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Receive your NHA CCMA certification
100% online followed by in-person clinical hours
Job interview prep and resume services
1:1 Support From Enrollment to Employment
Here at Stepful, we have made completing school accessible for people with all different schedules and lifestyles. Our online training program offers morning, daytime, and evening classes along with one-on-one coaching to ensure your success.
Classes at Stepful cover the basics of healthcare systems, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, infection control, phlebotomy, and EKG measurements - preparing students to pass their Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association.
After coursework has been completed, Stepful helps students find an in-person externship where they can get between 80 to 160 hours of experience and master their hands-on skills.*
*Please note, students must be available M-F, 9-5 p.m. to be eligible for externship support.
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At-home clinical kit included
What you’ll learn
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Weeks 1-4
Learn the foundational healthcare knowledge needed to become a well-rounded Medical Assistant. Topics include healthcare systems, medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.
Weeks 5-8
Master the ins and outs of clinical patient care, such as infection control, phlebotomy, EKG, as well as patient care coordination and education.
Weeks 9-13
Learn how to handle routine administrative responsibilities and get a good grasp of medical law and ethics as well as excellent customer service.
Weeks 14-17+
Prepare for your national certification exam, get certified, and work with your dedicated coach to find an externship and then a full-time job.
Pick Your Start Date
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01
Graduate from high school or complete your GED
Medical assistants, whether or not they choose to earn a certification, must either graduate high school or complete a GED.
02
Enroll in & complete a medical assistant course
In Arkansas, medical assistants are not required to have a certification. However, most employers prefer or even require their medical assistants to become certified.
Medical assisting courses can be completed online, at a community college, or through a University. Online programs are typically the least expensive and the fastest, like the one we offer here at Stepful!
03
Complete a medical assistant externship
Healthcare organizations often prefer to hire medical assistants who have some experience working with patients. An externship allows aspiring medical assistants to work under the direction of another medical assistant, gaining valuable experience and improving their resume.
Organizations in Arkansas that offer externship opportunities to medical assistants may include Baptist Health, CHI St. Vincent, and Encompass Health.
Our program at Stepful is affiliated with over 8,000 clinics across the United States, meaning we can help our students find an interview opportunity.
*Please note, students must be available M-F, 9-5 p.m. to be eligible for externship support.
04
Pass your medical assistant certification exam
Since the State of Arkansas does not require certifications for medical assistants, you can choose the certification exam that makes the most sense for you. If your goal is to work for a specific healthcare organization, you may want to ask them if they have a preference.
Here at Stepful, we prepare students for the CCMA exam, offered by the National Healthcareer Association. This popular certification is recognized by all states and healthcare organizations and emphasizes clinical knowledge.
05
Search for jobs
Aspiring medical assistants can use websites such as Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter to search and apply for jobs in Arkansas. They may also choose to utilize the services offered by the Arkansas Society of Medical Assistants.
Because we recognize the importance of finding a great place to work, our career coaches at Stepful help their students apply for jobs that are a good fit for their skills and interests.
While medical assistants are not required to be certified in Arkansas, many healthcare organizations prefer to hire certified assistants. In fact, a 2019 survey showed that over 70% of employers require or encourage certification for their allied health professionals, including medical assistants.
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Medical assistants in Arkansas do not need a license. Instead, they work under the license of either a licensed physician or a licensed registered nurse. These more advanced practice providers are responsible for delegating safe and reasonable tasks to their medical assistants.
The Arkansas Board of Nursing has very specific rules about what medical assistants should and should not be responsible for in a healthcare setting. Medical assistants' scope of practice typically includes tasks that pose very little risk of harm to a patient.
What Medical Assistants Cannot Do in Arkansas
The state of Arkansas has a few strict rules about what tasks can be carried out by a medical assistant. Specific tasks that should not be done by a medical assistant include
- Assessment of a patient that requires nursing judgment, intervention, referral, or follow-up
- Formulation of the plan of nursing care
- Evaluation of the client's response to any care rendered
- Specific tasks that require nursing judgment or intervention
- Client health teaching and health counseling
- Administration of any medications
- Administering any intravenous therapy, including blood or blood products
- Receiving or transmitting verbal or telephone orders from a physician
- Calling in prescriptions to the pharmacy
What Medical Assistants Can Do in Arkansas
While medical assistants are prohibited from performing some patient care tasks, there is a lot that a medical assistant is responsible for.
- Noninvasive and non-sterile treatments such as bandaging or dressing a wound
- Collecting, reporting, and documentation of patient information
- Measuring vital signs, weight, height, and urine output
- Ambulation, positioning, and turning a patient
- Transportation of the client within a facility
- Assistance with personal hygiene
- Feeding, cutting up of food, or placing of meal trays
- Socialization activities
- Activities of daily living
- Reinforcement of health teaching planned and/or provided by the registered nurse.
Administrative Tasks
- Organize supplies
- Maintain inventory
- Maintain patient records
- Document procedures
- Schedule appointments
- Deal with insurance claims
- Handle billing and payments
- Answer phone calls
- Create staff work schedules
Medical assistants in Arkansas have a generally positive job outlook.
As the need for healthcare services increases nationwide, the need for medical assistants also rises. Opportunities for medical assistants are expected to grow 15% between 2023 and 2033. This is more than three times higher than the average growth expected for all jobs across the nation (4%)
As of May 2023, there were 12,360 medical assisting jobs in Arkansas 4,700 or 3.695 per 1,000 residents. Arkansas cities with the most medical assistants include Little Rock, Conway, and Springdale.
Compared to other allied health careers, medical assistants in Arkansas earn a good salary, with an average pay of $38,435 per year, or $16.51 per hour, and a median pay of $35,050 per year, or $16.85 per hour.
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Salary: $38,435 / year
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Job Outlook: +15% Growth
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# of Jobs in Arkansas: 12,360
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The Arkansas Society of Medical Assistants (ARSMA) is a professional organization that offers support, continuing education, scope of practice protection, and annual conferences to its members. ARSMA also offers credentialing verification and networking opportunities for certified medical assistants.
The Arkansas Department of Health is another good resource for medical assistants in Arkansas to find jobs, continuing education courses, and scope of practice updates.
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