Also known as Anesthesia Technologist.
The Medical Assistant profession is experiencing tremendous growth because of the increasing number of senior citizens as well as the insurance industry's greater demand for preventative medical care. The number of jobs for certified medical assistants to aid nurses, doctors, and primary caregivers with various patient, clinical, and administrative tasks is forecasted to grow 30.3% by 2014.
One of the great benefits of training to be a medical assistant is that many of the skills are transferable to other health care occupations. In fact, medical assisting can be one of the best ways for future nurses or doctors to find the healing profession that suits them best, and there are hundreds of healthcare career paths to choose from.
Medical assistant graduates can choose to work as "generalists," which provides them the flexibility to step in wherever needed to support the primary care provider. Their skills range from arranging hospital admissions and laboratory tests to explaining medical procedures (such as x-ray or diagnostic sonogram imaging) to patients. Clinical duties of allied health personnel could include recording patients' vital signs, sterilizing medical instruments, assisting the physician during examinations, collecting lab samples, performing on-site lab tests, or disposing of contaminated supplies. Some medical assistants even write and call in prescriptions, but only under direct authorization by the physician.
Every clinical health care assistant or technician has a unique career path depending on their individual goals, preferences, and skills. Many start out performing needle injections, administering allergy testing or skin testing, or even drawing blood (phlebotomist) for lab testing.
People with administrative skills who want to be involved in the medical field but are less interested in bodily fluids may be more attracted to careers in hospital administration, medical facility bookkeeping, medical insurance billing and coding, or other administrative and clerical healthcare occupations. Doctors rely heavily on medical assistants to handle the basic day-to-day operations of the office or clinic and are always in search of applicants with formal educational training from a certified medical assistant program like those you'll find below.
An associate's degree in medical assistance can be obtained in as little as one year from a community or vocational school. Trained Medical Assistants can earn upwards of $50,000 per year plus benefits. Those allied health professionals who choose to specialize in specific areas (such as ophthalmology, podiatry, or dentistry) may increase their earnings potential significantly.
Medical assisting can be an excellent career choice for people who are interested in helping others but don't want to invest several years in schooling. It can be an exciting and demanding job, and it comes with many rewards.
| Arizona Schools |
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(Mesa, Phoenix) - Medical Assisting |
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(Phoenix) - Medical Assisting |
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(Mesa, Phoenix, Tucson) - Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapist, Veterinary Technician |
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(Phoenix) - Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapy, Veterinary Assistant |
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(Tempe) - Medical Insurance Coding, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Phoenix, Tempe) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Technologist in Radiology, Surgical Technologist, Dental Assistant, Hospital Unit Coordinator, Massage Therapy |
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| Tucson College |
(Tucson) - Medical Assistant |
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| California Schools |
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(Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Hayward, Los Angeles (Wilshire), Lynnwood, New Orleans, Ontario, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose, West Los Angeles, Wilshire) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Indio) - Medical Assisting, Dental Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Massage Therapy, Administrative Medical/Dental |
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(Orange County) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing, Medical Office Administration |
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(Salinas) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Biller/Coder |
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Canyon Country, Lancaster) - Administrative Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Laboratory Assistant, Pharmacy Technician |
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| Empire College |
(Santa Rosa) - Medical Assisting, Billing/ Coding |
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(Concord, Fresno, Hayward, Rancho Cordova, Roseville, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, Stockton) - Dental Assisting, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration |
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(Sacramento) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Santa Clara) - Lab Assistant, EKG Technician/Phleb, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Coder/Office Specialist |
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| Institute of Technology |
(Clovis, Modesto, Sacramento) - Medical Billing/Coding Specialist, Medical Office Administration, Medical Office Administration, Pharmacy Technician, Professional Medical Assistant |
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(Bakersfield, Fresno, North Hollywood, Palm Springs, Panorama City, Riverside, Sacramento, Salida, San Diego, Stockton, North County) - Diagnostic Cardiac Sonography, Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Ultrasound, Diagnostic Vascular Sonography, Back, Office Medical Assisting, Medical Assistant, Pharmacy Technician, Phlebotomy Technician, Radiologic Technology, X-Ray Technician, Back Office Medical Assistant, Massage Therapy |
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| National Career Education |
(Citrus Heights) - Lab Assistant, EKG Tech/Phlebotomist, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Coder/Office Assistant, Optical/Optometric Assistant |
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| WyoTech |
(Long Beach) - Lab Assistant, EKG Tech/Phlebotomist, Medical Assistant, Medical Biller/Coder/Office Assistant, Optical/Optometric Assistant |
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| Newbridge College |
(Long Beach, Santa Ana) - Medical Assisting |
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| Platt College |
(Alhambra, Newport Beach, Ontario) - Medical Asistant |
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(San Diego) - Medical Assisting |
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(Bakersfield, Fresno, Modesto, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cucamonga, Visalia) - Clinical and Administrative Medical Assisting, Dental Assisting, Health Care Insurance Specialist, Pharmacy Technology |
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(Bakersfield, Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Ventura) - Medical Assisting, Medical/Dental Office Systems, Pharmacy Technician |
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| South Coast College |
(Orange) - Medical Assisting |
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| Trinity College |
(Fairfield, Vallejo) - Administrative Medical Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician |
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UEI |
(Chula Vista, El Monte, Huntington Park, Los Angeles, Ontario, San Bernardino, San Diego, Van Nuys) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Insurance Coding, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Victorville) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapist, Medical Assistant |
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(Antioch, Citrus Heights, Emeryville, Pleasant Hill, Sacramento, San Jose, San Leandro, Stockton) - Ultrasound Technology, Dental Assisting, Health Care Administration, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technology |
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| Colorado Schools |
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(Denver, North Kansas City) - Medical Assistant |
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(Colorado Springs) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding |
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(Aurora) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, X-ray Technician (Ltd. Scope) |
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(Thornton) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Aurora, Colorado Springs, Thornton) - Medical Assisting |
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| Institute of Business and Medical Careers |
(Ft. Collins) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding |
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| IntelliTec College |
(Grand Junction, Pueblo) - Medical Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Massage Therapist |
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(Colorado Springs) - Medical Assisting |
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(Denver North, Denver South) - Medical Assisting, Medical Transcription, Medical Assisting |
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| Florida Schools |
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| ACT- Advanced Career Training |
(Jacksonville) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Insurance Coding |
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(DeLand) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Dental Assisting, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Technician |
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(Ft.Lauderdale, Ft. Lauderdale - Medical) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting |
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| ATI College of Health |
(Miami) - Diagnostic Ultrasound Technician, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Respiratory Therapist |
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| Central Florida College |
(Winter Park) - Health Information Technologies, Medical Assisting, Medical Coding Specialist, Patient Care Technician, Administrative Medical Assistant |
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(Orlando, Palm Harbor) - Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant/Basic X-ray, Noninvasive Cardio Technician, Advanced Cardiovascular Technologist - ECHO |
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| City College |
(Casselberry, Ft.Lauderdale, Gainesville, Miami) - Emergency Medical Services (EMT/Paramedic), Associate Degree in Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration |
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| Edutech Centers |
(Brandon, Clearwater) - Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding Specialist, Medical Transcription |
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(Hialeah, Lauderdale Lakes , Miami, Pembroke, West Palm Beach) - Massage Therapy Technician, Medical Assistant Technician, Medical Coding and Billing Specialist, Medical Office Administrator |
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| Florida Career Institute |
Mulberry) - Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Coding Specialist |
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(Lauderhill) -Dental Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician |
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| Everest University |
(Brandon, Jacksonville, Lakeland, Melbourne, Orlando North, Orange Park, Pinellas, Pompano Beach, South Orlando, Tampa) - Assisted Living Administrator, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance, Billing/Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Surgical Technologist, Massage Therapy |
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| Florida Technical College |
(Auburndale, Deland, Jacksonville, Orlando) - Medical Assistant, Medical Administration Assistant |
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| Gulf Coast College |
(Tampa) - Medical Assisting, Practical Nursng, Health Information Management (Medical Billing & Coding) |
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(Orlando) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, X-ray Technician (Ltd. Scope) |
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| Jones College |
(Jacksonville Arlington, Jacksonville West Campus, Miami) - Medical Assistant |
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(Daytona Beach, Ft.Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Lakeland, Melbourne, Orlando, Pembroke Pines, Port St.Lucie, Sarasota, Tallahassee, Tampa, West Palm Beach) - Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Services Administration, Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Radiology, Ultrasound Technologist, Health Services Administration, Medical Laboratory Technician |
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| Lincoln College of Technology |
(West Palm Beach) - Medical Assisting, Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting Technology |
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(Ft. Lauderdale, Miami, Stuart, West Palm Beach) - Medical Assisting |
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(Fort Lauderdale, Hialeah, Kendall, North Miami Beach) - Medical Assisting, Surgical Technologist, Massage Therapy, Cardiovascular Technologist, Pharmacy Technician, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding |
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| North Florida Institute |
(Orange Park) -Health Information Technologies, Medical Assisting, Medical Coding Specialist, Patient Care Technician, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Jacksonville, Largo, Tampa) - Massage Therapy, Medical Assisting, Pharmacy Technician |
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| Ross Medical Education Center |
(Hollywood, West Palm Beach) - Medical Assistant |
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| Sanford Brown |
(Jacksonville, Tampa) - Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, Surgical Technology, Advanced Massage Therapy, Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
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| School of Health Careers |
(Lauderdale Lakes) - Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding |
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| Southwest Florida College |
(Ft.Myers, Tampa) - Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding Specialist, Medical Transcription |
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(Pensacola) -Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Practical Nursing |
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| Webster College |
(Ocala, Pasco) - Medical Assisting |
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| Georgia Schools |
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(Dekalb, Jonesboro, Marietta, Norcross) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Medical Administrative Assistant |
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| ACT Advanced Career Training |
(Atlanta, Morrow) - Dental Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Insurance Coding |
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| Career Education Institute |
(Marietta, Norcross) - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding & Billing |
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| ETI Career Institute |
(Atlanta) - Medical Assisting,Medical Office Administration |
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| Georgia Medical Institute (Atlanta Downtown, Atlanta Dekalb, |
Jonesboro, Marietta, Norcross) - Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy, Dialysis Technician |
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(Lilburn) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration |
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(Atlanta) - Massage Therapy, Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Pharmacy Technician, Massage Therapy |
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(Marietta, Norcross) - Medical Assistant, Associate in Medical Assisting Technology |
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| Medix School |
(Atlanta) - Medical Assistant |
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| Ross Medical Education Center |
(Decatur, Smyrna) - Medical Assistant |
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(Atlanta) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing and Coding Specialist, Cardiovascular Technology, Diagnostic Medical Sonography |
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(Atlanta Midtown, Atlanta Northlake) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Coding and Billing |
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| Massachusetts Schools |
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 | (Brighton, Chelsea) - Medical Assisting, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing/Codingtr> |  |
 | (Springfield) - Health Claims Specialist, Massage Therapy,Medical Assistant |  |
| Bryman Institute | (Brighton, Chelsea) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Massage Therapy |  |
| Career Education Institute | (Lowell, Somerville) - Massage Therapy, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding & Billing, Pharmacy Technician |  |
| The Career Institute of American International College | (Braintree, Cambridge, Framingham, Woburn) - Medical Assisting, Medical Coding, Medical Coding & Billing, Healthcare Professional, Medical Administrative Assistant |  |
| Northeast Technical Institute | (Haverhill) - Clinical Medical Assistant, Health Information Management, Medical Coding and Billing, Medical Office Assistant, Medical Transcription |  |
| RETS Technical Center | (Charlestown) - Medical Assisting | 
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(Springfield) - Medical Assistant, Advanced Massage Therapy |  |
| Michigan Schools |
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| Dorsey Schools |
(Madison Heights, Roseville, Southgate, Wayne - Westland) - Medical Assisting, Medical Billing, Medical Secretary, Medical Transcriptionist, Patient Care Specialist, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Detroit) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist, Pharmacy Technician |
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| National Institute of Technology |
(Dearborn, Detroit, Southfield) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding, Medical Administrative Assistant |
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(Dearborn, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Southfield) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding |
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| Ross Medical Education Center |
(Ann Arbor, Brighton, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Port Huron, Redford, Roosevelt Park, Saginaw, Warren) - Medical Assistant |
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| Minnesota Schools |
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| Argosy University |
(Twin Cities)
- Diagnostic Medical Sonography (Ultrasound), Histotechnology, Medical Assisting, Radiologic Technology, Veterinary Technology,
Dental Hygiene, Medical Laboratory Technology, Radiation Therapy, Health Services Management, Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Forensic Psychology, Marriage and Family Therapy |
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(Eagan) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding |
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| Duluth Business University |
(Duluth) - Billing and Coding Specialist, Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist |
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| Globe College |
(Oakdale) - Associate in Medical Assisting |
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(Minneapolis, St. Louis Park) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding |
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(Minneapolis) - Medical Assisting |
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(Brooklyn Center, Oakdale, Plymouth, Richfield, Rochester, Shakopee, St. Cloud) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant |
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(Brooklyn Park, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Mankato, St. Cloud) - Medical Assisting, Medical Administration |
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| Missouri Schools |
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(Fenton, North St. Louis) - Medical Assistant |
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(Springfield) - Medical Assistant |
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(Springfield, St. Louis) - Medical Insurance Billing/Coding, Medical Assisting, Medical Office Assistant |
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(North Kansas City) - Healthcare Administration, Medical Assistant |
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(Kansas City) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding, Massage Therapy, Surgical Technologist |
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(Kansas City) - Medical Assistant |
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| Missouri College |
(St. Louis) - Health Business Office Administration, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant |
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(Kansas City) - Medical Assistant |
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(Fenton, St. Peters, Hazelwood) - Healthcare Administration, Medical Assistant, Medical Coding and Billing |
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(Kansas City, South County, Springfield, St. Joseph) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Assistant |
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| Wichita Technical Institute |
(Joplin) - Medical Assisting |
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| Pennsylvania Schools |
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| Academy of Medical Arts & Business |
(Harrisburg) - Medical Assistant Specialist |
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(Wyomissing) - Medical Assistant Program |
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| Bradford School |
(Pittsburgh) - Medical Assistant |
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| Career Training Academy™ |
