Nebraska’s strongest industries are ranching and farming, but the state also enjoys a thriving healthcare industry. With nearly two million residents, Nebraska has a high demand for skilled, caring healthcare professionals, especially in metropolitan areas like Omaha. The state is home to several accredited medical assisting schools, and students who get training in the state can benefit from the Nebraska Student Loan Repayment Program. This program is designed to help people enter the healthcare profession to decrease the current shortage of providers.
Nebraska’s Medical Assisting Employment Environment
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nebraska ranks in the upper middle range for employment of medical assistants, with as many as 6,800 professionals currently working in this field across the state. The average salary of Nebraska medical assistants is around $28,150, which is above average for the region. To have the best chances at good jobs and higher pay rates, it is important for students to pass the Certified Medical Assistant examination. This certification makes applicants more valuable to employers and can give an edge over other applicants.
The Future of Medical Assisting in Nebraska
Medical assisting is expected to have a much faster rate of growth than most other professions throughout the next decade. This will create many job opportunities for new medical assistants and will provide a high level of employment security. With such a bright and promising future, this is an ideal time for interested students to get the training to enter the field of medical assisting.
List of Medical Assisting Schools in Nebraska
Nebraska Methodist College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant program
- Description: Located in Omaha, Nebraska Methodist College offers a thorough medical assistant training program that prepares students to enter a growing healthcare field. Students at NMC enjoy state-of-the-art laboratory facilities, knowledgeable staff, and full student support services and activities. The school’s affiliations allow students to complete their 10-week externships in some of the state’s most prestigious healthcare facilities. Students who complete this program are qualified to take the AAMA’s certification examination.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: 11 months
- Tuition: $11,995
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 98%
- Fun Fact: NMC is affiliated with the Nebraska Methodist Health System, one of the state’s largest.
Vatterott College
- Program Link: Medical Assistant degree program
- Description: Vatterott College offers an Associate of Occupational Studies in Medical Assisting degree program that can be completed on-site or as a hybrid. Students who take the hybrid option will complete all class work online and all laboratory work on campus. Students must also complete an internship to graduate from the program. Vatterott’s medical assisting program includes everything students need to work in both clinical and administrative roles. Upon graduation from the program, students are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant examination offered through the AAMA.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: Associate of Occupational Studies
- Average Program Length: 70 weeks
- Tuition: $10,417/academic year
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Vatterott is a well-established school that has campuses in nine states.
Central Community College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting program
- Description: Central Community College is accessible to more students than nearly any other Nebraska school. The Associate of Applied Science medical assisting program at CCC offers full administrative and clinical training as well as valuable externship experience to prepare students to be highly skilled in this profession. Students in this program will study in modern laboratory and classroom settings and will be prepared to take the Certified Medical Assistant examination after graduation.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: Associate of Applied Science
- Average Program Length: two years
- Tuition: $80/credit hour
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Central Community College has campuses that serve 25 counties in Nebraska.
Kaplan University
- Program Link: Medical Assistant degree program
- Description: Kaplan’s Lincoln campus provides an Associate of Applied Science degree in medical assisting that covers all aspects of medical assisting. This program takes approximately two years to complete and prepares students to become Certified Medical Assistants. Students who choose this program will enjoy Kaplan’s small class sizes and full support services as well as modern classrooms and laboratories. In addition, students at Kaplan can choose to take some courses online, for flexibility and convenience.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: Associate of Applied Science
- Average Program Length: A.A.S. – 92 credits
- Tuition: $30,654
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 62%
- Fun Fact: Learning Center students can complete at least 50% of this program online.
Metropolitan Community College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting certificate program
- Description: Metropolitan Community College offers a medical assistant certificate program at its campuses in Elkhorn Valley, Fort Omaha, and South Omaha. The program includes three quarters of classes and laboratory work followed by one quarter of externship in a local healthcare facility. Students at MCC have access to a variety of student support services, extracurricular activities, and more. After graduating from this program, students can sit for the Certified Medical Assistant examination offered through the AAMA.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate
- Average Program Length: one year
- Tuition: $3,024
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: not available
- Fun Fact: Students at MCC can take part of their classes online.