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Medical assistants are a key part of a healthcare team. They help doctors with important daily tasks such as scheduling, answering phones and setting up exam rooms. They also provide patient care such as dressing wounds, taking vital signs and administering vital signs. Some medical assistants also perform blood draws.
“That person who takes you back, who registers you and who gets your doctor’s appointment started? That is a medical assistant,” said Marilyn Dalton, program director of the Medical Assistant Program at Northeast Alabama Community College.
In Alabama, there are no regulations about medical assistant education or certification. Aspiring medical assistants in the state can choose how they want to enter the field. Often, this means earning a medical assistant certificate or associate-level degree. Although it’s not required by the state, it is sometimes required by employers. A formal education program is also a great way to make sure you have the foundational knowledge you need to succeed in this caring career.
How to become a medical assistant in Alabama
The state of Alabama doesn’t have any set requirements for medical assistants. There are no formal educational or certification requirements. You might be able to find an entry-level medical assistant role in the state with a qualification such as a high school diploma or GED. You’ll likely also need to be at least 18, and most employers will ask that you complete a criminal background check and take a cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) course.
Although the state doesn’t require it, completing a formal educational program can still be a good idea. A formal education can help you learn the skills you’ll need to care for patients and assist doctors. It can also help you stand out to employers. Plus, some employers may require it despite no state requirements. Similarly, you don’t need any professional certification to work as a medical assistant, but earning one may help your career. Many employers also prefer to hire certified medical assistants, and some healthcare facilities only hire medical assistants who’ve earned certification.
Educational requirements for Alabama medical assistants
In Alabama, you can choose the path you would like to take. Looking at the medical assistant path that’s established at a nationwide level, there are two primary options for aspiring medical assistants:
- Medical assistant certificate programs:
- A certificate program can prepare you to take on an entry-level role in medical assisting. These programs are sometimes called diploma programs, and they typically take about a year to complete. They’re a good option for people who want to enter the field quickly.
- Associate degree in medical assisting programs:
- It takes two years of full-time study to earn an associate degree. Medical assistants who pursue associate degrees learn foundational medical knowledge and earn credits that it’s often possible to later use as building blocks toward a bachelor’s degree.
Courses in your AL medical assistant program
Coursework titles and exact contents can vary depending on the school you choose and on your program type. However, there are some core topics that all medical assistant programs cover to prepare students for the role:
“You learn the [administrative] skills for all around the office,” Dalton said. “So, there are front office skills; office management, payroll, registration, medical billing and coding and insurance. Then, you also learn the clinical side of things. Those are skills like getting vital signs, finding out why a patient is there, assisting with exam room set up, urinalysis, blood sugar readings, giving shots and performing blood draws.”
Exam and licensing requirements for AL
Just as there are no formal education requirements other than a high school diploma or GED, there are no certification requirements set by the state of Alabama. This means you can choose the certification that makes the most sense for your educational background, financial situation and career plans. It’s common for employers who require certification to accept any of the nationally recognized certifications for medical assistants. However, it can be a good idea to check job postings if there’s a specific employer you know you’d like to work for.
There are several certification options available to medical assistants in Alabama. You can read more about certification and its benefits in our guide. Some of the most common choices include:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from American Medical Technologists (AMT)
- Medical Assistant (NCMA) from the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) from the National Healthcareer Association (HHA)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from NHA
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA-AAH) from American Allied Health (AAH)
Marylin Dalton says that aspiring medical assistants in Alabama often choose to stack certifications or earn certifications in individual skills as they study for their medical assistant degrees.
“When you graduate, you’re prepared to take the national exam to become a Certified Medical Assistant. Sometimes, students earn other certifications along the way. As you go along in the program, your medical assistant classes can often give you the educational credits you need to get nationally certified in areas such as phlebotomy, EKG and medical coding,” said Dalton. “Then, you can use that certificate to work in the field, as say, a phlebotomist, while you keep taking classes to earn your medical assisting degree.”
CE for medical assistants in Alabama
Continuing education (CE) requirements in Alabama will depend on the national certification you choose to pursue. For instance, the AAMA’s CMA certification needs to be renewed every five years. However, medical assistants can renew by either earning 60 hours of CE credit or by retaking the CMA exam. Medical assistants who’ve earned the RMA from AMT are required to renew every three years and need to earn 30 CE credits in each renewal cycle.
Continuing education (CE) requirements in Alabama will depend on the national certification you choose to pursue.
Legal considerations for medical assistants in Alabama
New Alabama residents may be able to work as medical assistants in the state without any applications or registrations. Since the state doesn’t regulate medical assistants, professionals moving from out-of-state can work in Alabama using their original education and certification.
Professional conduct and ethics
Alabama doesn’t have any set guidelines addressing professional guidelines or ethics for medical assistants. National associations for medical assistants, such as the AAMA, do have written guidelines. These guidelines can apply to any medical assistant, but they are especially relevant to medical assistants who’ve chosen to earn certification. As a rule, associations can suspend or revoke certifications from medical assistants who violate professional and ethical standards. The exact wording depends on the association, but guidelines typically specify that medical assistants have a duty to treat patients with respect, maintain patient privacy, and perform assigned tasks to the best of their abilities.
