The medical community represents a variety of people.
All who dedicate themselves to helping people.
Many do not get the chance to become a physician, but they find that medical assisting is satisfying.
Page Navigation
- What is a Medical Assistant?
- How to Become a Medical Assistant in West Virginia?
- Requirements to Become a Medical Assistant in West Virginia
- Mountwest Community and Technical College
- Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
- New River Community and Technical College
- West Virginia Northern Community College
- Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
- Medical Assistant Schools in West Virginia – Summary Table
- Top 5 Schools in West Virginia
- Salary
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Medical Assistant?
Good medical assistants are hardworking, reliable, and responsible.
You must have exceptional communication and organizational skills.
You must also handle small details well and have a strong work ethic.
When you work in the medical field, anything can happen.
You need to be on top of everything and provide first aid.
The requirements of a medical assistant depend on the facility and the month of work that it has.
Some basic duties include:
- Scheduling both routine emergency appointments
- Preparing patients before the examination
- Administering prescribed medication
- Taking X-rays and EKG
How to Become a Medical Assistant in West Virginia?
The state of West Virginia does not need a formal education to become a medical assistant.
But because medicine is a constantly changing field, there are serious needs.
More education will get you further in this field.
If you want to further your education in the medical assisting field, you have three options:
- Medical assistant certificate
- The medical assistant associate degree program
- Medical assistant diploma
When you go this route, the program must have accreditation.
There are two places you can get that from:
- The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
- The Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Requirements to Become a Medical Assistant in West Virginia
Although West Virginia does not license medical assistants, employers set their requirements.
Qualifications are essential to remaining competitive in this field.
Getting a license or certification can improve your chances of getting a better-paying job.
There are several schools to help you achieve your medical assisting goals.
Mountwest Community and Technical College
Huntington, WV
Associate of applied science degree in medical assisting
Graduates can perform CPR and administer first aid.
They can also record vital signs, secure lab samples, and record patient histories.
They will also know how to do front office tasks like reception, billing, and scheduling.
Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
Martinsburg WV
Associates of Applied Science in Medical Assisting
They prepare graduates for immediate entry into the allied health field.
Their skills include both front-office administrative work and patient-oriented responsibilities.
New River Community and Technical College
Beaver, WV
Associate of Applied Science Degree in medical assisting
Prepares students not just for the workforce.
They are also prepared to take the National Health Career Association exam.
West Virginia Northern Community College
Wheeling, WV
AAS in Medical Assisting
It’s a 1+1 program that’s best for full-time students.
Graduates will work in various ambulatory care environments.
This includes doctor’s offices and hospitals.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Logan, WV
AAS in Medical Assisting
They prepare students to perform entry-level work in various ambulatory health environments.
They will also have the knowledge necessary to sit for some certification exams.
Medical Assistant Schools in West Virginia – Summary Table
Top 5 Schools in West Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Mountwest Community and Technical College | 1 Mountwest Way, Huntington, WV 25701 |
| Blue Ridge Community and Technical College | 13650 Apple Harvest Dr, Martinsburg, WV 25403 |
| New River Community and Technical College | 280 University Dr, Beaver, WV 25813 |
| West Virginia Northern Community College | 1600 Chapline St, Wheeling, WV 26003 |
| Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College | 1601 Co Hwy 52/27, Williamson, WV 25661 |
Salary
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Medical Assistants in West Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Charleston | $34,536 |
| Huntington | $33,865 |
| Parkersburg | $33,668 |
| Wheeling | $37,118 |
| Morgantown | $37,118 |
| Weirton | $36,991 |
| Fairmont | $37,118 |
| Beckley | $34,233 |
| Clarksburg | $33,364 |
| Martinsburg | $42,016 |
Regional Salary in West Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckley, WV | 280 | $31,420 | $15.11 | $36,350 | $24,550 |
| Charleston, WV | 590 | $34,460 | $16.57 | $39,820 | $28,910 |
| Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH | 990 | $35,450 | $17.04 | $43,640 | $28,880 |
| Morgantown, WV | 580 | $35,950 | $17.29 | $42,590 | $29,710 |
| Parkersburg-Vienna, WV | 230 | $33,140 | $15.93 | $39,010 | $28,120 |
| Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH | 240 | $34,040 | $16.36 | $40,090 | $26,420 |
| Wheeling, WV-OH | 300 | $35,320 | $16.98 | $40,050 | $29,450 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Medical Assisting programs teach?
When you educate yourself in any of the approved courses, you will get a ton of information.
For instance, you will learn about:
- Healthcare law
- First aid
- Medical ethics
- CPR
- Medical terminology
- Emergency procedures
How do I get National Certification?
To get a national certification, you must pass the certified medical assistant exam.
It is multiple-choice with questions about general, clinical, and administrative medical assistant subjects.
How to get a job as a medical assistant?
The medical assistant profession grows more important every day.
This leads to a growing number of employers and excellent job opportunities.
However, the number of novice licensed medical assistants is going up.
Medical assistants can find jobs in hospitals, private offices, and other medical facilities.
The licensed candidate has several advantages.
One of the biggest is the ability to choose between a job in a large hospital or a small private facility.
They also have the power to negotiate their salary.
There are many clinics in West Virginia looking for assistants who know what they are doing.
Some of those places include:
- CRC Health in Dumont
- Med Express in Cross Lanes and Charleston
- Preston Memorial Hospital in Kingwood
How much do medical assistants make?
The demand for new medical assistants is high.
Right now, West Virginia medical assistants’ salaries are modest.
It varies between cities but it is somewhere between $30 and 33 thousand a year.
What are the duties of medical assistants?
A typical day involves several duties for a medical assistant to manage.
They have to talk to the doctor about the patient, help with treatments, etc.
The daily workload of a healthcare team depends on medical assistants.
This makes the ideal candidate for this position someone willing to learn new skills.
That is why more employers are hiring graduates from accredited schools.
They want people ready to perform medical duties immediately once they start working.
