Everything you need to know about a career as a Clinical Medical Assistant in Ohio!

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Are you interested in a career as a medical assistant in Ohio or the surrounding states? This guide was created with you in mind! It will provide information about East Ohio College’s Clinical Medical Assistant program, the current healthcare landscape, frequently asked questions, and more!

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About East Ohio College

East Ohio College, formerly Ohio Valley College of Technology, has been a trusted educator in Northeastern Ohio for over 100 years. Established in 1886 in East Liverpool, Ohio, East Ohio College has been meeting the needs of local employers by providing professionals with hands-on training for positions in healthcare and professional fields. 

In 2022, East Ohio College developed an online platform, East Ohio Online, for several healthcare and professional training programs, allowing students in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia to balance family, work, and college. East Ohio College prides itself on providing the same level of education and service to both residential and online students.

With current program offerings in nursing, allied healthcare, and professional services, East Ohio College and East Ohio Online are trusted to provide quality training for those looking to enter these growing fields. 

East Ohio College’s unique, hands-on approach to education provides each student with personalized support and quality career training taught by experienced faculty who uphold our purpose and core values. Throughout the organization, each person is held to these fundamental values: Work Ethic, Exemplary, Caring, Accountability, Relationships, and Excellence (WE CARE). As a result of these standards, East Ohio College fulfills its purpose of empowering change by creating opportunity.

What you can expect to learn

• East Ohio College Accreditation & Licensing
• A Medical Assistant’s Role in Healthcare
• The East Ohio College Academic Process
• Earning Your Associate of Applied Business in Medical Assisting
• East Ohio’s Medical Assisting to Registered Nursing Pathway
• The National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
• Applying Your Degree in the Workforce
• Benefits of Attending East Ohio College
• Frequently Asked Questions

East Ohio College Accreditation & Licensing

East Ohio College is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) to award associate degrees and diplomas. ABHES is a national accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

East Ohio College is approved, and the programs are authorized by the Ohio State Board of Career Colleges and Schools, – Registration Number 1555B.

The East Ohio College School of Nursing Associate Degree in Nursing has been granted Full Approval by the Ohio Board of Nursing.

East Ohio College offers some programs that are approved by the State Approving Agency for students to use veterans’ benefits.

A Medical Assistant’s Role In Healthcare

Medical assistants are important members of any healthcare team, and their skills allow them to assist nurses, doctors, and other medical staff with direct patient care and administrative tasks.

The education that East Ohio College medical assistant students receive qualifies them to perform hands-on medical procedures, including drawing blood, EKGs, collecting specimens for various tests, visual acuity tests, and more. They will also learn back-of-office administrative tasks such as charting, software usage, processing insurance, and more. This training provides them with a well-rounded and versatile skillset. 

Often, a medical assistant is one of the first personnel a patient encounters in a medical facility. Because of this, they have the opportunity to create a good first impression and make the patient’s experience start on a positive note. The training an East Ohio College Clinical Medical Assistant receives prepares them to be efficient and compassionate to every patient they encounter. 

The need for qualified medical assistants is expected to continue growing. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is expected to be a 16% growth in the nationwide employment of medical assistant professionals from 2021 to 2031. This growth is partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing a shortage of medical professionals, the aging baby boomer population requiring more medical care, and the current workforce aging and beginning to retire. While local needs may differ from national averages, medical assisting may be a good entry point to the medical field.

The East Ohio College Academic Process

East Ohio College has developed and evolved an established process in its over 100 years of career training. This process comprises of five-steps that guide students through their time as East Ohio students: Learn, Practice, Apply, Earn, and Start.

Step One: Learn

In step one, students will begin to develop their essential knowledge and fundamental skills in medical assisting classes. This is the foundation for their success in the program and their future careers.

Step Two: Practice

In the second step, students will then put their knowledge and skills learned in the classroom into practice during hands-on lab experiences led by experienced East Ohio College instructors.

Step Three: Apply

Then, in step three, students will apply the knowledge and skills they have learned in the classroom and lab environments in a real-world healthcare setting during an externship facilitated by East Ohio’s academic team. 

Step Four: Earn

In step four, students will complete the Clinical Medical Assistant program and prepare to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)* certification exam.

Step Five: Start

Upon completing the program, students will graduate with their associate degree and be ready to begin their new careers as medical assistants.

Earning Your Associate of Applied Business in Clinical Medical Assistant

East Ohio College’s online Clinical Medical Assistant program provides students with the skills, knowledge, training, and experience they need to start their medical assisting career in only 18 months. This online training option allows students to balance family, work, and college with flexible virtual instruction combined with hands-on weekend clinical experiences. The online medical assisting curriculum includes training in direct patient care tasks, administrative skills, certification* preparation, and a real-world externship coordinated by the East Ohio College career management team.

