Online Medical Assistant Programs in South Carolina: Top Schools

A Closer Look Inside Online Medical Assistant Programs in South Carolina

Before you can work as a medical assistant, you’ll likely need to take a certification course or complete a certificate or diploma program that adequately prepares you to pass a national certification test. Many of these courses are available entirely online and can be started at any time, while others are considered hybrid, meaning they have online components alongside more traditional on-campus labs or clinical opportunities. Hybrid courses tend to have set start dates each year. The following three programs are some of the best in South Carolina, and all are available online. Even if these programs aren’t right for you, they can be used as a quality barometer to assess others. Continue on below to discover a possible program match for your career goals.

Your Questions, Answered: Queries for South Carolina’s Medical Assistant Students

Answering your questions is important to us. Though we can’t answer every question in this limited space, we wanted to include at least some of the most common questions students ask about becoming a medical assistant. We’ll go into as much detail as we can.

What is the cost of a medical assistant certification program?

Medical assistant programs may seem expensive at first glance, but compared to a two- or four-year degree, they’re pretty affordable. The programs that we highlighted above cost the following:

• University of South Carolina Sumter: $2,795
• Clemson University: $2,795
• University of South Carolina Aiken: $2,799

You’ll find that medical assisting programs often cost a flat rate rather than a specific amount per class or semester. This could make it easier for you to plan your finances because you’ll know exactly how much it will cost.

To make your course more affordable, look into financial aid opportunities, including scholarships, grants, student loans, or pay-over-time options. For more specific information about financial aid, contact a school directly. Many schools can also help you build a budget or create a savings plan. Some even offer payment plans where you can make monthly payments instead of footing the entire cost of the bill upfront.

How much do medical assistants make in South Carolina?

Medical assistants in South Carolina earn between $30,110 and $46,810, depending on location and experience. In South Carolina, the average annual salary of a medical assistant is $38,540, compared to $43,350 at the national level. Keep in mind that this could be a reflection of the difference in the cost of living. While South Carolina pays medical assistants less than the national average, some of the larger cities, such as Charleston and Greenville, pay medical assistant wages closer to the national average, which means they are great places for new medical assistants to start out.

What is the legal scope of practice for medical assistants in SC?

There are only so many medical activities that medical assistants can legally perform under the supervision of a physician. Medical assistants play important roles that you may not know about, including fostering patient education and assisting with minor procedures and medication administration. They also clean and prepare exam rooms and can take samples for testing. They often take patient vitals as well. However, there are several things that medical assistants are not legally allowed to do. Those things include diagnosing patients or providing care without the supervision of a physician. In South Carolina specifically, MAs also cannot administer controlled/intravenous medicines, operate lasers, or triage patients.

How do I become a certified medical assistant in South Carolina?

Passing the medical assistant certification exam through the NHA or other certifying board is the best way to become certified in South Carolina. However, unlike other medical professionals in Southern Carolina like CNAs, medical assistants are not required to be certified. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a certification as a medical assistant. Most colleges in the state offer an NHA certification exam as part of their medical assisting program. This exam is recognized by the South Carolina government. Other boards may be qualified to handle the certification of medical assistants; however, the information is vague on which ones are, beyond the four boards that are approved for maintaining MA certification. Your safest bet is to attend a program that offers the opportunity to take the certification exam from the NHA.

Are medical assisting programs available online?

Yes! There are several medical assisting programs in South Carolina that are available entirely online. Two of the schools we highlighted above have programs 100% online, with optional externship opportunities if you want relevant hands-on experience. Other programs are considered hybrid, meaning they most often have lectures and assignments online, often recorded so you can watch at your own pace, and labs or clinical experiences on campus or at another location.

South Carolina’s Options for Certifications and Continuing Education

While certification is not a necessary requirement to work as a medical assistant in South Carolina, it’s still an important credential worth considering. There are several national exams that a medical assistant can take to become certified, each with different requirements for continuing education and renewal.

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA): Offered by the American Associate of Medical Assistant (AAMA), this credential requires graduation from an accredited medical assistant program and passing a certification exam. Requires 60 CEUs every 5 years, with at least 30 points from AAMA-approved CEUs. The remaining points can come from other sources, such as self-study.
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA): Offered by American Medical Technologists, this credential can be obtained through several routes, including graduating from an accredited medical assistant program or having five years of medical assistant experience. Requires an annual recertification fee of $75 and submission of 30 CCP points (continuing education hours) every three years.
• National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA): Offered by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT), this credential focuses on patient care, phlebotomy, and administrative duties. Requires annual certification renewal, which can be fulfilled by paying the $77 recertification fee and completing 14 hours of continuing education.
• Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA): Offered by the National Healthcareer Association, this credential is geared toward individuals who are more interested in the clinical side of medical assisting. Requires 10 online CEUs from approved providers every 2 years.

Continuing education (CE) courses can help medical assistant stay current on medical technology, diagnostic procedures, and treatment protocols. Some examples of CE topics include cultural competency, implicit bias, human trafficking, chronic pain, integrative medicine, and HIPAA protection.

Your Salary & Career Potential as a Medical Assistant in SC