Medical Assisting in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has a large population of over 5 million and numerous healthcare facilities providing jobs for all types of medical assistants. 11,230 people work as medical assistants across Wisconsin, with many employed in the urban areas of Madison and Milwaukee. The future looks bright for the medical assistant profession in Wisconsin, with the field expected to grow rapidly over the next few years.
Medical assistants in Wisconsin are paid slightly above the average wage for this occupation. The average yearly salary in this state is $33,290 and the hourly wage is $16.00. Medical assistants who become certified after completing their training can expect to earn even more, which is why it is advisable to get your education on an accredited medical assisting degree, certificate or diploma program.
Wisconsin state law doesn’t require medical assistants to be licensed and the minimum level of education required is a high school diploma or GED. However, most physicians prefer to hire medical assistants who have done postsecondary training. In Wisconsin the delegation of clinical tasks to medical assistants is the responsibility of the supervising professional and there is no state definition of the scope of responsibilities for medical assistants.
A professional support network is offered by the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) affiliated Wisconsin Society of Medical Assistants (WSMA) and local chapters in the following areas:
- Central Wisconsin
- Dane
- Dodge
- Fond Du Lac
- Greater Milwaukee
- LaCrosse Area
- Lakeshore
- Northwoods
- Southwest Wisconsin
- Valley
- Waukesha
Wisconsin Medical Assistant Schools and Programs
Lakeshore Technical College
Lakeshore Technical College offers a medical assisting diploma program over 2 15 week terms at its campus in Cleveland, where students will receive training in clerical, clinical and laboratory skills. The program begins each September and January and is completed on day time courses. Students will have the opportunity to complete a practicum prior to completing their training, providing them with vital hands on practical experience of working in a healthcare setting.
Diploma
- Length: 10 months (36 credit hours)
- Cost: $4,932
- Job Placement Rate: 77%
Blackhawk Technical College
With its main campus located in Janesville, Blackhawk Technical College offers a medical assistant diploma program that prepares students for work as general medical assistants. During their final semester, students will attend an unpaid supervised externship in two parts, one focusing on the adminstrative side of medical assisting, the other on clinical and laboratory skills. This program is CAAHEP accredited and prepares students to sit for the AAMA exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA).
Diploma
- Length: 1 year
- Cost: $5,070
- Job Placement Rate: 85%
Milwaukee Career College
Milwaukee Career College runs day and evening classes for its medical assistant certificate program and the training includes hands on externship experience. The program can be completed in 30 weeks by students attending day or afternoon classes, or 38 weeks for those taking evening classes.
Certificate
- Length: 30 weeks (day classes), 38 weeks (evening classes)
- Cost: $12,020
- Job Placement Rate: 77%
Madison Area Technical College
Madison Area Technical College runs a CAAHEP accredited medical assistant certificate program that can be completed in less than a year. Students will be instructed in the knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to work in the medical assisting field. As part of their training, students will be required to undertake a practicum in a local doctor’s office or clinic, during the final 4 weeks of the program. On successful graduation from this program, students will be eligible to take the CMA exam to become Certified.
Certificate
- Length: 32 weeks
- Cost: $4,153
- Job Placement Rate: 96%