(Monroeville, New Kensington, Pittsburgh) - Advanced Medical Coder/Biller, Medical Biller, Medical Administrative Assistant |
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(Allentown) - Medical Assisting |
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| Center for Certification and Adult Learning - A Division of Pittsburgh Technical Institute |
(Pittsburgh) - Medical Assisting |
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(Broomall, Southampton) - Medical Assisting |
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| CLN* |
(Altoona, Mechanicsburg) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding Specialist |
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(Center City and Northeast Philadelphia) - Administrative Medical Assistant, Massage Therapy, Medical Biller, Pharmacy Technician |
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(Pittsburgh) - Medical Administrative Secretary, Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding |
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| Kaplan Career Institute - ICM Campus |
(Pittsburgh) - Medical Assisting, Billing and Coding |
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| Lansdale School of Business |
(North Wales) - Medical Assistant |
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(Center Valley) - Medical Assisting |
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(Allentown, Center City, Northeast Philadelphia, Plymouth Meeting) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assistant |
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| Penn Commercial Business & Technical School |
(Washington) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Administration |
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| Pennsylvania Institute of Technology |
(Media) - Medical Assisting |
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| Pittsburgh Technical Institute |
(Pittsburgh) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Medical Coding, Medical Assistant |
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| Prism Career Institute |
(Philadelphia) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Medical Coding, Medical Assistant |
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(Philadelphia) - Medical Assistant, Coding & Billing |
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| Anthem Institute |
(Springfield) - Medical Assistant, Billing & Coding |
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| Thompson Institute |
(Philadelphia) - Medical Assisting, Billing and Coding |
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| Western School of Health and Business |
(Pittsburgh) - Associate - Anesthesia Technologist |
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| Texas |
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(Amarillo) - Administrative Medical/Dental Assistant, Dental Assisting, Medical Assisting, Office Administration |
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(Dallas, Hurst, North Richland Hills) - Medical Assisting |
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| Bradford School of Business |
(Houston) - Medical Assistant, Medical Administrative |
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(Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Fort Worth) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist, Insurance Processor, Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist |
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(Arlington, Dallas, Fort Worth) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding |
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(Austin, Houston/Bissonnet, Greenspoint, Hobby, San Antonio) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing and Coding |
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(San Antonio) - Medical Assisting |
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(Irving) - Medical Assistant, Medical Billing & Coding |
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Medical Assistant, Medical Coding Specialist, Medical Laboratory Technology, Medical Office Administration, Patient Care, Pharmacy Technician, Radiologic Technology, Sterile Processing, Surgical Technology |
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(Austin, Houston/Bissonnet, Houston/Galleria, Houston/Greenspoint, Houston/Hobby, San Antonio) - Medical Assistant, Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Business and Clinical Specialist, Medical Insurance Billing & Coding |
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(Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, North Houston) - Medical Assistant, Medical Insurance and Coding |
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| Kaplan Career Institute |
(San Antonio) - Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist |
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| San Antonio College of Medical and Dental Assistants |
(McAllen) - Medical Assistant Clinical/Clerical, Medical Office Specialist |
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(Dallas, Houston) - Medical Assistant, Coding & Billing |
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| Southeastern Career Institute |
(Dallas, Midland) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist |
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(Beaumont, Laredo, Lubbock, San Antonio) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist |
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(Friendswood, Houston East, Houston North, Houston Southwest) - Medical Assistant, Medical Office Specialist |
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(Austin, Houston North Loop, Houston Southwest) - Medical Assisting |
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Medical Assistant, Medical Assisting and Office Administration, Medical Billing and Coding |
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(Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston-Technology) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Coding & Billing |
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| Virginia |
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(Alexandria, Arlington, Manassas) - Medical Assisting, Medical Administrative Specialist |
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(Manassas, Roanoke) - Medical Administration, Medical Assisting |
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(Arlington, Tyson's Corner) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance, Medical Billing |
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| Everest Institute |
(Chesapeake, Newport News) - Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance, Medical Billing |
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Medical Assisting |
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| Kee Business College |
(Chesapeake, Newport News) - Medical Administrative Assistant, Medical Assisting, Medical Insurance Billing/Coding |
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(Newport News, Richmond, Virginia Beach) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist |
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| National College of Business and Technology |
(Bluefield, Charlottesville, Danville, Harrisonburg, Lynchburg, Martinsville, Roanoke Valley) - Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist |
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| Stratford University |
(Falls Church, Woodbridge) - Medical Assistant |
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(Renton) - Medical Assistant |
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