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Table of Contents
- 1 How to Become a Medical Assistant in Michigan
- 2 Step 1. Complete a Formal Education Program in Medical Assisting
- 3 Step 2. Consider National Accreditation in Medical Assisting
- 4 Step 3. Explore Employment Opportunities in Michigan
- 5 The Best Medical Assistant Schools in Michigan
- 6 Medical Assistant Salaries in Michigan
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Michigan
If you want to become a medical assistant in Michigan, you better prepare!
Preparation comes always packed with hard work.
And work, in this case, is simplified in completing the following steps:
- Complete a Formal Education Program in Medical Assisting
- Consider National Accreditation in Medical Assisting
- Explore Employment Opportunities in Michigan
In Michigan, Medical Assistants are considered as a multi-skilled health professional, who has finished their education to work in an ambulatory environment and perform clinical and administrative tasks.
As for the administrative duties, the Michigan Society of Medical Assistants identified these below as pertaining to them in particular:
- Arranging for hospital admissions
- Arranging for laboratory services
- Filling out insurance forms
- Handling office correspondence and bookkeeping
- Maintaining patient medical records
- Scheduling appointments
- Using computer applications
Clinical duties include:
- Assisting physicians during patient exams
- Authorizing prescription refills
- Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
- Drawing blood
- Explaining treatment to patients
- Instructing patients regarding medication, diet, wound care, etc.
- Preparing and administering medications under the direction and supervision of a physician
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Removing sutures, changing dressings
- Taking medical histories
In Michigan, medical assistants are not licensed.
But that does not mean they aren’t valued in the state.
On the contrary, the Medical Assistant Review Board notes that they have a direct impact on the public health and well-being of it in general.
As such, medical assisting practice demands being master of a complex body of knowledge and specialized skills.
In other words, both formal education and practical experience are needed to get it.
That’s as far as the Board of Michigan has stated regarding the issue.
Step 1. Complete a Formal Education Program in Medical Assisting
Because of the huge demand for medical assistants is huge, there’s enough room for diverse many medical assisting programs in the state.
For the programs to be eligible for students, they need to be accredited from the state.
Accreditation ensures that the course work is held in high standards, and consequently will make a competent entry-level medical assistant as long as he follows it.
Two major accrediting bodies in Michigan are two.
One of them is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
While the second is the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Both of them accredit diploma, certificate and associate degree level programs.
These programs are the following ones:
- Associate degree programs, which are generally two years in length (60 semester credit hours), provide an extensive education in medical assisting. You may choose to pursue an associate degree in medical assisting if you want to gain a competitive edge in your profession or if you have aspirations of going on to pursue a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
- A diploma program, which is usually less than a year in length, is also an ideal choice if you plan on pursuing an associate degree in medical assisting in the future, as coursework in a diploma program is generally transferrable.
- A certificate program, which is usually the shortest in duration, is ideal if you want quick entry into the profession.
In Addition to that, all ABHES and CAAHEP programs there end up with an externship.
At this time, the candidates will have the chance to apply the gained skills in a clinical environment.
Counting them in number, 12 accredited programs in Michigan are ABHES, while 27 of them are CAAHEP.
Step 2. Consider National Accreditation in Medical Assisting
Despite program accreditation, national accreditation is also necessary for medical assisting.
The Certified Medical Assistant credential is recognized by the Michigan Society of Medical Assistant.
This is done through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA).
The CMA, along with RMA credential are recognized through American Medical Technologists.
These credentials are the most widely known credentials in the medical assisting field.
Both of them identify a candidate who has completed a CAAHEP or ABHES medical assisting program accredited in Michigan.
Through them, the candidate becomes eligible to sit the exam.
Other national credentials in the field of medical assisting include:
- National Center for Competency Testing: The National Certified Medical Assistant
- National Healthcare Association: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
- The American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants: Podiatric Medical Assistant, certified
- The Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology: Certified Ophthalmic Assistant
Step 3. Explore Employment Opportunities in Michigan
After getting a solid education in medical assisting, it’s finally the time to work in the profession.
Michigan is known for a huge number of employed medical assistants in this field.
According to the Michigan Department of Technology, Management, and Budget, a total of 20,640 medical assistants were hired in the state in 2010.
This number is expected to vary to 24,170 by 2020.
This estimates a change of 3,533, which indicates a 17.1% growth in the number of jobs in the profession.
While the average job openings in Michigan for medical assistants is 669.
However, to reach these opportunities for work, you need to make a search beforehand, since nothing good comes easy.
The best way to do so in the state is to check these opportunities by being a member of any professional organization.
One of these you can check for is the Michigan Society of Medical Assistants.
It may also benefit you to begin searching for job openings through some of Michigan’s largest employers of medical assistants.
