Research shows that 87% of organizations prefer to hire certified assistants. However, it is not required in Rhode Island.
Medical assistants in Rhode Island are not required to obtain a license or register with the state.
The Rhode Island Department of Health has a specific list of tasks that should not be delegated to a medical assistant.
These include:
The Rhode Island Department of Health also has a specific list of tasks that can be delegated to a medical assistant, as long as they have been trained and have appropriate supervision.
Tasks that may be delegated to a medical assistant include:
Administrative Responsibilities
It is estimated that job openings for medical assistants across the United States will increase by 15% between 2023 and 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is more than 300% higher than the outlook for other jobs across the United States (4%), growth for other healthcare support jobs is estimated to remain at 12% during the same time period.
As of May 2023, there are currently about 3,080 medical assisting jobs in the state or 6.3 per 1,000 residents. Rhode Island cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Providence and Warwick.
Medical assistants in Rhode Island earn a decent salary. The median salary for medical assistants in Rhode Island is $43,980 per year or $21.15 per hour. They have an average pay of $20.65 per hour or $48,088 per year.
Organizations that support medical assistants throughout their careers include the American Medical Technologists, the National Healthcareer Association, and the American Association of Medical Assistants.
These organizations offer annual conferences, continuing education opportunities, newsletters, study tips, and practice guidelines for medical assistants.
