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Do you feel like you’re at a dead-end job and want to start a new career?
Are you about to graduate from high school, and you aren’t sure what to do next?
If you said yes to either of these questions, you should consider a career as a medical assistant.
You’ll have a chance to help people as a medical assistant and work with different people daily.
The average salary for a medical assistant in St. Louis is $18.19 per hour, and that rate will increase with experience and depending on the facility you work.
You don’t have to worry about struggling to find a job after graduating from a medical assistant program because there’s an expected 29 percent growth in the employment of medical assistants between 2016 and 2026.
If you think a career as a medical assistant is right for you, there are some great programs in St. Louis.
1 St. Louis College of Health Careers
About the School
St. Louis College of Health Careers was founded in 1981 by two men who wanted to revolutionize how healthcare professionals get the education necessary to enter the workforce.
The school combines real-world training and academics to prepare students for the future.
The school offers Diploma Programs, Associate Programs, Bachelor Programs, and offer a Medical Assistant course.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assistant program is a Diploma Program, including education and occupational courses.
This is a two-semester program, and the required courses include the following:
- Semester 1
-
- Human Biology Theory
- Human Biology Lab
- Medical Terminology
- Psychology
- Professional Development
- Technical Math
- Semester 2
-
- MA Medical Office Procedures
- MA Fundamental Skills I Theory
- MA Fundamental Skills I Lab
- MA Fundamental Skills II Theory
- MA Fundamental Skills II Lab
When students complete the in-class portion of the class, they must complete an externship before graduation.
They will work in a healthcare facility to get real-work experience to prepare them for their first job.
When you graduate, you’ll know how to:
- Take vitals signs
- Take patient histories
- Perform EKGs
- Drawing blood
- Utilizing Electronic Medical Records (EMR)
- Assisting providers with various specialty examinations
This is a 520-hour program, and you must earn 31 credits to graduate.
The cost per credit is $485, and the total tuition is $15,035.
Address: 909 South Taylor Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110
2 Healthcare Education LLC
About the School
Healthcare Education LLC is a locally owned and operated healthcare training institution.
The school allows students to earn a degree to begin a healthcare career and has been providing training to students for five years, and is affordable.
Courses Offered
The primary objective of the Medical Assisting Program is to train students in office management and to help treat patients.
The course will focus on several subjects to mold students into excellent medical assistants, including:
- Medical administration
- Medical billing and coding
- Administering first aid
- Sterilizing and caring for surgical equipment
- Deciphering EKGs and X-rays
Students will also receive hands-on training in a clinical setting to prepare students for an entry-level position in the medical assisting industry.
This is a 32-week course, and tuition costs $3,000.
Address: 12526 Lusher Road, St. Louis, MO 63138
3 St. Louis Community College
About the School
St. Louis Community College is located 24 minutes from St. Louis and offers associate degrees, certificates, and college transfer degrees.
They also provide career development and workforce training to prepare students for the real world upon graduation.
The school has an excellent Medical Assisting program to prepare students for a career in the healthcare industry.
Courses Offered
The Medical Assisting program combines classroom instruction with clinical practice, and students will learn the following;
- Taking patient histories
- Taking vitals
- Performing basic laboratory tests
- Sterilizing and disposing of laboratory supplies
- Drawing blood
- Preparing patients for physicians
- Appointment scheduling
- Insurance verification
- Handling medical records
- Billing and coding
The clinical portion of the class takes place at a partnering employer location, such as Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, and Surgery.
This is a 23 to 30-week program, and classes meet Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm.
Tuition costs $122 per credit hour for district residents, $171 for in-state residents, $233 for out-of-state residents, and $243 for international students.
Address: 3221 McKelvey Road, Bridgeton, MO 63044
4 St. Louis School of Phlebotomy
About the School
St. Louis School of Phlebotomy provides training for students seeking careers in the medical field.
The school believes that high-quality education doesn’t have to cost a fortune and offers short-term, low-cost quality programs.
Courses Offered
Medical assistants with phlebotomy skills are in demand today, so the school offers a Clinical Medical Assisting program.
Students will learn everything necessary to get their start in the healthcare field and must complete and pass the following courses.
- EKG Administration
- Laboratory & CLIA-Waived Tests
- Phlebotomy and specimen handling
- Medications and Pharmacology
- Patient and Exam Room Preparation
- Charting & Medical Histories
- HIPPA and Patient Rights
- Standard Precautions and Safety
- Medical Terminology
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Injections and Wound Dressing
- Professionalism and Office Tasks
Students who earn overall grades of B or higher are eligible for the optional clinical externship placement program three months after completing the in-class portion of the program.
They must also get a recommendation from an instructor to qualify for the program.
Tuition for the in-class portion of the program is $2,300, and an extra $300 for the clinical externship program.
Address: 6717 Vernon Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
|
#1 | St. Louis College of Health Careers |
|
#2 | Healthcare Education LLC |
|
#3 | St. Louis Community College |
|
#4 | St. Louis School of Phlebotomy |
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical Assisting by City
Medical Assisting by State