The national annual projected job opening from 2020 to 2030 for medical assistants in the US is 18 percent, or 104,400 jobs, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In Alabama, the annual projected job opening for medical assistants from 2018 to 2028 is 21 percent, or 1,310 jobs.
A formal educational degree is not required for medical assistants in Alabama. However, aspiring medical assistants have the option to take a certificate or associate degree program in colleges or universities, which lasts for one to two years.
Medical assistants are allowed to perform administrative and clinical tasks in the facility, but there are no specific tasks or scope of duties published for medical assistants in Alabama.
Moreover, according to the Alabama Board of Nursing, there are some tasks that cannot be delegated to unlicensed assistive personnel. These include invasive or sterile procedures excluding peripheral venous phlebotomy and finger sticks, administration of certain prescription drugs, and any tasks that require independent nursing judgment or intervention.
Medical assistants in Alabama are unlicensed and are not required to have a registration or certification. It is up to the discretion of the employers if certification is required.
The average medical assistant certification program in Alabama is 9 months.
Getting a certification as a medical assistant can be useful in the future, especially for career growth or promotion.
Listed below are the five certifications for medical assistants accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies:
Salaries for Medical Assistants in Alabama
As of May 2021, the annual median wage for medical assistants in the US is $44,190, with a median hourly rate of $20.88.
Meanwhile, in Alabama, the annual median wage is $37,920, with a median hourly rate of $17.38. Medical assistants in Alabama can also earn an annual wage of as high as $44,660, with an hourly rate of $21.11.
https://alabamasocietyofmedicalassistants.org/
This is the state affiliate of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
This is the state board for nursing where information about task delegation to any unlicensed assistive personnel such as medical assistants can be found here.
This is a trilevel organization that administers the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA)®—or CMA (AAMA)® exam.
This association administers the Medical Assistant Certification (MAC) exam and Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) exam.
This association administers the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Certification exam.
This is an independent credentialing organization accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, which administers the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA).
This association administers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam.