Medical Assistant Schools in Austin
(found 5 schools)
If you’re good at working with people, have an eye for detail, and want to improve the lives of the people around you, becoming a medical assistant may be a good fit for you. With its population of over 885,000 people, Austin may be an excellent place to begin your career, as there are ample opportunities to impact the lives of patients across the area.
The U.S. Census Bureau notes that Austin’s population is growing faster than the rest of Texas. This rapidly-increasing population needs the health care services provided by medical assistants and other health care professionals. To learn more about how you can enter this vital area of healthcare, request information from schools today.
Schools and Jobs in Austin
If you’re looking for a medical assistant program, Austin may have many school options for you. These programs tend to last about one to two years, depending on whether you decide to earn a certificate, diploma, or Associate’s degree in Medical Assisting.
After you complete your medical assistant training, Austin, TX may also offer a wide range of career options to you. There are many large medical facilities in this area, including Austin Regional Clinic, UnitedHealth Group, Life Line Screening, and BrightStar Care. You can also look to nursing homes and clinics for additional job opportunities as a Medical Assistant.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are 3,530 medical assistants working in the Austin area (BLS, 2015). They indicate an annual mean wage of $30,370 per year (BLS, 2014).
Transportation and Networking in Austin
You may want to take advantage of networking and education opportunities in Texas. The Texas Society of Medical Assistants provides support to medical assisting students and professionals all over the state. There are also many events to attend, including summer meetings and continuing education events.
Public transit can make it easier for you to travel to the various places you’ll need to go for school, including your campus, practicum sites, and internship sites. Bus and rail programs through Capital Metro allow you to travel just about any time of day.
You may want to look into applying for scholarships as soon as you get accepted to a medical assisting program. The Texas Society for Allied Health Professions awards scholarships of $500 to students in health care professions.
Getting a Medical Assistant Degree
The medical assistant schools in Austin, TX can prepare you for work in a variety of settings. That’s why you have to take classes in many different areas. Your medical assistance program may start out with lower-level courses in each area and then build on that knowledge.
Early in your program, you may take courses like Medical Professional Issues, Insurance Billing and Coding, and Phlebotomy Essentials. These courses tackle some of the main work areas of medical assistants: being professional and ethical in the workplace, processing bills and insurance paperwork, and drawing blood.
As you progress through your courses, you may learn more advanced skills. Higher-level courses include Patient Care, Clinical Laboratory Diagnostics, and Pharmacology for Allied Health. These courses flesh out your knowledge of medications, show you how to work in a lab, and prepare you for patient care alongside nurse practitioners and other medical professionals.
These courses culminate in an externship or internship. When it comes to a medical assistant program, Austin, TX schools prize hands-on experience. In your internship, you can learn how to work with peers, how to take care of different patients, and how to manage your time. If you attend a CAAHEP-accredited program, you may also be ready to take the Certified Medical Assistant Certification Exam.
Becoming a medical assistant in Austin is a great way to have a career that is rewarding, both personally and professionally. To learn more about your specific options, contact the schools you see for more information.
Salary numbers provided are from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.