Medical Assistant Schools in Portland
(found 9 schools)

The field of medical assisting is growing rapidly, as medical assistants can take on many minor medical tasks and free up doctors’ time. If you are good at working with people and you’re willing to dedicate one to two years to your education, this could be the perfect career path for you.

Before you can become a medical assistant, you need a thorough education in medical procedures and theory. Check out our school list below to find out more about Portland medical assistant schools.

Many different places hire medical assistants, but many MAs work for hospitals. Portland’s 639,000 residents rely on the services of excellent hospitals like Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital, Providence Portland Medical Center, and Kaiser Permanente Sunnyside Medical Center.

You can to and from class, school, and work with the help of TriMet, Portland’s public transit system. You can use a bus, light rail, commuter rail, or street car to get anywhere you need to go.

Medical Assistant Education in Portland

Before you can begin your medical assistant courses, you have to choose a school! You can begin your search by looking at local technical and community colleges. These institutions often have one-year certificate programs or two-year Associate’s degrees in medical assisting.

Tuition and financial aid will likely play a big role in your school choice. It’s important to evaluate each school carefully, since tuition rates vary from school to school. A good example is Portland Community College, where tuition is $88 per credit for residents and $216 per credit for non-residents.

Each semester, you’ll get the chance to take an exciting variety of medical practice and theory courses. Common courses include Medical Ethics, Clinical Procedures, Pathophysiology, and Basic Life Support. Many courses involve a practical aspect; either you go to a local clinic and test a new skill or you test new skills on fellow students. However, the bulk of your clinical work comes at the end of your program. You complete a one-semester practicum that takes you into a local hospital or clinic.

As you go through your courses, you may want to consider working towards Certified Medical Assistant status. This is not required, but it does have certain career benefits. You have to meet certain course requirements, so it’s important to make sure your school’s curriculum meets them. All testing and certification goes through the American Association of Medical Assistants.

Career Outlook for Medical Assistant Graduates in Portland

Once you have worked hard to earn your degree or certificate, you can reap the rewards of your hard work by starting your career! In Portland, there are two main ways you can use a medical assistant degree. Becoming a medical assistant is the more popular choice. However, if you would rather do more clerical work, you can consider becoming a medical records technician.

Medical assistants can work in private clinics, community clinics, and hospitals all over Portland. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, (2016) the average salary for a medical assistant in the Portland area is $34,920
per year.

The Oregon Society of Medical Assistants is a local group that provides many resources and advocacy services to medical assistants. Consider joining as soon as you start your career. As a member, you can attend networking events, learn about new job opportunities, and go to continuing education seminars.

Salary numbers provided are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.