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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
Stepful’s Medical Assistant program is designed for those looking to take the next step in their careers by becoming a certified medical assistant in Rhode Island.
Our online program prepares you to earn your Certified Clinical Medical Assistant certification from the National Healthcareer Association and perform all the duties of medical assistants, including both those in the front office as well as working with patients.
Our Rhode Island Medical Assistant classes take 4 months to complete and cover all essential topics such as medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, healthcare systems, phlebotomy, EKG, patient care coordination, and much more.
The Stepful staff is here to support you at every stage of the journey. From career preparedness to help finding an in-person externship*, we're here to help you launch your career in healthcare.
*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
Obtain a High School Diploma or GED
Medical assistants can decide whether or not they want to complete formal training or earn a degree, but all must have at least a school diploma. Students who seek an alternative to in-person high school can often complete a GED in just a few weeks.
02
Complete a Medical Assistant Training Program
Choosing a medical assistant training program is an important step on the way to becoming a medical assistant. Before making a final decision, students should consider the cost, schedule length, and passing rate of each program.
Options include:
- Online courses. These typically cost a few hundred dollars and can be completed in four to four to six months. Stepful’s Medical Assistant Training Program is a great option for students looking for an affordable and flexible course. The program can be completed online in just 4 months, costs significantly less than degree programs, and includes job placement assistance.
- Community college programs. These cost several hundred to a few thousand dollars and can be completed in four to twelve months.
- Degree programs. These are the most expensive and time-consuming of the options. Degree programs cost more than $10,000 and take at least two years to complete.
Often, employers want to hire certified medical assistants but are not worried about whether or not they have earned a degree in medical assisting.
03
Complete an Externship
Top-tier training programs provide externship opportunities, allowing students to gain hands-on experience. Stepful’s program includes an externship component to ensure students gain real-world practice before entering the workforce.
During an externship, students will spend between 60 and 100 hours practicing with and getting feedback from an experienced medical assistant. Throughout the experience, students will practice working with real patients and master skills such as venipuncture, measuring vital signs, and placing EKG leads.
Brown University Health and other similar facilities not necessarily related to Stepful may offer medical assisting externship opportunities to interested students in the Rhode Island area.
04
Pass a Certification Exam
To become certified, students must pass a certification exam, which typically includes around 150 questions covering topics such as anatomy, infection control, healthcare ethics, and patient safety.
Certification options include:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) – Offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) – Offered by the National Healthcareer Association, this is certification Stepful prepares their students for as it’s the most clinical oriented of them all.
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) – Offered by the American Medical Technologists
All these certifications are recognized in Rhode Island.
05
Search for Jobs
When starting a job search, most medical assistants choose to browse sites such as Indeed, Monster, ZipRecruiter, and Rhode Island government websites.
For students who need support, the staff at Stepful are ready to help. Our faculty helps students build their resumes and strengthen their interview skills while supporting them in their job search.
Research shows that 87% of organizations prefer to hire certified assistants. However, it is not required in Rhode Island.
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Medical assistants in Rhode Island are not required to obtain a license or register with the state.
What Medical Assistants Cannot Do in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Health has a specific list of tasks that should not be delegated to a medical assistant.
These include:
- Work without direct supervision according to the supervisory agreement
- Perform medical triage
- Diagnose or treat any disease
- Administer scheduled medications
- Administer any contrast dyes
- Give any type of intravenous injections
- Place sutures
- Insert an intravenous (IV) catheter
- Draw blood from an artery
- Take x-rays or position patients for scans such as x-rays, CTs, MRIs, or ultrasounds
- Call in prescriptions for schedule 2 – 5 medications
- Interpret a test or any clinical finding
- Use any laser
What Medical Assistants Can Do in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Health also has a specific list of tasks that can be delegated to a medical assistant, as long as they have been trained and have appropriate supervision.
Tasks that may be delegated to a medical assistant include:
- Perform clerical work, such as assembling charts and assisting with billing
- Take vital signs
- Obtain a BMI
- Enter data into medical records
- Reconcile medications
- Administer screening questionnaires
- Schedule visits for preventive and chronic-care management
- Conduct telephone follow-up after clinic or hospital visits
- Collect urine, sputum, semen, and stool specimens
- Remove or apply bandages
- Perform EKG
- Perform incentive spirometry
- Assist an authorized practitioner, under direct supervision, to carry out a specific task
- Take laboratory specimens via venipuncture
- Administer vaccines including oral, intramuscular, or subcutaneous
- Administer a non-controlled medication orally, subcutaneously, or intramuscularly
- Perform a CLIA-waived test
- Apply an initial cast after it has been positioned by an authorized practitioner
Administrative Responsibilities
- Order Supplies
- Maintain patient records
- Maintain inventory
- Coordinate payments with insurance companies
- Schedule appointments
- Send appointment reminders
- Handle billing and payments
- Document procedures
- Clean the waiting room
- Organize supplies
It is estimated that job openings for medical assistants across the United States will increase by 15% between 2023 and 2033, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This is more than 300% higher than the outlook for other jobs across the United States (4%), growth for other healthcare support jobs is estimated to remain at 12% during the same time period.
As of May 2023, there are currently about 3,080 medical assisting jobs in the state or 6.3 per 1,000 residents. Rhode Island cities with the highest number of medical assistants include Providence and Warwick.
Medical assistants in Rhode Island earn a decent salary. The median salary for medical assistants in Rhode Island is $43,980 per year or $21.15 per hour. They have an average pay of $20.65 per hour or $48,088 per year.
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Salary: $43,980 / year
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Job Outlook: +15% Growth
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# of Jobs in Rhode Island: 3,080
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Organizations that support medical assistants throughout their careers include the American Medical Technologists, the National Healthcareer Association, and the American Association of Medical Assistants.
These organizations offer annual conferences, continuing education opportunities, newsletters, study tips, and practice guidelines for medical assistants.
What is included in Stepful’s Medical Assistant program tuition?
What tuition payment options are available?
What Medical Assistant certifications do you prepare me for?
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What are the requirements to enroll in your Medical Assistant program?
Is the program online or in-person?
Do you have a partnership with the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)?
Available States
Your new Medical Assistant career starts here
