At-home clinical kit included




Medical assisting is a growing field that offers strong job prospects and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in patient care. Stepful's 5-month online program prepares South Dakota residents to pass the NHA Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam. This nationally recognized credential makes you a more competitive job candidate and ensures you're job-ready on day one.
Join live, 90-minute classes twice a week with expert instructors. Complete daily assignments, mock exams, and simulations—100% online. Pass your national medical assistant certification exam with confidence.
Complete 80 to 160 clinical hours. Use Stepful's Externship Booking Platform to secure interviews at local clinical sites, typically within 1 to 3 months after passing your certification exam.
Join our 8-week Job Coaching Program with mock interview workshops and 1:1 coaching. Receive curated full-time Medical Assistant openings in your area. We're with you every step of the way.

Completing a training program like Stepful's is the fastest way to launch your career as a medical assistant. All you need is a high school diploma or GED. South Dakota does not require medical assistants to be licensed. And while certification isn’t mandatory either, most employers prefer or require it.
Stepful's 5-month program prepares you to earn your Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential. Stepful students also do an externship to get real-world, hands-on experience. When you're ready to apply for jobs, Stepful is right there with you, with resume help, mock interviews, and job search assistance. At Stepful, we support you every step of the way — from enrollment through employment.

Learn the foundational healthcare knowledge needed to become a well-rounded Medical Assistant. Topics include healthcare systems, medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
Master the ins and outs of providing great patient care and handling tasks in a clinical lab setting. OSHA & HIPAA training and certification.
Master the ins and outs of providing great patient care and handling tasks in a clinical lab setting.
Practice the hands-on skills you’ll use every day as an MA with your Clinical Kit. You’ll also explore medical law and ethics and strengthen your communication skills when working with patients.
Prepare for your national certification exam, get certified, and work with your dedicated coach to find an externship and then a full-time job.
Prepare for your national certification exam, get certified, and work with your dedicated coach to find an externship and then a full-time job.

Medical assistants in South Dakota have a positive job outlook. As of May 2023, there were 1,010 medical assisting jobs in South Dakota, or 2.26 for every 1,000 jobs in the state.
South Dakota cities with the highest number of medical assistants are:
Medical assistants in South Dakota earn a decent salary, with an average salary of $44,238 per year, or $21.27 per hour.
Nationally, medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing fields. Job opportunities for medical assistants are expected to increase by 12% between 2024 and 2034. That’s four times the rate of other jobs in the US.
This high demand means certified medical assistants should be able to find a job more easily and may be able to negotiate for higher starting wages.
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You are not required to be certified to work as a medical assistant in South Dakota. However, 96% of employers require or encourage certification for their medical assistants. A certification — such as the CCMA, which you’ll test for after completing our South Dakota Medical Assistant Training Program — shows employers that you are trained to do all the tasks commonly done by medical assistants.
Medical assistants in South Dakota do not need a license. They are, however, required to work under the direct supervision of a person licensed to practice medicine in the state.
When you enroll with Stepful in South Dakota, your tuition bundles the full learning experience together. That includes access to the online learning platform, live instructor-led Zoom classes, clinical sessions, NHA CCMA certification exam prep, one-on-one coaching, career services, and an at-home Clinical Kit so you can practice hands-on skills wherever you are in South Dakota. No textbooks or extra materials to buy.
Fully free programs are rare, but Stepful helps close the gap with partial scholarships for qualifying students and interest-free installment plans. Apply to see what aid you're eligible for as a South Dakota resident.
Once you pass the NHA CCMA exam, you'll complete 80 to 160 in-person clinical hours. Stepful's Externship Booking Platform connects you to its network of partner clinics to line up interviews at sites near you in South Dakota. You can also tap into local networks like the South Dakota Society of Medical Assistants as you build your career.
Just two things: a high school diploma or GED, and a stable internet connection. No prior healthcare experience is needed to enroll in Stepful's South Dakota program.
Medical assistants in South Dakota work under the direct supervision of a licensed medical provider. Clinical duties may include: taking vital signs, preparing patients for exams, phlebotomy and injections, reporting patients’ signs or symptoms, administering basic first aid, assisting with patient exams or treatment, collecting routine lab specimens, and performing EKGs and glucose testing. Administrative duties include scheduling appointments, maintaining patient records, handling billing and insurance claims, and all general administrative tasks.
Stepful is an official partner of the National Healthcareer Association (NHA). The program prepares you to earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential, which employers across South Dakota and the rest of the country recognize. Stepful was also named the #1 Education Technology Company in the US by TIME.
Many South Dakota students qualify for grants that meaningfully lower the price, apply to see your personalized pricing. A non-refundable $49 enrollment fee holds your spot, and you have 3 days to change your mind for a full refund. For context, medical assistants in South Dakota earn around $35,230 per year (about $21.27/hour), so the program is designed to pay for itself quickly.
South Dakota doesn't require a certification or license to work as a medical assistant, but you will need to register with the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners before working with patients. Even where it isn't mandatory, the NHA reports that 87% of healthcare organizations prefer certified assistants, so earning your CCMA makes you a stronger candidate.
None at all. With just a high school diploma or GED and internet access, you can go from no healthcare background to certified and job-ready through Stepful's 5-month program. Demand is strong statewide, Sioux Falls is among the top-paying areas for medical assistants in South Dakota, at roughly $37,180 per year, with Rapid City also offering solid opportunities.
Medical assistants in South Dakota cannot examine, diagnose, or treat patients independently. The supervising licensed provider determines which tasks are appropriate to delegate. Medical assistants may only perform duties for which they have been trained and that have been specifically assigned by their supervising provider.