Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How much do medical assistants make?
According to Indeed.com, the average salary for a medical assistant is $16.11 per hour in the United States, however, compensation varies according to many factors, including location, work setting and experience.
How do you become a certified medical assistant?
After completing our one-year medical assistant program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) exam to earn their certification.
Do I need SAT or ACT scores to enroll?
No, the only requirement for this program is a high school diploma or GED.
How will I complete the required 160 hours of clinical practicum?
Mercy College will work with you to secure 160 hours of clinical practicum with one of our healthcare partners near you. This practicum is very important as it allows students to experience hands-on learning in actual medical offices.
Do medical assistants draw blood? Can medical assistants give shots?
Medical assistants in our program do learn to draw blood and administer shots as needed, however, it depends entirely on their place of employment if they will perform these duties.
Is medical assisting a good career?
Absolutely. Becoming a medical assistant takes only one-year to complete, pays well, is a high-demand healthcare career option and provides fulfilling, meaningful work. You will never be bored with this job — every day is different. Many have found that medical assisting is a great launching pad into other advanced healthcare career fields as they gain more experience.
How hard is the medical assistant certification test?
Mercy College’s medical assistant program touts an impressive 100% pass rate among graduates for the Certified Medical Assistant (AAMA) exam. The exam consists of 200 multiple choice questions administered in four 40-minute segments. The question categories are general, administrative and clinical.
How is a medical assistant different from a physician assistant?
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks with physician supervision. Physician assistants examine, diagnose and treat patients while working under a physician, who may or may not be on-site.
How much does it cost to complete the medical assisting program?
The MercyPLUS medical assistant program costs around $10,000. This equates out to approximately $2,500 per quarter up to 12 credits. If financing your education is a major hurdle, there are lots of tuition reimbursement and scholarship opportunities for you to explore!
Is the program all online or in person?
The medical assistant program is 100% online instruction through our MercyPLUS platform, however there are two in-person skills labs that must be completed in order to graduate.
Where are the medical assistant skills labs located and when do they take place?
The two, six-hour skills labs take place at one of our three cohort locations (Des Moines or Carroll, Iowa or Lexington, Kentucky) unless you have enrolled through an external cohort partnership. Mercy College is continuously expanding cohort locations as demand continues to rise across the United States. Skills labs take place in the second and third quarter or the program.
How long does it take to complete the MA program?
Mercy College’s medical assistant program takes one year to complete. This is broken out into four quarters. Our goal at Mercy College is aimed to be as flexible as possible to remove any barriers to higher education, so you can work with your enrollment coach to determine your program trajectory to fit your schedule.
What is online learning like?
The MercyPLUS online platform hosts discussions boards, educational videos, writing assignments, and other activities to enrich your learning experience — all at the click of your mouse. You can learn more about online learning here.