Georgia is the largest state in the southeastern United States and offers a world of opportunity for aspiring medical assistants. The state provides numerous training programs, many of which are accredited. The state has a great current employment environment and tremendous potential for growth. If you are ready to become a medical assistant in Georgia, this is the ideal time to find a good school and start your training.
Georgia’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment
Georgia is currently in the top 10 for the most medical assistant job openings. While other states may pay a bit higher, Georgia offers a comfortable average wage of $13.50 per hour, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. As with many states in the region, there is a great need for healthcare and employers across the state are always looking for skilled medical assistants.
The Future of Medical Assisting in Georgia
Medical assisting is expected to see around a 34% growth by the year 2016, which means that medical assistants in Georgia will see many more job openings. As the competition for quality employees grows, healthcare facilities will likely become more competitive with salary and benefits offerings.
Georgia’s Medical Assistant Schools
American Professional Institute
- Program Link: Multi-Skilled Medical Assisting Program
- Description: American Professional Institute offers medical assistant training at several locations across Georgia, including Macon, Mercer, Riverside, Milledgeville, Decatur, Gainesville, and Duluth. Students who choose American Professional Institute can take classes during the day or evening, allowing them to get an education without making unnecessary personal sacrifices. The program encompasses all clinical and administrative aspects of medical assisting and full prepares students for entry-level careers in a variety of healthcare facilities.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: Certificate
- Average Program Length: 35 weeks (day); 49 weeks (evening)
- Tuition: $14,750
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 75%
- Fun Fact: Graduates of API are eligible to sit for credentialing examinations.
Chattahoochee Technical College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting diploma; Associate’s Degree in Medical Assisting
- Description: Students at Chattahoochee Technical College can choose to get a diploma or associate’s degree in medical assisting. Both programs prove instruction in both clinical and administrative medical assisting and cover topics such as insurance management, anatomy and physiology, billing and coding, medical ethics, and more. Students who graduate from this program are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: diploma; degree
- Average Program Length: diploma – 1440 credit hours
- Tuition: diploma – $3,794; $85/credit hour
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: diploma – 94%; degree – 95%
- Fun Fact: Chattahoochee Technical College is a result of the merger of three institutions, some of which were established in the 1960’s.
Lanier Technical College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting diploma program; Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
- Description: Lanier Technical College has campuses at Oakwood, Forsyth, and Winder-Barrow, providing a quality education to students across the area. Students who choose this school may be eligible for scholarships through the Lanier Technical College Foundation. Depending upon the campus selected, students may be able to take classes during the day, evening, or online. Lanier also provides numerous student support services that help students achieve success every step of the way, including finding employment after graduation.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: diploma; Associate of Science
- Average Program Length: diploma – 21 months; degree – 5 terms
- Tuition: diploma – $6,125; $1,275/ semester
- Clinical Experience: externship
- Job Placement Rate: diploma – 89%; degree – 85%
- Fun Fact: Students of this program participate in an externship in an ambulatory care facility.
Brown Mackie College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: Brown Mackie’s medical assisting diploma program lasts approximately 14 months and consists of one course each month. This format allows students to intensively focus on the material at hand without being too overwhelming. With a total of 60 credit hours of classes, this program prepares you for every aspect of medical assisting and also qualifies you to take the American Medical Technologist certification examination.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: diploma
- Average Program Length: 14 months
- Tuition: $17,568
- Clinical Experience: externship
- Job Placement Rate: 71%
- Fun Fact: Brown Mackie uses tablets and other technology to enrich the educational experience for all students.