Medical Assistant Programs In North Carolina

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national annual projected job opening from 2020 to 2030 for medical assistants is 18 percent, or 104,400 jobs.

In North Carolina, the annual projected job opening from 2018 to 2028 for medical assistants is 23 percent, or 2,680 jobs.

Formal education or training is not mandatory to practice in North Carolina. However, medical assistants who want to take the certification exams, depending on the type of certification, may need to be at least a high school graduate or equivalent, have completed a medical assisting degree program, or have undergone training. Aspiring medical assistants who want to learn further can find plenty of medical assisting programs offered by colleges in North Carolina. Depending on the program, the certificate or associate degree program lasts for one to two years.

Medical assistants in North Carolina are considered unlicensed healthcare workers. There are no listed duties for medical assistants in North Carolina but the North Carolina Medical Board stated that physicians can delegate tasks to unlicensed workers as long as the worker is qualified to do the task, the worker can safely perform the task, the other physicians with relevant specialty also allows the unlicensed worker to perform the task, the task does not require healthcare license, and the worker is supervised by the physician.

Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant in North Carolina

There is no law in North Carolina that requires medical assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified in order to work. However, it is highly recommended for medical assistants to take and pass the certification exam to increase their chances of getting hired and climbing the career ladder in the future.

Listed below are the five certifications for medical assistants accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies:

Salaries for Medical Assistants in North Carolina

The national annual median wage for medical assistants in the US as of May 2021 is $37,190, with a median hourly rate of $17.88.

In North Carolina, the annual median wage for medical assistants is $36,790, with a median hourly rate of $17.69. They can also earn an annual wage of as high as $46,210, with an hourly rate of $22.22.

Medical assistants in Arizona aspiring to practice naturopathic medicine can apply for certification at the Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board. Likewise, medical assistants interested in homeopathic medicine can apply and register at the Arizona Board of Homeopathic and Integrated Medicine Examiners.