Do not let anyone fool you into thinking that you have to have a four-year degree to make a decent salary.
For instance, you can become a Medical Assistant in Virginia in less than two years and make about $13-$18 per hour.
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Licensing Requirements to Become a Medical Assistant in Virginia
No license is required to become a Medical Assistant in Virginia.
However, you should follow the standards set by most medical centers and national credentialing bodies.
Popular certificates include the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) provided by the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
Otherwise, you could earn the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) offered by the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
Additional options include the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) or similar credentials earned by either the Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).
When you sign up for school, make sure the training you receive matches up with the content provided in one of these credentialing bodies’ exams.
5 Medical Assistant Schools in Virginia
1. Eastern Virginia Career College
The Medical Assistant program at EVCC prepares you for entry-level work in a hospital, nursing home, assisted or long-term care facility, or retirement home.
You also might find employment at an urgent care center or blood bank – any place where you would provide services to a doctor, nurse, or other licensed medical staff.
This instruction involves about 735 hours, and you will spend about 210 hours of it in a lab.
About 90 clock hours will also be spent in an externship setting.
2. Chester Career College
The Associate Degree program at Chester Career College prepares you for an entry-level position as a Medical Assistant.
This will include clinical patient assistance or help in the front office welcoming patients, taking phone calls, and scheduling appointments.
Your training will also provide you with experience with lab procedures, helping patients with medication, physiology, and anatomy.
In addition, you will become familiar with patient privacy practices and medical care ethical standards.
The daytime training schedule is from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the evening schedule is from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
3. Blue Ridge Community College
If you are looking for a school that will make you ready to take the RMA, CMAA, or CCMA certification exams, Blue Ridge is for you.
This Registered Medical Assistant training includes both online and in-person training sessions.
You will learn foundations, such as what the human body parts are and their functions (anatomy and physiology) and EKG machine operations.
In addition, you will receive some RMA exam review time and receive a pharmacology introduction.
The primary certificate recommended after completing this program is the AMT RMA credential.
This program includes 720 hours of combined education, and a 160-hour externship is also required.
4. Tidewater Community College
This school offers a variety of opportunities for students who perhaps already had a Medical Assistant credential.
You can enroll in the Medical Laboratory Technology, Phlebotomy, or Occupational Therapy Assistant programs, for instance.
Lengths of training vary, starting from the certificate programs that may only take about a year or less and the degree programs that take about two years or more to finish.
5. Bryant and Stratton College
The Medical Office Assistant Diploma program prepares you for the business side of a healthcare career.
It is perfect for you if you are not ready to work directly with patients as a nurse, lab tech, EKG Technician, Phlebotomist, or Clinical Medical Assistant.
You will learn all about record keeping and dealing with patient records no matter what setting you work in.
Medical Assistant Schools in Virginia – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Eastern Virginia Career College | 10304 Spotsylvania Ave # 400, Fredericksburg, VA 22408 |
| Chester Career College | 751 W Hundred Rd, Chester, VA 23836 |
| Blue Ridge Community College | 1 College Ln, Weyers Cave, VA 24486 |
| Tidewater Community College | 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453 |
| Bryant and Stratton College | 301 Centre Pointe Dr, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 |
Salary
On May 27, 2022, a report revealed that Medical Assistants in Virginia make an average of $37,687 per year.
This salary usually ranges from $34,746 to $40,695.
If you earn multiple certifications, you could make as much as $43,433 or more.
Cities you can look for jobs here include Richmond, Virginia Beach, Ashburn, Charlottesville, and Fredericksburg.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Assistants in Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $36,246 |
| Norfolk | $35,700 |
| Chesapeake | $35,654 |
| Richmond | $37,831 |
| Newport News | $35,518 |
| Hampton | $35,518 |
| Alexandria | $42,206 |
| Portsmouth | $35,700 |
| Roanoke | $35,052 |
| Lynchburg | $34,922 |
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 220 | $34,690 | $16.68 | $37,920 | $29,630 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 460 | $37,800 | $18.17 | $44,390 | $30,450 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 160 | $36,370 | $17.49 | $45,900 | $30,140 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 510 | $34,640 | $16.65 | $43,350 | $28,620 |
| Richmond, VA | 2,400 | $37,920 | $18.23 | $46,260 | $30,150 |
| Roanoke, VA | 550 | $35,620 | $17.13 | $42,680 | $29,640 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | 180 | $37,440 | $18 | $44,200 | $29,640 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 2,950 | $37,180 | $17.87 | $45,930 | $30,490 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 400 | $36,680 | $17.64 | $43,880 | $30,140 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Schools by City
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Virginia Medical Assistant training cost?
Virginia Medical Assistant training costs from as low as about $3,000-$10,000 per semester or year.
Note that higher-priced education does not always mean better quality.
The less expensive options are usually workforce-based and allow you to start working sooner but with restrictions, until you become certified.
How many Medical Assistants are needed?
It is hard to say how many MAs are needed from year to year.
On the national level, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted a yearly 104,400 job opening average from 2020-2030.
They also calculated an approximate 18% increase in the need for this position during the same period.
How long does the training for MAs usually take?
It takes approximately nine months for the certificate program, but it could run for up to three terms, including a summer semester.
The associate degree program would take up to two years.
What tasks does a Medical Assistant usually perform?
One of the most important tasks they perform is keeping patients calm and making them feel welcome.
If working in the lab, they will assist with blood testing.
If working in the patient exam room, they might read and interpret EKG heart monitoring results.
It all depends on if their focus is on the clinical, clerical, or both.
