If you enjoy helping people, becoming a medical assistant is an excellent choice. In order to become a medical assistant in South Carolina, there are a few prerequisites. Candidates must have a high school diploma or a GED, and then it is recommended that you attend one of the many medical assistant schools in South Carolina that is recommended by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (AAHEP). South Carolina’s medical assistant school programs have facilities throughout South Carolina including the Upstate, Piedmont, Midlands, and Low Country. If your time is limited, you may want to consider completing your certificate or associates degree with an online program.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook, the need for medical assistants is high, and the job outlook for medical assistants from 2010 – 2020 demonstrates a growth rate of 31%; this growth is faster than other occupations reveal during the same timeframe. What does this mean for you? It means job security! The median annual salary for medical assistants in South Carolina is approximately $27,000. In addition, it is possible to complete a certificate program in roughly a year or an associate’s degree in about two years.
- physician offices
- clinics
- nursing homes
- podiatrists
- chiropractors
- health care centers
- and many other health practitioners
There are three academic areas of concentration for medical assistant training – clinical, administrative, and clerical. When you attend one of the medical assistant schools in South Carolina, the programs include training and education to prepare you for clinical, administrative, and clerical disciplines. Course work will include anatomy, pharmacology, physiology, computer applications, and clinical procedures, just to name a few.
For the clinical part of your program, candidates learn how to take vital signs, assist with minor surgical procedures, administer electrocardiograms, give injections, and perform various medical duties as required by your setting or location. The clerical and administrative learning experiences consist mastering how insurance claims are handled and how to update and maintain patient records. You will learn how to compile and record a new patient’s health history and what to do when scheduling patient appointments. Also, you will know how to prepare a billing statement, receive and process payments, and process the mail. Once you gain a few years of experience, you may move into a managerial or supervisory role. Your administrative duties then change to include personnel selection, hiring of new medical assistants, and evaluating current employees.
South Carolina Healthcare Organizations:
Medical Assistant Society of South Carolina: www.scsma.com
South Carolina Hospital Association: www.scha.org
Featured Medical Assistant Schools in SC
Medical Assistant Programs in South Carolina
Aiken Technical College
Locations: Aiken, SC
Outcome: Certificate
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Greenville Technical College
Locations: Greenville, SC
Outcome: Certificate
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Central Carolina Technical College
Locations: Sumter, SC
Outcome: Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
ECPI University
Locations: Greenville, SC / North Charleston, SC
Outcome: Associate Degree, Diploma
Accreditation: ABHES
Forrest Junior College
Locations: Anderson, SC
Outcome: Associate Degree
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Fortis College
Locations: Columbia, SC
Outcome: Associate Degree, Certificate
Accreditation: ABHES
Midlands Technical College
Locations: West Columbia, SC
Outcome: Certificate
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Miller-Motte Technical College
Locations: Charleston, SC / Myrtle Beach, SC
Outcome: Associate Degree, Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College
Locations: Orangeburg, SC
Outcome: Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Piedmont Technical College
Locations: Greenwood, SC
Outcome: Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Spartanburg Community College
Locations: Spartanburg, SC
Outcome: Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
South University
Locations: Columbia, SC
Outcome: Associate Degree
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Tri-County Technical College
Locations: Pendleton, SC
Outcome: Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Trident Technical College
Locations: North Charleston, SC
Outcome: Diploma
Accreditation: CAAHEP
Virginia College
Locations: Greenville, SC
Outcome: Certificate
Are we missing any schools? Please let us know! We aim to be the most comprehensive directory of medical assistant programs. Please send us an email at info@medicalassisting-edu.com to have a school added to our website.
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