Scope of practice
Alabama law doesn’t address medical assistants and their scope of practice, but it does address tasks that can be delegated to unlicensed medical staff. Under Alabama’s Nursing Regulations, it is written that the law allows:
“Persons, including nursing aides, orderlies and attendants, carrying out duties necessary for the support of nursing services, including those duties which involve supportive nursing services performed in hospitals and elsewhere under the direction of licensed physicians or dentists, or under the supervision of professional nurses licensed hereunder.”
Writing for the AAMA, Donald A. Balasa, JD, MBA, AAMA CEO and Legal Counsel, gave his opinion on what this law means for a medical assistant’s scope of practice in Alabama:
“This language authorizes physicians to delegate a reasonable scope of clinical and administrative tasks (including venipuncture/phlebotomy and performing intramuscular, intradermal and subcutaneous injections, including immunizations/vaccinations) to knowledgeable and competent unlicensed professionals such as medical assistants working under their direct authority in outpatient settings.”
Medical assistant salary in Alabama
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), medical assistants across the United States earned a median annual salary of $42,000. In Alabama, medical assistants earned a lower median salary, however, it’s important to factor the cost of living in Alabama into the picture. Alabama has the fourth lowest cost of living in the country says World Population Review. The exact area of Alabama you reside in can also affect your annual wages. For instance, medical assistants living in the metro areas of Birmingham and Huntsville earn more than medical assistants in other parts of the state while the cost of living is lower than the national average at 8% below in both cities, which could make your paycheck stretch further. Take a look at salaries for medical assistants in the state and for metro areas within the state:
Medical Assistants
10%$24,960
25%$29,610
50%$34,050Median
75%$36,910
90%$42,700
Median Hourly Wage$16
Job growth13.9%
Total Employment12,360
| Metro area | Median Salary | Bottom 10% | Top 10% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Hoover, AL | $36,110 | $28,720 | $46,340 |
| Huntsville, AL | $35,410 | $29,260 | $38,670 |
| Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL | $35,080 | $24,350 | $38,500 |
| Montgomery, AL | $34,020 | $27,460 | $41,960 |
| Mobile, AL | $33,800 | $24,140 | $39,160 |
| Tuscaloosa, AL | $32,520 | $27,040 | $44,420 |
| Auburn-Opelika, AL | $32,150 | $25,440 | $39,970 |
| Decatur, AL | $31,990 | $29,010 | $41,760 |
| Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL | $30,890 | $22,120 | $36,150 |
| Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL | $30,780 | $25,550 | $39,730 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2023 median salary; projected job growth through 2032. Actual salaries may vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Job outlook and employment opportunities
It’s no secret that healthcare is a fast-growing field. Medical assistant careers are predicted to see 13.9% job growth through 2032. The American Southeast is also seeing population growth. This includes Alabama. The state experienced the largest growth in a decade, and as a rule, when an area’s population grows, that area’s healthcare needs grow, too.
Medical assistants can look for roles with large employers in the state, such as The University of Alabama at Birmingham, East Alabama Health and Infirmary Health, which have been recognized among the best healthcare employers in the nation. Medical offices, healthcare clinics, rehabilitation centers and many other healthcare facilities throughout the state can be great places to find employment as a medical assistant. Agencies in Alabama may offer traveling medical assistant roles that can allow you to work at multiple facilities and that can often provide schedule flexibility.
Additional resources for Alabama medical assistants
Staying up-to-date in your career is important. Joining professional organizations can help you keep current. It’s also a great way to make career connections, earn CEs and see the best local job postings. In Alabama, medical assistants can look into these groups:
- Alabama Society of Medical Assistants (ASMA): The ASMA posts job listings, hosts awards and has local chapter meetings to keep Alabama medical assistants connected.
- American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA): The AAMA is a national organization and on the primary certification options for medical assistance. They also offer resources such as CE courses and industry publications.
- American Medical Technologists (AMT): AMT is another national organization that offers a respected certification option. When you join AMT, you’ll also find job postings, CE courses, connections to local chapters and information about conferences.
Wrapping up
Earning a certificate or associate degree is still a great career move in Alabama, even though they are not formally required. A degree or program completion can help you gain the knowledge and skills you’ll need when you enter the field. It can also prepare you to take the certification exam of your choice. From online schools to campus-based learning, you have a range of choices for medical assistant education. When you’re ready to get started, our Find Schools button can help you narrow down the options and find the best program for you.
Learn how to become a medical assistant in different states: Alabama | California | Florida | Georgia | New Jersey | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Texas
Published: January 6, 2024
Written and reported by:
Stephanie Srakocic
Contributing Writer
With professional insight from:
Marilyn Dalton, Program Director, Medical Assistant Program
Northeast Alabama Community College