Hawaii is one of the most beautiful states in the union, and offers a myriad of conveniences and outdoor activities for students who live there. While there are few medical assisting schools in Hawaii, there are some quality programs that allow the state’s students to get the education they need to enter this rewarding career. If you live in Hawaii and wish to become a medical assistant, you are making a wise choice, since the state offers ample opportunity, a nice salary, and plenty of growth potential.
Employment Environment
Medical assistants in Hawaii earn an average of nearly $16 an hour. This is a relatively high rate of pay when compared to other regions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There is no shortage of jobs for medical assistants in the state, either. Hawaii adds around 1,000 new healthcare jobs a year, providing ample opportunities for new medical assistants.
Hawaii’s Medical Assisting Future
Medical assisting is expected to see around a 34% growth by the year 2016 in most states, Hawaii included. As the demand for qualified medical assistants increases, a quality education will be increasingly important. This growth will provide even more employment opportunities for those who have a good education and/or credentials.
Medical Assistant Schools in Hawaii
Med-Assist School of Hawaii
- Program Link: Medical Assisting diploma program
- Description: Med-Assist School of Hawaii is located in beautiful Honolulu and offers students the chance to truly succeed with free tutoring and full student support. The medical assisting program at Med-Assist provides students with a comprehensive education followed by an externship at one of over 150 locations. In total, the program provides 625 hours of classroom instruction, 100 hours of internship, and 200 hours of clinical externship.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: diploma
- Average Program Length: 9 months
- Tuition: $12,125
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 83%
Heald College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting program
- Description: Heald College offers medical assistant students the choice of earning a diploma or an Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting. The school offers state-of-the-art facilities, a knowledgeable staff, and a full range of student support services. Interested students can arrange to sit in on a class to get a feel for the school before making a commitment to the program. Students who graduate from Heald are eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant examination.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: diploma, Associate’s Degree
- Average Program Length: diploma – less than one year; A.A.S.- two years
- Tuition: diploma – $8,680; A.A.S – $39,510
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: diploma-40; A.A.S – 82%
- Fun Fact: The first Heald College opened 150 years ago in California.
Kapiolani Community College
- Program Link: Medical Assisting certificate; Associate of Science in Medical Assisting
- Description: Located just minutes from beautiful Waikiki, Kapiolani Community College offers aspiring medical assistants a certificate or an associate’s degree program. This competitive-admissions program accepts new students each spring and fall and offers classroom instruction, clinical laboratory practice, and externship experience in a real-world medical office or facility to fully prepare students for the demands of the career. Most classes are offered online, allowing students to complete work from any location and at any time.
- Accreditation: Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP)
- Programs: certificate; Associate of Science
- Average Program Length: certificate – 9 months; A.A.S. – 2 years
- Tuition: certificate – $2,994; A.A.S. – $2,554/year
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: certificate – 80%; A.A.S. – 82%
- Fun Fact: Kapiolani Community College’s health sciences program has received national recognition.
Remington College
- Program Link: Clinical Medical Assisting degree program
- Description: Remington College’s Clinical Medical Assisting Associate’s degree program prepares students for entry-level positions in a variety of healthcare offices and facilities. Students who choose this program will enjoy a range of classes that prepare them for direct patient care and working alongside a physician in a clinical setting. In addition, the school offers students career placement, financial aid assistance, and a variety of other support services to help ensure student success.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
- Programs: Associate’s Degree in Clinical Medical Assisting
- Average Program Length: 18 months – 2 years
- Tuition: around $35,000
- Clinical Experience: Externship
- Job Placement Rate: 73%
- Fun Fact: Remington has campuses across the United States and also offers a Medical Assisting certificate on many campuses.
Ultimate Medical Academy Online
- Program Link: Medical Administrative Assistant online program
- Description: Ultimate Medical Academy Online knows that not all students are located near a quality medical assistant training school, so they offer a Medical Administrative Assistant training program that students can complete entirely online. Since this program does not include clinical medical assisting, there is no need to complete an on-site externship. This is a great program for adult students with busy lives who need to make a career change.
- Accreditation: Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
- Programs: certificate
- Clinical Experience: n/a
- Fun Fact: This program is available entirely online, allowing students to study from any location and at any time that is convenient.