Thinking of starting a rewarding career as a medical assistant?
Medical assistants also called healthcare or clinical assistants, are key personnel in the healthcare industry.
These allied health professionals work to aid doctors, physician assistants, nursing staff, and other medical workers in their daily practice.
Becoming a medical assistant in New Mexico is a great way to enter a noble profession in high demand.
These individuals work in clinical settings to gain broad medical experience.
Before you start a career in this field, however, you will need to receive your medical assistant certification.
Here is everything you need to know about becoming a medical assistant in New Mexico.
Page Navigation
- 5 Medical Assistant Schools in New Mexico
- Medical Assistant Salary in New Mexico
- Finding the Best Medical Assistant Schools in New Mexico
- Frequently Asked Questions
- How Long Does it Take to Become a Certified Medical Assistant in New Mexico?
- What Can Medical Assistants do in New Mexico?
- How Long Does Medical Assistant Certification Last in New Mexico?
- How Much Does Medical Assistant Certification Cost in New Mexico?
- Do You Have to be Certified to be a Medical Assistant in New Mexico?
5 Medical Assistant Schools in New Mexico
1. Charter College
Charter Institute, a division of Charter College, offers an ABHES certification program lasting 10 months.
This program begins every five weeks at Charter College’s Farmington location.
The certification program focuses on clinical, technical, and clerical skills to assist in doctor’s offices and ambulatory settings.
Program graduation requires passing a national certification exam and includes a 180-hour clinical externship.
2. Brookline College
Located in Albuquerque, Brookline College offers an ABHES certification program and a 720-hour education experience.
In about 39 weeks, students take 31.5 credits spread across eight-course modules to earn their diplomas.
The program covers subjects as diverse as healthcare administrative practices, lab training, clinical practices, pharmacology, healthcare concepts, and electrocardiography.
The program also includes a 160-hour internship to fully prepare students for a full-time working experience as medical assistants.
3. National American University
National American University offers a CAAHEP medical assistant training program in Albuquerque.
Lasting 104 weeks, this medical administrative assistant program focuses on clerical skills for managing medical offices.
The program covers medical law, healthcare coding, and record management. Graduates receive an A.A.S. degree.
4. Eastern New Mexico University
Located in Roswell, ENMU offers a three-semester CAAHEP certification program.
The program is 41.5 credits and includes a 5-credit clinical internship during the summer.
The program covers clinical and administrative duties, giving everything needed to become an efficient medical assistant.
5. Pima Medical Institute
Pima Medical Institute in Albuquerque offers a 34 credits medical assistant certification program.
The program is broken into 200 hours of clinical internship, 275 hours of lab training, and 325 hours of in-class time.
The program trains medical assistant graduates in medical billing and coding, examination methods, medical office lab procedures, surgical procedures, and more.
Medical Assistant Schools in New Mexico – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in New Mexico
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Charter College | 3030 E 20th St, Farmington, NM 87402 |
| Brookline College | 4201 Central Ave NW Suite J, Albuquerque, NM 87105 |
| National American University | 4775 Indian School Road NE- Suite 200. Albuequerque, New Mexico 87110-3976 |
| Eastern New Mexico University | 1500 S Avenue K, Portales, NM 88130 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 4400 Cutler Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110 |
Medical Assistant Salary in New Mexico
As of 2022, the average salary for medical assistants in New Mexico is $34,653.
This is just slightly lower (about $3,000 annually) than the average medical assistant salary across the United States.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Assistants in New Mexico
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Albuquerque | $35,495 |
| Las Cruces | $32,227 |
| Santa Fe | $35,829 |
| Rio Rancho | $35,381 |
| Roswell | $33,251 |
| Farmington | $35,093 |
| Alamogordo | $33,819 |
| Clovis | $34,155 |
| Hobbs | $33,846 |
| Carlsbad | $33,251 |
Regional Salary in New Mexico
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque, NM | 3,510 | $39,870 | $19.17 | $48,860 | $32,180 |
| Farmington, NM | 260 | $38,250 | $18.39 | $45,220 | $30,320 |
| Las Cruces, NM | 810 | $36,290 | $17.45 | $44,800 | $28,050 |
| Santa Fe, NM | 430 | $44,360 | $21.33 | $55,910 | $34,600 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Finding the Best Medical Assistant Schools in New Mexico
If you are looking for medical assistant certification in New Mexico, there are a lot of things to consider.
Ultimately, the right program will depend on your needs and goals, both in the short term and further down the line.
These options may help you get started on choosing the program that is right for you!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does it Take to Become a Certified Medical Assistant in New Mexico?
Medical assistant students can be ready to start working in the field in as little as nine months.
Once students graduate from a vocational school medical assistant program, they are eligible to take the certification exam.
However, this timeline varies widely between institutions and programs, so you will want to do some research before deciding where to study for your certification.
What Can Medical Assistants do in New Mexico?
Medical assistants have many tasks that they can undertake, both in New Mexico and elsewhere.
Among other things, they may:
- clean and sterilize medical equipment
- take patient vital signs
- administer medications under doctor supervision
- assist physicians during exams and outpatient surgeries
- collect patient blood and urine samples
- care for wounds and change dressings
- update patient records and handle billing
- facilitate communication between the patient and medical team
How Long Does Medical Assistant Certification Last in New Mexico?
Once you receive your medical assistant certification in New Mexico, it is valid and up-to-date for three years.
But you will not need to retake the entire certification test that often — you will just need to file a Certification Continuation Program.
Part of this involves demonstrating that you continue to comply with the AMT Standards of PRactice.
How Much Does Medical Assistant Certification Cost in New Mexico?
Medical assistant certification costs start at $125 for recent graduates and $250 for non-recent graduates.
Recertification for non-AAMA members costs $250 and $125 for members.
Do You Have to be Certified to be a Medical Assistant in New Mexico?
New Mexico state law does not require that medical assistants be certified in order to work.
There is no state governing body that regulates medical assistants.
Instead, individual employers are required to ensure their medical assistants are capable of performing the job.
However, many employers require certification to consider hiring you for positions.
Many promotions require certification as well.
Plus, certification is valuable for acceptance nationwide if you ever choose to move out of state.
For these reasons, considering a medical assistant certification program in New Mexico may be a very wise career move.
