How to become a medical assistant in Ohio

Medical assistants are invaluable members of the healthcare team. They help doctors by taking on tasks such as scheduling patient appointments, checking patients into appointments, administering medications, setting up exam rooms, applying dressings to wounds and in some cases, drawing blood. The state of Ohio doesn’t have any specific requirements for medical assistants other than having a high school diploma or GED. This means that aspiring medical assistants in the state can choose their own education path to get their careers started.

Schools throughout the state, as well as online programs, offer both nine months to one year medical assistant certificates as well as two-year medical assistant associate degrees. While you may not need either one to work as a medical assistant in Ohio, completing a formal education program is a good idea because even though the state doesn’t require it, many employers do. You may also be able to earn the education you need by choosing from multiple national certification options. Some employers in the state recognize multiple certifications, so you’ll be able to choose the one that works best for you.

Exploring the role of medical assistants in Ohio

Ohio doesn’t require certification or licensure for medical assistants. There are no formal training or education regulations for aspiring medical assistants in the state. However, many Ohio employers prefer to hire medical assistants who’ve completed an education program and earned certification. Some employers might even require a certain level of education or specific certification.

Education and training requirements

In Ohio, you can begin working as a medical assistant without any formal education at all though earning an education can still be a good career move. It can give you a solid knowledge base and can give you the skills you’ll need on the job. If you choose to pursue formal medical assistant education, you have two paths to choose from:

“…most jobs in medical assisting are going to prefer to see a formal education from an accredited school.”

-Mary Elizabeth Regis, MEd, CMA (AAMA), BCPA

“The state of Ohio itself might not require it,” says Mary Elizabeth Regis, MEd, CMA (AAMA), BCPA, a Program Manager in the Medical Assistant department at Cuyahoga Community College in Ohio. “But most jobs in medical assisting are going to prefer to see a formal education from an accredited school. It wasn’t that in the past, but now places have found that formal training for medical assistants really protects the physician and the healthcare facility.”

Certification exam and licensing requirements in Ohio

Since Ohio doesn’t have any formal certification requirements for medical assistants, you can choose the certification that makes the most sense for you and your career. For instance, while many Ohio employers accept any of the nationally recognized certification options for medical assistants, some employers might require a specific certification for a specific skillset or specialty area, such as pediatrics or oncology. So if there are employers you know you’re interested in working, it can be a great idea to check their employment listings when you’re considering which certification to pursue.

Nationwide, the most common certifications for medical assistants are the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). The CMA is available from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the RMA is offered by the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Other popular certifications include:

You can read more about these certifications and the certification process for medical assistants in our guide to medical assistant certification.

“It depends on the employer, but many healthcare organizations in the state of Ohio prefer to hire credentialed medical assistants,” says Michelle Heller, a Columbus State adjunct professor who has written and spoken about medical assistant career topics.

“I think that by 10 or 15 years from now, employers places are going to require certification on top of a formal education, Regis agreed. “Even today, facilities like the Cleveland Clinic or the main hospitals in Cleveland or Cincinnati won’t hire without it.”

CE for medical assistants in Ohio

Continuing requirements will depend on any certifications you choose to pursue. Certifications have their own renewal rules and continuing education requirements. You’ll need to complete the required amount of units to keep your certification current and in most cases, pay a renewal fee.

Working as a medical assistant in Ohio: Salaries

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical assistants nationwide of earned a median annual salary of $42,000 in 2023. In Ohio, the median was slightly lower, at $38,280. However, Ohio has a lower cost of living than many other states around the country. Additionally, your specific location in Ohio can make a major difference in your salary as a medical assistant. According to BLS data, the median medical assistant salary was about $5,000 higher in Cleveland than in Youngstown. Take a look at median salaries around the state:

Job outlook and finding employment

Healthcare is growing employer nationwide, and it’s a large part of Ohio’s economy. Data shows that 13% percent of employed Ohioans work in healthcare, one of the highest percentages in the nation. Large employers such as the Cleveland Clinic, OhioHealth, Mercy Health System, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente all employ thousands of healthcare professionals in the state.

Many of those healthcare professionals are medical assistants. In 2023, the BLS reported that the North Northeastern Ohio nonmetropolitan area was the nonmetropolitan area with the second largest number of medical assistants. With overall medical assistant jobs expected to jump 13.9% by 2032, roles in Ohio are likely to also see strong growth. 

“Medical assistants are also moving into roles that don’t necessarily have the title of ‘medical assistant,’ but that use the same skills and training,” Regis remarked. “We often see that they can move into hospitals as patient care technicians using their clinical skills, or into what’s called a patient navigator or patient advocate. These are people who guide patients through the labyrinth that is the healthcare system nowadays, including pharmacy, scheduling, outpatient procedures, inpatient scheduling and insurance.”

Professional conduct and ethical guidelines

Medical assistants in the state of Ohio need to look to national ethical guidelines from certifying bodies, such as the AAMA or the NHA, since Ohio does not control certification. The AAMA ethical code for medical assistants states, in part, that medical assistants should “render service with full respect for the dignity of humanity,” and “respect confidential information obtained through employment unless legally authorized or required by responsible performance of duty to divulge such information.”

 Violations of ethical guidelines laid out by these organizations can lead to disciplinary actions for medical assistants, such as a suspended or revoked certification.

Final thoughts

A formal educational program can be a great start to your medical assistant career. It can give you the knowledge and skills you need to assist doctors and help patients. Completing an educational program can prepare you for an entry-level role in Ohio and for several different certification exams. Finding the right school can be a great first step toward a career in healthcare.

Published: February 2, 2024