Upon completion of the program, students will be conferred an Associate Degree of Applied Business in Clinical Medical Assistant. Additionally, students will be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification* exam. This combination of degree and certification indicates to employers that East Ohio College graduates are qualified to enter the workforce as medical assistants.

*Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding industry certification exam. Required/Included in Tuition/Fees.

East Ohio Medical Assisting to Registered Nursing Pathway

East Ohio College offers a Medical Assisting to Registered Nursing pathway option for students interested in furthering their medical career. This option allows students to complete their clinical medical assisting training to gain valuable healthcare knowledge and skills, then graduate and begin gaining experience in the medical field while earning an income. Then, while working as medical assistants, they can return to East Ohio College to take nursing courses.

Starting a career as a medical assistant prior to becoming a nurse can benefit students because it allows them to become accustomed to the medical field before beginning a rigorous Nursing program. Additionally, East Ohio College graduates who have completed the medical assisting training program or another of our medical programs are eligible for a Nursing Pathway Grant^ to help finance their nursing education.

The National Healthcareer Association (NHA)

As part of the training East Ohio Clinical Medical Assistant students receive, they will be prepared to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)* National Healthcare Association (NHA) certification exam. 

Earning industry-specific certifications from a third-party certification agency such as the NHA can be a great way to solidify an individual’s confidence in their knowledge and build their resume. 

The National Healthcareer Association has granted allied healthcare professionals certifications for over 30 years. Because healthcare employers widely recognize the NHA, passing certification exams can potentially give graduates an advantage in the hiring process. Passing the exam shows potential employers that the individual has met nationally recognized skill level standards and competency. 

Applying Your Degree in the Workforce

The training that medical assisting students receive at East Ohio College equips them with the skills needed to be qualified for positions in an array of medical facilities. Many clinical medical assistants work in family medicine practices, hospitals, laboratories, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Because East Ohio Clinical Medical Assistant alums are trained in clinical skills and administrative tasks, they can often find positions that focus more on back-end tasks or direct patient care, depending on their preferred aspect. For example, one position may focus more on obtaining patient vitals and charting, while another may focus more on scheduling and software usage. 

Regardless of where a medical assistant chooses to work, they can expect to work closely alongside doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare team members. They play an integral role in ensuring the medical facility runs smoothly, and the patient has a good experience.

Benefits of Attending East Ohio College

As a result of East Ohio College’s unique educational approach, students will complete their medical assisting training in an environment where they feel supported while learning the critical skills and obtaining the hands-on experience they need to be successful in their careers. East Ohio College understands that students lead busy lives, and they must balance their work schedules, personal lives, families, and more with their education. This is why East Ohio puts the student experience as a priority, providing a high level of support and benefits to students. 

One significant benefit of attending East Ohio College versus a traditional four-year institution is our direct admission approach. This means that students will save precious time and money by entering classes directly related to medical assisting instead of taking unnecessary courses to prolong their studies. Additionally, because the curriculum is designed in an accelerated format, students will complete courses in 6-week increments. This means that classes will cover more material in less time, and students can expect to be challenged academically. 

During their time at East Ohio College and beyond, students and graduates will have access to our career services department to assist with academic and personal support. Included in this service is resume assistance, tutoring, interview preparation, organizing an externship, and community networking. East Ohio College alums will have continued access to the career management team to assist in career guidance and industry refresher courses at no additional tuition cost. Career Management Services are subject to specific conditions and requirements and to continued campus operations. Please see the campus catalog for complete details.

Additionally, medical assisting students at East Ohio College will be prepared to sit for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)* certification. This certification preparation is incorporated directly into the curriculum, along with hands-on training and a healthcare externship, to provide students with a well-rounded educational experience. 

East Ohio College understands the value of education, so we strive to ensure that every student is provided with exceptional support and resources from the first time they reach out through graduation and into their careers.

*Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding industry certification exam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does a medical assistant do?

A: Medical assistants are versatile healthcare team members who can carry out various direct patient care tasks, including phlebotomy, EKGs, vitals, injections, and more. They are also trained in back-of-office administrative duties, including managing electronic health records, software usage, insurance processing, and more. 

Q: How long is a medical assistant training program?

A: The Clinical Medical Assistant program at East Ohio College is 18 months. This allows students to complete their education, prepare for certification*, graduate, and enter the workforce in two years or less.

Q: How do you get a medical assistant certification?

A: The East Ohio College Clinical Medical Assistant program curriculum incorporates training and preparation for the National Healthcareer Association Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification* exam at no additional cost to the student. 

Do you still have questions about East Ohio College’s online medical assisting training program? Our admissions team members are here to help answer any specific questions you may have. Contact us by calling 833-EASTOHIO or Requesting Information today!

*Certification is contingent upon passing the corresponding industry certification exam.