Once you are confident that medical assisting is the ideal career field for you, it is now time to zero in on the perfect program. The first step always entails picking the most suitable course based on your individual goals. Enter your zip code and browse relevant MA training courses near you.
The time taken to complete the program differs based on degree awarded, class schedules, and more. Usually, diplomas are rendered in LA, most of which extend for around a year on average. However, if taking night-time programs, i.e., evening classes, the course duration increases (about 13.5-15 months). Certificate programs also complete within a year.
On the other hand, if a student opts for an associate’s degree program, the length would usually be around 2 years with general education subjects included in the curriculum (credits for which are often transferable for a future 4-year university course). The cost of MA programs in Louisiana can range between $5,000 (for public schools) to $15,000 (for private ones) on average.
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Not only the program but the school you graduate from renders much weightage to your profile. While selecting the school, you should focus on crucial factorials. Research on the goodwill the school carries.
Is it a recognized name for training adept MAs in the state (and even nationally)? What kind of graduate satisfaction rates and placement success rates does the school boast of? Is the school fees affordable and the campus conveniently accessible? How is the faculty? What special support services does the school offer? Is the career services up to mark? What about externship opportunities? Does the school make you eligible for national certifications?
Here, we bring you a list of the top 15 MA schools in LA. Read about key details of each. Always enquire more detailed inputs directly from the school before enrolling.
BPCC offers both an Applied Science (AAS) degree and a Technical Diploma in medical assisting. Both full-time courses and part-time schedules can be opted for. Both programs have specific qualification courses in place that students must complete with grades C or better before applying for acceptance into the courses. The classes for both the programs initiate in fall and spring every year. To keep the training more focused, the college takes only 20 students per class.
Students also must have completed either ALHT 201 or ALHT 203 before enrolment. Apart from these major qualification courses, there are certain additional required courses that you can take at any point during the program before graduation. The total duration for the associate program is 5 semesters, and for the technical diploma is 3 semesters. The diploma has a total of 45 credit hours, and the AAS degree has 60 credit hours of coursework. Both programs have a clinical practicum of 220 hours minimum.
Number of Courses | Diploma, Associate's Degree |
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Campus | Bossier City, LA |
This school has been providing a hands-on MA program at the Shreveport campus since 1991. The diploma program at Ayers is 36 weeks long and can be completed in 49 credit hours. Career training is provided across administrative and clinical functions. Mandatory First Aid and CPR certification is also a part of the program. The school particularly keeps smaller sized batches, which allows a tailored and more supportive teaching style.
Day sessions are available for the diploma program, which can be taken from Monday to Thursday between 8:30 am to 1:50 pm. The career services team at the school actively guides you through finding a job and more. Financial Aid is also available at Ayers. On successfully graduating the program, the students can take the NRCMA exam.
Number of Courses | Diploma |
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Campus | Shreveport, LA |
The school has on offer a Certificate of Technical Competency (CTC) in Medical Clinical Assistance. Expect courses on investigative and examination procedures and carry out diagnostics and data analysis. Learn how to operate critical medical equipment. Professional standards of ethics are also inculcated in the MA aspirant from the outset. When applying, make sure that the form is mailed and postmarked by the due date. Applications open mid-March to June first week.
The medical clinical assistant program is a scholarship set up (associated with the Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS)). New batches are enrolled annually once every fall. All modules have to be passed with at least a grade C (or better). You must also successfully finish the clinical modules by the spring semester to graduate with the certificate. Overall grade point average of 2.0 (or higher) is essential to be achieved across all course requirements by the student. Total clock hours covered are 90.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Schriever, LA |
This school offers a Certificate of Technical Studies program, which is a 2-semester undertaking. The focus is on enabling you to walk into the workforce right after the course. Semester 1 involves completing 17 credits, while semester 2 includes 15 credits (total credits to earn are thus 32). Grade C or better has to be achieved by students across all courses. The program is accredited to make you eligible for taking the national certification exam on course completion.
