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Medical Assisting in South Carolina

The demand for healthcare services in South Carolina has rapidly increased in recent years and is set to continue to increase into the future. This has resulted in a bigger need for all types of medical assistants across the state. There are 8,960 people working in the medical assisting field in South Carolina and there is expected to be an increase in medical assistant jobs over the coming years to help doctors’ offices, hospitals and other medical facilities deliver the best level of patient care.

There are lots of schools in the state that run accredited training programs. Although there is no requirement for medical assistants in South Carolina to be certified, it is a good idea to sit for a nationally recognized certification exam after completing your medical assistant degree, certificate or diploma. Becoming certified should help give you an edge over the competition when applying for jobs.

Medical assistants in this state are classed as Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP), which means there are restrictions on the clinical duties they can perform and rules regarding the delegation and supervision of tasks.

Medical assistants in South Carolina earn an average hourly rate of $14.10 and take home $29,320 each year. The actual amount you will be paid will depend on various factors such as your level of experience and education, and the location and type of facility that employs you.

The South Carolina Society of Medical Assistants (SCSMA) is the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) affiliate for the state and there are several local chapters:

  • Aiken
  • Anderson
  • Charleston
  • Columbia
  • Greenville
  • Pickens
  • Spartanburg
  • Trident

South Carolina Medical Assistant Schools and Programs

Greenville Technical College

Greenville Technical College runs a CAAHEP accredited 930 hour medical assistant program, which takes approximately 17 months to complete attending day classes, or 20 months at evening classes. This program includes 80 hours practicum or externship experience in the front office or adminstration section on a real world healthcare facility.

Certificate

  • Length: 17 months (day), 20 months (evening)
  • Cost: $4,556
  • Job Placement Rate: Not available

Forrest College

At its Anderson campus, Forrest College offers a CAAHEP accredited Associate in Applied Science in Medical Assisting degree program. Upon successful completion of the program, students can apply to sit for the National Certification Examination to gain the CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) credential. As part of their training, students will complete supervised clinical and adminstrative field experience on an externship.

Degree

  • Length: 2 years
  • Cost: $23,152
  • Job Placement Rate: 73%

Virginia College

Virginia College offers medical assistant degree and certificate programs at several campuses in South Carolina; Charleston, Florence, Greenville and Spartanburg. The programs include supervised externship experience in a healthcare facility, where students will gain real world experience and master the multiple skills needed to work in a professional medical assistant role.

Certificate

  • Length: 55 weeks
  • Cost: $23,320
  • Job Placement Rate: 65%

Degree

  • Length: 88 weeks
  • Cost: $37,252
  • Job Placement Rate: 68%