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Stepful’s West Virginia Medical Assistant Program is one of the fastest, simplest ways to earn your certification and start your career as a medical assistant.
Our program is offered 100% online and takes just 4 months to complete. We prepare our students to pass their Certified Clinical Medical Assisting (CCMA) exam.
Using a combination of live instruction, virtual simulations, quizzes, and other tools, our classes make advanced topics feel easy. Each of our 90-minute classes covers topics including infection control, human anatomy and physiology, phlebotomy, EKG measurements, and more.
In addition to our online class structure, Stepful has partnerships with over 8,000 clinics across the Nation. This 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
The first step towards becoming a medical assistant is to either complete high school or pass a GED exam. Online high school options and GED preparation courses can often be completed in just a few weeks.
Second, you’ll need to enroll in and complete a medical assistant training course.
Training courses help students prepare for a career as a medical assistant by helping them master the basics of patient care, infection control, anatomy and physiology, phlebotomy, and more. Students can choose to complete either a certification-only program or earn an associate degree.
Certification programs can be online or in person, and the coursework can be completed in just a few months. These programs prepare you for your certification exam and focus on medical assisting coursework only.
Stepful’s online program offers an affordable and flexible option for students in West Virginia. This online program can be completed in just four months, costs significantly less than traditional degree programs, and includes job placement assistance.
Degree programs cover both medical assisting content and general college courses. These programs take two years to complete and may cost over $10,000. They prepare students for the same examinations as certificate-only programs.
Most training programs offer their students an externship opportunity after they complete their classroom lectures and coursework.
An externship is an unpaid work opportunity where students shadow an expert medical assistant. During their externship, students will practice hands-on skills, understand the workflow of the facility, and get to know other healthcare providers.
Externships typically last two to three weeks, and students spend full working days with their externship coach. Students who make a good impression during their externship may be offered a job when they complete their hours.
Organizations in West Virginia that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include Aurora Health Care.
At Stepful, we support our students with their externship search, by connecting them for an interview with one of our thousands of clinical partners available so they can access the clinical hours required for the next step.
After completing classroom hours and finishing your externship, you should be ready to take your medical assisting certification exam. Some students choose to spend a few extra days or weeks studying before they register for their test.
Your training program should specify which of these medical assistant certification exams you are prepared for.
Each exam has similar eligibility requirements. They must be taken at a testing center or with an online proctor. No testing aides, calculators, or notes can be used during any of the medical assisting certification exams.
Hopeful medical assistants can consider using websites like Monster, Glassdoor, Indeed, and ZipRecruiter to find a job. Medical assistants in West Virginia can also browse specific healthcare organization websites or search on the Workforce West Virginia website.
In addition, our coaches directors at Stepful can assist you in your job search with mock interviews and help you with your resume.
West Virginia law does not require medical assistants to complete a formal training program or earn a certification.
Although it isn’t required, most medical assistants find that certification makes them a more competitive job applicant. According to the NHA, 87% of healthcare organizations prefer to hire certified assistants.
Medical assistants in West Virginia are not required to register with the state or obtain a license.
According to the West Virginia Board of Nursing, medical assistants should not be given any responsibilities that require advanced medical decision-making skills, are potentially harmful to the patient, or have unpredictable outcomes.
Some responsibilities that cannot be given to a medical assistant in West Virginia include:
While invasive and dangerous procedures are not within the scope of practice of a medical assistant, there are still plenty of things they can do.
These specific tasks include:
Administrative Responsibilities
As of May 2023, there are currently about 4,120 medical assisting jobs in the state or 5.93 per 1,000 residents. West Virginia cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Huntington, Ashland, and Morgantown.
Medical assistants in West Virginia earn a decent salary. The median salary for medical assistants in West Virginia is $34,340 per year or $16.51 per hour. Medical assistants in West Virginia State have an average pay of $15.82 per hour or $36,824 per year.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to increase by 15% from 2023 to 2033. This is much higher than the average job growth for other jobs across the country over the same period (4%).
The West Virginia State Medical Association is a great resource for medical assistants who want to stay up to date on practice laws, new medical technology, and emerging advancements in healthcare. While they are not specific to medical assistants, they offer support for the healthcare community as a whole.
Other organizations that support medical assistants in West Virginia include the National Healthcareer Association, American Medical Technologists, and the American Association of Medical Assistants. Each of these organizations hosts an annual conference, encourages networking and collaboration, offers continuing education courses, and posts job openings.
