Michigan borders four of the Great lakes, giving it the longest freshwater coast on Earth. With the large tourism business and multiple urban centers, Michigan provides a wealth of employment opportunities for medical assistants. In fact, the state is listed in the top ten for medical assistant employment and offers a decent average wage for professionals who choose this career. If you choose to become a medical assistant in Michigan, you will be pleased to know that there are numerous schools available for your training. Most are accredited and offer programs at every level of training. Michigan medical assisting students enjoy incredible options and can get guidance and help from the state’s local medical assistant organizations.
Michigan’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment
Currently, there are more than 20,000 medical assistants working in Michigan, and there are over 750 new positions open each year. The current average hourly wage for medical assistants in the state is $13.50, which is in the mid-range nationwide.
The Future of Medical Assisting in Michigan
The future looks bright for Michigan medical assistants. With the 750 new job openings a year expected to increase over the next few years, there will be ample opportunity for new medical assistant graduates to land a nice job. However, competition will remain stiff for the highest paying positions. Medical assistants who have passed certification examinations will have an edge over other applicants and will have the first choice when it comes to prime job openings.
List of Medical Assistant Schools in Michigan
Everest Institute
- Program Link: Medical Assistant diploma program
- Description: Everest offers medical assisting programs at its campuses in Dearborn, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Southfield. The program takes less than a year to complete and includes both clinical and administrative assisting. Before graduation, all students must complete an externship in a real-world medical facility, allowing for hands-on experience that is invaluable to entry-level workers. In addition, Everest offers a full range of student support services to help ensure success from the first day of classes to the first day on the job.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: diploma
- Average Program Length: less than one year
- Tuition: $15,585 to $19,380
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 70% to 80%
- Fun Fact: Everest has partnerships with many healthcare employers.
Ross Medical Education Center
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: Ross Medical Education Center offers medical assistant training at its campuses in Ann Arbor, Brighton, Canton, Davison, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing, Madison Heights, New Baltimore, Port Huron, Portage, Roosevelt Park, Saginaw, and Taylor. Students at Ross get current, thorough, hands-on training to work in both the front office and clinical aspects of healthcare. The school offers job placement assistance and other student support services to help students succeed.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: diploma
- Average Program Length: less than two years
- Tuition: $15,680
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 70% to 79%
- Fun Fact: Ross has partnerships with many Michigan healthcare employers.
Alpena Community College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting degree program
- Description: Alpena Community College offers a two year associate of applied science degree in medical assisting. The program includes courses in clinical and administrative medical assisting and includes a separate practicum for each area of responsibility. The school has been in business since 1952 and offers small class sizes, excellent student support, and a wellness center to help students thrive both academically and personally. Students who complete this program are qualified to sit for the AAMA certification examination.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: Associate of Applied Science
- Average Program Length: two years
- Tuition: $106/credit hour
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: ACC has campuses in Alpena and Oscoda.
Carnegie Institute
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: The Carnegie Institute offers medical assistant training during day or evening hours for student convenience. In 1947, Carnegie school became the first of its kind to receive national recognition and became a leader in schools that offered regularly scheduled medical assistant training programs. As can be expected from a school with such a stellar background, Carnegie’s medical assistant program prepares students fully for entry-level medical assistant positions in a number of different healthcare environments. Students in this program receive classroom and laboratory instruction and practice skills in an externship. Upon graduation, students can sit for the AAMA’s certification examination.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: diploma
- Average Program Length: one year
- Tuition: $10,975
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 85%
- Fun Fact: Carnegie Institute received the “School of Excellence” award from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges.
Davenport University
- Program Link: Medical Assisting degree program
- Description: Davenport University is located in Grand Rapids and offers an associate’s degree in medical assisting with optional phlebotomy training. Students in this program will receive a comprehensive medical assisting education that includes all necessary instruction for patient care and front office operations. Students culminate studies with hands-on externship experience and are eligible to sit for national certification examinations after graduation.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: A.A.S. in Medical Assisting; A.A.S. in Medical Assisting with Phlebotomy
- Average Program Length: two years
- Tuition: $16,920/academic year
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Davenport has on-site housing and all other features of a full university.