Medical Assistant FAQ
Q. How do I become a Medical Assistant?
Become a Medical Assistant by enrolling in Northwest Career College's 9-month Medical Assistant Program. You will learn to perform clinical tasks, such as vital signs, injections, sterilization techniques, specimen collection, diagnostic testing, and assisting with in-office surgical procedures. You will also learn administrative tasks, such as using electronic health records and completing referral paperwork. All of these are essential to your success as a Medical Assistant!
Q. Can I get a Medical Assistant degree online?
Northwest Career College's Medical Assistant program blends outstanding online lectures with exceptional on-campus, hands-on training. Although some institutions may claim to teach Medical Assisting wholly online, nothing replaces hands-on training to get you Career Ready to work with fellow professionals in a variety of healthcare settings. Although you can learn a lot online, your one-on-one, hands-on learning in class with seasoned instructors provides you with invaluable practice making you the most desirable applicant for any Medical Assistant position.
Q. How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant?
It will take you nine months of online and on-campus hands-on learning to graduate from your Medical Assistant program...and then you will become career ready to work in a group practice, hospital setting, long-term care facilities, surgicenter, and more!
Q. Can my Medical Assistant credits transfer to a nursing degree?
NCC encourages Medical Assistant program graduates to apply for transfer credits if they ; however, NCC cannot guarantee that these credits will be accepted at all institutions. Transfer credit acceptance is determined by the institution accepting the credits for transfer, not the original college of the alumni requesting the transfer credit.
Q. What’s the difference between a Medical Assistant and CNA?
Medical assistants are mostly found in the clinical setting of the medical field and will handle administrative tasks in addition to patient care. CNAs are mostly found in long-term care facilities and assist nurses with patient care.
Q. Can I work in a hospital after graduating from the Medical Assistant program?
Medical Assistant graduates typically work in a private medical office setting. Students interested in working in a hospital setting should consider enrolling in Northwest Career College’s Healthcare Administration program, as they will be well equipped to pursue an administrative position within a hospital setting.
Q. Does the Medical Assistant program include an EKG Certification?
Although Northwest does not require students to participate in an EKG Certification exam to graduate from its Medical Assistant program, graduates meet the educational requirements needed to qualify for the Certified EKG Technician exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
Q. Who gets paid more, a medical assistant or a CNA?
Due to the variety of employment opportunities with the completion of each certification, salaries are dependent on the place of employment. We encourage students to visit the US Bureau of Labor Statistics website,
https://www.bls.gov/, to see the National averages of each career.
Q. What are the benefits of being dual certified in Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy?
Entering the medical field with multiple certifications will provide more career opportunities and makes students more marketable in the competitive job market.