These groups are hospital systems and medical groups:
- Henry Ford Medical Group, Detroit
- CHE Trinity Health, Livonia
- Spectrum Health Systems, Grand Rapids
- University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor
- McLaren Health Care Corporation, Flint
The Best Medical Assistant Schools in Michigan
With 60 medical schools in Michigan, you will be lame.
But hold on!
You will figure out the right program depending on many factors.
You may consider place, length and similar factors.
After choosing to attend a particular school, all I can suggest you is to work hard.
The reason I am telling this is below this section.
School Name Address Alpena Community College Alpena, MI Baker College of Allen Park Allen Park, MI Baker College of Auburn Hills Auburn Hills, MI Baker College of Cadillac Cadillac, MI Baker College of Clinton Township Clinton Township, MI Baker College of Flint Flint, MI Baker College of Jackson Jackson, MI Baker College of Muskegon Muskegon, MI Baker College of Owosso Owosso, MI Baker College of Port Huron Port Huron, MI Bay Mills Community College Brimley, MI Career Quest Learning Center-Kalamazoo Kalamazoo, MI Career Quest Learning Centers-Jackson Jackson, MI Career Quest Learning Centers-Lansing Lansing, MI Carnegie Institute Troy, MI Davenport University Grand Rapids, MI Detroit Business Institute-Downriver Riverview, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Dearborn Detroit, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Farmington Hills Farmington Hills, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Lansing Lansing, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Madison Heights Madison Heights, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Roseville Roseville, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Saginaw Saginaw, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Southgate Southgate, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Waterford Pontiac Pontiac, MI Dorsey Business Schools-Wayne Wayne, MI Everest Institute-Dearborn Dearborn, MI Everest Institute-Detroit Detroit, MI Everest Institute-Grand Rapids Grand Rapids, MI Everest Institute-Kalamazoo Kalamazoo, MI Everest Institute-Southfield Southfield, MI Finlandia University Hancock, MI Glen Oaks Community College Centreville, MI Gogebic Community College Ironwood, MI Henry Ford Community College Dearborn, MI ITT Technical Institute-Canton Canton, MI ITT Technical Institute-Dearborn Dearborn, MI ITT Technical Institute-Swartz Creek Swartz Creek, MI ITT Technical Institute-Troy Troy, MI Jackson College Jackson, MI Kalamazoo Valley Community College Kalamazoo, MI Macomb Community College Warren, MI Mid Michigan Community College Harrison, MI Montcalm Community College Sidney, MI Oakland Community College Bloomfield Hills, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Brighton Brighton, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Canton Canton, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Davison Davison, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Flint Flint, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Kentwood Kentwood, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Lansing Lansing, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Madison Heights Madison Heights, MI Ross Medical Education Center-New Baltimore New Baltimore, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Port Huron Port Huron, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Portage Portage, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Roosevelt Park Roosevelt Park, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Saginaw Saginaw, MI Ross Medical Education Center-Taylor Taylor, MI Siena Heights University Adrian, MI Southwestern Michigan College Dowagiac, MI St Clair County Community College Port Huron, MI Stautzenberger Institute-Allen Park Allen Park, MI
Medical Assistant Salaries in Michigan
It’s the salary!
Yes, the better educated and skilled you become in Medical Assisting, the better the salary you will get.
However, this salary in Michigan does not depend on this element only.
It also depends on the place, work experience, and similarities.
Annual Salary Range:Location Avg. Annual Salary Detroit $36,608 Grand Rapids $34,861 Warren $36,608 Flint $33,144 Sterling Heights $36,494 Lansing $34,982 Ann Arbor $37,126 Livonia $36,494 Dearborn $36,608 Westland $36,724 Regional Salary in Michigan
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Ann Arbor, MI 2,130 $42,440 $20.4 $46,370 $37,130 Battle Creek, MI 280 $38,110 $18.32 $45,900 $30,000 Bay City, MI 160 $37,310 $17.94 $45,140 $30,050 Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI 12,420 $39,770 $19.12 $46,050 $31,500 Flint, MI 1,050 $37,530 $18.04 $44,730 $31,740 Grand Rapids-Wyoming, MI 2,300 $41,430 $19.92 $48,020 $34,330 Jackson, MI 380 $40,820 $19.63 $49,720 $34,490 Kalamazoo-Portage, MI 950 $42,800 $20.58 $49,700 $33,890 Lansing-East Lansing, MI 950 $39,770 $19.12 $45,850 $32,690 Midland, MI 300 $37,140 $17.86 $39,570 $34,480 Monroe, MI 230 $36,250 $17.43 $44,680 $29,760 Muskegon, MI 450 $39,690 $19.08 $44,260 $33,280 Niles-Benton Harbor, MI 360 $38,950 $18.73 $44,810 $32,780 Saginaw, MI 690 $38,320 $18.42 $43,130 $31,110
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Medical Assisting by State