Medical Assistant Certification & Training Requirements in Virginia
Medical assistants in Virginia are non-licensed medical support personnel who perform administrative and clinical tasks under the supervision and direction of a licensed nurse, physician, podiatrist, chiropractor or optometrist. These tasks include basic administrative duties such as filing medical records and scheduling appointments to clinical duties such as taking vitals and drawing blood.
Medical assistants in Virginia do not need to be licensed or certified to work in the state. However, many employers prefer to hire medical assistants who hold national certification because it could be proof of comprehensive training.
National certification is available for medical assisting in Virginia. There are several certifying organizations, including (but not limited to):
| Certification | Certifying Organization |
|---|---|
| Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) | American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) |
| Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) | American Medical Technologists (AMT) |
| National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) | MNational Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) |
While medical assistants are allowed to receive on-the-job training in Virginia, training in a formal learning environment could help ensure they are prepared to work in a clinical setting and take certification exams. Some physicians may be required to use certified or formally educated medical assistants as a requirement of their liability insurance.
Virginia medical assisting schools in Virginia teach a wide range of skills, including (but not limited to):
- Preparing patient rooms
- Bookkeeping
- Administering medication
- Initiating IVs
- Taking electrocardiograms
- Removing sutures and changing dressings
- Performing basic lab tests
- Medical coding
- Electric charting
- Patient follow-up
Medical Assistant Salaries in Virginia
The following 2014 salary figures for medical assistants from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provide a comparison between earnings in Virginia and the nation.
| Annual Wage 25th percentile |
Annual Wage Median |
Annual Wage 75th percentile |
Hourly Wage Median |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $25,700 | $30,300 | $35,720 | $14.57 |
| National | $25,500 | $29,960 | $36,070 | $14.41 |
Source: BLS, 2014
Medical Assistant Salaries for Virginia Cities
Salaries for medical assisting in Virginia can vary by several thousands of dollars a year depending on geographical location, illustrated by the 2015 wage amounts from the BLS shown in the map below. The highest paying areas are located in or around the Charlottesville area, while the lowest wages are in Harrisonburg and Roanoke.
| Area | Annual Wage 25th percentile |
Annual Wage Median |
Annual Wage 75th percentile |
Hourly Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | $25,310 | $28,000 | $30,680 | $13.46 |
| Charlottesville, VA | $27,560 | $30,630 | $35,990 | $14.73 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | $22,730 | $27,510 | $33,000 | $13.23 |
| Lynchburg, VA | $23,670 | $27,430 | $30,840 | $13.19 |
| Richmond, VA | $24,890 | $30,360 | $35,710 | $14.60 |
| Roanoke, VA | $24,360 | $28,500 | $34,090 | $13.70 |
| Staunton-Waynesboro, VA | $25,960 | $28,100 | $30,250 | $13.51 |
Source: BLS, 2014
Medical Assisting Employments Trends in Virginia
What factors are responsible for the rise of medical assisting jobs in the nation? The growth rate for medical assistant jobs is faster than average for all occupations, according to the BLS, due to reasons such as technological advancements, a growing number of older Americans requiring treatment, and a predicted surge in the number of healthcare facilities in the country. The table below compares Virginia medical assisting job growth with national growth.
Medical Assistant Estimated Employment Growth 2012-2022
| Average Annual Openings |
Current Employment |
Projected Employment 2022 |
Jobs Added |
Growth Rate |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 620 | 10,460 | 14,630 | 4,170 | 39.9% |
| National | 26,990 | 560,800 | 723,700 | 162,900 | 29% |
*Source: Projections Central, 2012-2022
Spotlight on Virginia Medical Assisting School
While there are few institutions offering medical assisting programs in the state of Virginia, prospective students also have the option of attending school online. Here are a few schools with Virginia medical assisting programs to help you start your search.
Northern Virginia Community College
Community College
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV)
Program is laid out in four sections: Clinical Medical Assisting, EKG, Lab Services and Phlebotomy, and Clinical Externship.
Students receive training in preparation for the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) national examination.
The program assigns students to a local medical provider for a 160-hour clinical rotation.
Certificate, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant
Medical Assistant Resources in Virginia
This document explains the law pertaining to the delegation of duties related to medical prescriptions to medical assistants in Virginia.
Find job listings and salaries for medical assisting jobs in Virginia.
The Virginia Department of Resource Management publishes this guide outlining a career in medical assisting.
This document from the AAMA outlines the duties that licensed physicians can delegate to medical assistants under state law.
This membership organization is an affiliate of the AAMA that provides leadership, events, and support to medical assistants in Virginia.