Medical Assistant Pathway

Overview

Join ReadySkill for a free, flexible eight-month program and earn your certification to become a Medical Assistant. This pathway offers an online certificate through Franklin University.

While you learn online, you’ll have an in-person clinical preceptorship to get the hands-on training you need to be a competitive candidate as a Medical Assistant. We’ll support you with career coaching, social services, and personalized support throughout the program. We’ll also connect you to our network of employers that are ready to hire you as a skilled Medical Assistant.

The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential is designed to prepare individuals wanting to enter the medical field for a career as a Medical Assistant. ReadySkill offers this entry-level certificate program at no cost to enrolled learners; no previous experience is required to apply and enroll.

A few highlights:

This online certification program is to be completed at your own pace, with access to support from a designated cohort instructor from Franklin University.
After a two-week onboarding course, learners can complete the core curriculum within 28 weeks.
Most students will need about 15-20 hours per week to stay on track.
You will also have an in-person clinical preceptorship to receive the skills and clinical hours required to become a licensed Medical Assistant.
The CCMA exam fee and preparation materials are included for learners enrolled in this ReadySkill program.

6-8 Months	Online & In-Person	Self-paced; 15-20 hrs/wk

Learn the skills employers are looking for.

Our programs are industry-aligned and designed to teach you the necessary skills to qualify for job opportunities in this field without the fluff. We also believe there’s more to a successful career than learning a new skill – we’ll work together on soft skills, leadership, and job readiness.

We’re here to help.

We want to ensure each learner has the support and tools they need to find a better-paying career and reach their goals, no matter where they are in their journey. ReadySkill has partnered with local organizations in Central Ohio to provide resources, personalized social service support, career coaching, job readiness training, and more.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this program, you must meet the following criteria:

Must be at least 18 years old
High school diploma or equivalent
Currently live in Central Ohio
Valid authorization to work in the United States
Have regular access to the internet to complete online courses
Be able to pass a background check for employment in a healthcare setting

The course content is fully online, so you will need regular access to a stable internet connection and a laptop or desktop computer with a web browser. If you do not have a laptop, please let us know – you may be eligible for a loaner computer.

Program Cost

This program is offered at no cost to participants, thanks to the generous support of Humana and other partners. The tuition, course materials, exam fee, and personalized support – all provided by this ReadySkill program – are valued at more than $6,000.

Since this is a sponsored program, we can only admit a limited number of participants into this cohort. Admission and enrollment are first-come, first-serve.

Time Commitment

This online certificate program, provided by Franklin University and MedCerts, will take about eight months to complete. The program coursework will begin in Fall 2023 (TBD), and is self-paced – you will complete it on your time and schedule. However, you should expect to spend 15-20 hours a week on the course material to stay on pace with the completion deadline.

The program has an in-person clinical component, where you will get hands-on practice for the skills you learned online. ReadySkill and Franklin University will help place you in a clinical preceptorship to ensure you can apply the clinical skills required to become a state-licensed Medical Assistant.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Medical Assistant do?

Certified Clinical Medical Assistants are multi-skilled allied healthcare professionals who may:

administer medications
assist with minor procedures
record vital signs
take medical histories
prepare patients and rooms for examinations
handle laboratory specimens
provide patient education
other various clinical tasks as assigned

With a specialized skill set and knowledge, you can work in various medical settings depending on your work preferences – such as clinics, physicians’ offices, hospitals, outpatient facilities, retirement homes, or medical research facilities.

What is the timeline of the program?

The Spring 2023 kick off for this program has been postponed; We now expect the program to begin Fall 2023, the new start date is still TBD. Admissions and enrollment will be first-come, first-serve pending eligibility and program fit.

Below is the timeline you can expect as a learner in this program.

ReadyNess (2 weeks)
- Learner Orientation
- Connection to your Navigator and eligible supportive resources
ReadySkill (28 weeks, 15-20 hours/week)
- PS-1011 – Professionalism in Allied Health – 2 weeks
- HI-1014 – Introduction to Human Anatomy and Medical Terminology – 6 weeks
- HI-1011 – Medical Office Procedures and Administration – 6 weeks
- HI-6010 – Virtual Clinical Medical Assisting – 14 weeks
ReadyShip (4-6 weeks)
- After you’re about halfway through the program, ReadySkill & Franklin University will help place you in a preceptorship to get hands-on skills in a real clinical setting.
- Prepare for and take the CCMA Exam

What supports are provided in the Medical Assistant Pathway?

At ReadySkill, we understand that life’s barriers can get in the way of your education and career opportunities. We also know there’s more to your career success than just learning a skill. Holistic wraparound support is available for every learner to address any life barriers that would’ve affected their ability to be successful on their program journey.

You’ll have a team of champions to support you in education, career, and life – so you feel ready for a new job and career success after completing this program. We’ll help you with career coaching, mentorship, social service resources, and personalized one-on-one support.

What is the CCMA Exam?

When you complete the certificate, you will be eligible to sit for the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam issued by the National Healthcare Career Association.

The exam has 180 questions and covers the knowledge and skills you’ll learn in the online certificate, like anatomy and physiology, patient care, and office administration.

ReadySkill covers all exam fees, and we will support you with test-taking strategies and study guides.

Why should I become a Medical Assistant?

Medical Assistants are a great starting point to enter a career in healthcare, with an average starting salary of $31,500 per year.

With the CCMA certification, you can also springboard to additional skills like Phlebotomy and Surgical Technologist. With the proper training and experience, dozens of healthcare pathways are open to you once becoming a Medical Assistant.

According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, demand for Medical Assistants is expected to grow by 19% in the next 10 years. There is enormous demand for skilled CCMAs, and employers are starting to offer higher wages to attract candidates and fill openings for this position.

Section 1: Demographic Information

Section 2: Program Eligibility Questions

Section 3: Open Response Questions