The United States BLS(Bureau of Labor Statistics) has projected a 19% increase of job openings in the next 8 years.
As of 2022, there are 1,748 licensed medical assistants in Alaska. The state's Department of Labor and Workforce Development has projected increase of 21% of job openings for medical assistants.
Medical assistants do not need to be licensed in Alaska. However, employers highly prefer that employees be graduates of an accredited program. In most cases, hospitals an physician's offices won't hire a medical assistant who isn't certified by either the American Association of Medical Assistants(AAMA) or the National Healthcare Association(NHA).
The regulations governing medical assistants in Alaska are similar to most other states, with one exception: Licensed nurses are not permitted to delegate duties to a medical assistant. This means that although a nurse may SUPERVISE and ASSIGN tasks to medical assistant, the nurse remains responsible for the work the CMA does.
The first step in becoming a CMA in Alaska is to complete a medical assisting program that is accredited by either CAAHEP(Commission on Accreditation of Health Education Programs) or the ABHES(Accrediting Bureau for Health Education Schools).
These accredited programs are between 8 months long to two years in length. Graduates of the two year programs are granted an Associate degree. Graduates of shorter programs are usually awarded a diploma of medical assisting.
There are three certifying agencies for medical assistant students in Alaska:
The need for certified medical assistants continues to rise year over year. As medical office procedures increases, so does the need for qualified MAs.
In September 2022, the average medical assistant salary in Alaska has risen to $46,272 annually. Working in hospitals and state government pays the most, while pay at free clinics is the lowest.
http://alaskamedicalassistants.org/
This is the Alaska's affiliate of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
https://www.aama-ntl.org/employers/state-scope-of-practice-laws
This is Alaska's website which covers what medical assistants can/cannot do on the job. The drawing of blood(phlebotomy), giving injections, and assisting in outpatient procedures are all covered by the laws of the state.
https://www.aama-ntl.org/about/overview
The purpose of the AAMA is to provide medical assistants with certification, credential verification, and continuing education. The AAMA has affiliates in all 50 states. The AAMA also allows for networking and continuing education opportunities.
https://www.nhanow.com/certification/nha-certifications/certified-clinical-medical-assistant-(ccma)
The NHA administers the exam and certification of Certified Clinical Medical Assistants (CCMA). They also offer certification for Certified Medical Administrative Assistants. The CCMA designation is for MAs who have trained for both clinical AND administrative tasks.
https://americanmedtech.org/medical-assistant
The AMT offers certification for Registered Medical Assistants(RMA). RMAs are very similar to CMAs. They are usually used interchangeably.
https://www.ncctinc.com/certifications/ma
The NCCT is responsible for administering the exams and credentialing of medical assistants and medical office assistants.