Medical Assisting in Oregon
The medical assisting employment environment in Oregon is booming and demand for all types of medical assistants is set to grow rapidly over the coming years. The level of employment for this occupation is good, with 5.49 per 1,000 employed people in Oregon working as a medical assistant. There are 9,520 medical assistants in total employed across the state.
There is no state definition of a medical assistant’s scope of responsibility. Although most employers prefer candidates who have completed a medical assistant degree or certificate program, a high school diploma or GED is the minimum education requirement. When applying for entry level jobs in Oregon it is not a requirement to have passed a certification exam. However, sitting this exam after completing your postsecondary education is a good idea to give yourself the best chance of getting a good job and earning a higher salary. To be eligible to earn certification status, graduates must have completed their training on a CAAHEP or ABHES accredited program.
According to the BLS, medical assistant salaries in Oregon are in the upper range at $16.70 an hour on average. This is equivalent to earning an income of $34,730 a year.
The AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) affiliate for the state is the Oregon Society of Medical Assistants (OSMA) and there are local AAMA chapters in:
- Klamath
- Lane
- Linn-Benton
- Marion-Polk
- River Cities
Oregon Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
Portland Community College
On Portland Community College’s CAAHEP accredited medical assisting program students will receive training in front office administration, clinical and laboratory skills. On completion of their training, students will be eligible to sit for AAMA’s Certified Medical Assistant exam. 24 students are accepted each term. Those starting their training in the spring term will attend the Willow Creek Center. Fall term students will study at the Cascade Campus.
Certificate
- Length: 9 months
- Cost: $4,258
- Job Placement Rate: Not available
Linn-Benton Community College
Linn-Benton Community College, located in Albany, runs a 2 year full time medical assistant Associate of Applied Science degree program, which is CAAHEP accredited. Students will learn the necessary skills needed to provide patient care and to perform clerical and basic medical duties in a medical assisting job.
Degree
- Length: 2 years
- Cost: Not available
- Job Placement Rate: Not available
