Discover what you need to know about becoming a medical assistant (MA) in the state of Georgia
Medical assistants are crucial to the operation of many types of healthcare facilities in Georgia and throughout the US. Becoming an MA can be a great first or next step in your allied health career and serve as a great foundation to climb the ladder in the future.
Projections Central projects employment of medical assistants in the state of Georgia to increase 34% from 2020-2030, translating to an additional 8,760 jobs.** Now is an excellent time to begin earning the skills and knowledge you need to compete for jobs in a high-demand field in healthcare.
First off, you’ll need to confirm a job in medical assisting is right for you.
What to expect in day-to-day life as a medical assistant
A career in medical assisting involves a diverse array of roles and responsibilities. Depending on the practice you work for and department you are in, your normal everyday tasks can vary widely.
Potential tasks include (but not limited to):
- Answering the phone and greeting patients
- Informing physicians about patient concerns
- Scheduling appointments
- Gather patient information: contact info, insurance info, etc.
- Measuring patient vital signs
- Taking blood pressure, pulse and respirations
- Setting up exam rooms for procedures
- Visual and hearing tests
- Drawing blood
- Pregnancy tests
- Making patients comfortable during an appointment
No matter what’s required in your day-to-day experience on the job, what ties everything together is your professionalism, care for patients and attention to detail. Your resourcefulness will make you a valuable resource in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Our medical assisting program curriculum features foundational courses in medical terminology, administrative skills, ethics and professionalism, insurance claims, processing and adjudication, clinical skills, and anatomy and physiology. All of our courses are designed to help you build job-focused skills to excel in the job.
You can read more about a typical day in the life of a medical assistant and what you can expect after getting a job in the field.
State requirements to work as a medical assistant in the state of Georgia
Medical assistants are not required to be certified in the state of Georgia.
However, while certification may not be legally required, there’s still good reason to get educated and earn certification in advance of your first job as a medical assistant: it’s very important to employers.
The importance of earning certification
The 2023 Industry Outlook report from The National Healthcareer Association provides several interesting figures regarding how healthcare institutions nationwide regard the importance of certification for their clinical medical assistants.
Out of 206 survey respondents gathered in 2022:
| Certification requirement | 81% of institutions require certification |
| Screening criteria | 69% of institutions screen applicants for certification, which represents the most common screening criteria |
| Job preparation | 51% of employers believe newly certified medical assistants are fully prepared for job duties |
The best way to appeal to potential employers is to earn an excellent education fully preparing you for success upon graduation—and get certified, proving you are ready for success in your first medical assisting job.1
Now Through June 30th
How much you can potentially make as a medical assistant in the state of Georgia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants in the state of Georgia earn an average salary of $37,560 per year ($18.06 per hour).*
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)’s 2023 Compensation and Benefits Report reports medical assistants in the South Atlantic region of the United States with 0-2 years of experience earn an average salary of $34,117 per year ($18.36 per hour).
Earn more experience in your role as a medical assistant, and you can potentially increase your pay. The AAMA report provides an additional salary breakdown for MAs in the South Atlantic region based on years of experience:
| Years of experience | Per hour | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 0-2 years | $18.36 | $34,117 |
| 3-5 years | $18.83 | $34,938 |
| 6-9 years | $20.25 | $38,294 |
| 10-15 years | $21.15 | $39,727 |
| 16+ years | $22.68 | $43,155 |
Earning certification can also be an important step to increase your pay potential.1 According to the NHA’s 2023 Industry Outlook report, 67% of institutions increase pay when an employee earns certification.
Where medical assistants work in the state of Georgia
Chances are, if you become a medical assistant in Georgia, you are most likely to work in a physician’s office.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the significant majority of medical assistants in Georgia work in physician’s offices, while fewer medical assistants work in hospitals, outpatient care centers, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare facilities.
Percent of total occupational employment in industry, Georgia, May 2022i
| Industry | Employed | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Offices of Physicians | 16,080 | 66.2% |
| General Medical and Surgical Hospitals | 3,600 | 14.8% |
| Offices of Other Health Practitioners | 1,870 | 7.7% |
| Outpatient Care Centers | 1,180 | 4.9% |
| Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly | 710 | 2.9% |
| Other Ambulatory Health Care Services | 520 | 2.1% |
| Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) | 160 | 0.7% |
| Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals | 70 | 0.3% |
| Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities | 50 | 0.2% |
| Individual and Family Services | 50 | 0.2% |
iU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022). Occupational employment and wage statistics, May 2022: All data. United States Department of Labor. https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm.
AAMA’s 2023 compensation report notes that more than 92% of its survey respondents nationwide work in physicians’ practices, with very small percentages working in ambulatory surgery or inpatient settings.
How long it can take to prepare for your first job as a medical assistant
How long it takes to become a medical assistant depends on what level of education you pursue. Partner with Herzing University and you can expect a range of 8 months–20 months to get your education, get certified, and start seeking a medical assistant position, depending on whether you choose a diploma or degree program.1
Choose a diploma program, and you may be able to begin working as a medical assistant in less than 1 year.
The following timelines are based on full-time status:
- Diploma in Medical Assisting: 10 months (four 8-week sessions)
- Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Services: 20 months
After graduating from a program, we recommend becoming certified as a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) or Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), depending on whether you earned an associate degree (RMA) or diploma (CCMA). With a diploma/degree and a certification, you’ll be in excellent shape to succeed right from the start in your first job.
You don’t need to find a training program near you – you can enroll in an online program
The Herzing University medical assisting program combines online didactic courses with an in-person externship and lab courses to provide the most flexible learning experience possible for adults. The externship takes place at the end of the program, which will be completed at a physician’s office (hours set by the externship site).
We do have a campus located in Atlanta, Georgia, but we do not have a fully on-campus version of the program. Didactic (lecture-style) courses must be completed online.
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and has deep roots in online learning. We’ve successfully delivered online learning for many types of healthcare professionals, and we have a strong community of online students and faculty eager to help you start your new career as a medical assistant.
- Program length: 10 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Credential earned: Diploma in Medical Assisting
- Program length: 20 months
- Classes: View the curriculum
- Credential earned: Associate of Science in Medical Assisting Services
Your new career begins by earning an education
Our university exists to help you develop the career-focused skills to succeed as a medical assistant – and eventually advance to greater career heights in the future if you so choose.
We can be your lifelong learning partner dedicated to your career success in the field of healthcare.
Learn more about our online medical assisting program options
1. Certification in this program is not a state requirement.
* Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics 2023 / Occupational Outlook Handbook 2022. BLS estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work and degree field, will affect career outcomes and earnings. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the average salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, salary increase or other career growth.
** Projections Central, Long-Term Projections (2020-2030). Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work, and degree field will affect career outcomes. Herzing does not guarantee that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, or other career growth.
Classes Start July 8th
Learn More Today