Certain prerequisite courses are in place that you would need to pass successfully before upgrading to higher-level modules and going ahead with the program. One-on-one guidance is stressed. The school also boasts of valuable ties with industry employers. Supervised work experience, in the end, is an integral MA program component.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Abbeville, LA / Crowley, LA / Opelousas, LA / Ville Platte, LA |
The college offers an undergraduate certificate for medical assistants. The program extends for 38 weeks. They also house a 50 week MA program. On average, 81% of students complete the programs on time. The Council on Occupational Education job placement rate depicts that 82% of program graduates got employed across various MA jobs. Infinity College also trains in other related programs that students can consider for further education.
People seeking help to pay the fees can make use of the school’s financial aid policies. These include student loans and funded grants for qualifying students. The school boasts of a median debt of $17 per student after graduating. Vendor approved programs, direct bills, and tuition reimbursements are also part of the financial help plans offered to the students.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Lafayette, LA |
The Northshore stresses on student-centric programs to enable you for entry-level MA jobs. Degree awarded to pass outs is a Certificate of Technical Studies (30 hours). Both behavioral and biological sciences are incorporated during the study. The program makes you eligible for a national certification exam through the National Healthcareer Association. Expect a systematic assessment of all your learning outcomes with precise results outlined on the program assessment planning webpage.
Add on exit points are also available such as the Career and Technical certificate (CTC) in MA Phlebotomy (8 hours) and CTC in MA EKG (7 hours). The anticipated program duration is around a year. All requirements for the program have to be achieved with at least 2.0-grade point average (or higher) and C (or better) on all coursework.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Greensburg, LA / Hammond, LA |
Unitech is a well-known name throughout the United States, with multiple campuses rendering world-class education. Medical assisting classes start every Monday. They have a day session program, which can be completed in just 9 months, whereas the evening session program takes 12 months to complete. The faculty at Unitech is coveted with industry experience of at least 4 years (most of the professors have considerably more years of experience). Expect a field trip every month.
Guest speakers are also invited monthly to render specialized insights into your future as a practicing medical assistant. Moreover, expect the school to pay for two certification credentials. Exam preparation classes are also conducted to help you achieve the same. They also provide a 6-week online certification course in medical assisting.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Alexandria, LA / Baton Rouge, LA / Houma, LA / Lafayette, LA / Lake Charles, LA / New Orleans, LA / West Monroe, LA |
The MA program here is trained at the Baton Rouge campus. Some students are doing other courses or are working alongside. For such people who cannot attend daytime sessions, a night program (USP of the college) is also in place. The duration of the program, in this case, is 12 months. The day-time course takes approx 7.5 months to complete.
A great feature that the school offers is the “Delta College Medical Career Training Readiness Quiz”. This fun 3-minute test can be taken online to help you figure if medical assisting is the right career call for you. Expect a personalized report highlighting your social styles and what positions you would be best at. Students can expect a valuable externship and job placement assistance at Delta. The program is licensed by the LA Boards of Regents. Students are eligible for Certifications via NHA.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Baton Rouge, LA / Lafayette, LA / Covington, LA / Slidell, LA |
The MA program at Compass is a 10-month long certification, which can be completed in 750 clock hours. The program also encompasses externships of a total of 200 clinical hours. The college directly reports to the Department of Health and Hospitals, Louisiana State Board of Practical Nurse Examiners, and Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology. The school does offer financial help to qualifying students and those facing difficulties. For students with disabilities, it provides reasonable accommodation as per policy.
A USP is that the Nurse Aide Training curriculum is a part of the teaching rendered in the program, so is the Phlebotomy Technician curriculum. These help you become more employable in the MA job market by providing a fully comprehensive knowledge of the field. A CPR certification (healthcare provider level) validated by AHA, is to be submitted at the time of admission. You can also earn this certification during the orientation program.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Hammond, LA |
This school offers a Certificate of Technical Studies (CTS) in medical assisting. On course completion, students can sit for the NHA-CCMA exam. There are general education courses required for the program, and candidates can complete these before applying for the course as well. There are two batches for the program annually (fall and spring).
The fall batch extends over 3 semesters. The first semester, i.e., the fall, in this case, trains students across 562.5 clock hours and 15 credits hours. The second (spring semester) also incorporates 15 credit hours and 562.5 clock hours of classes, while the third semester (summer session including the externship) covers 6 credit hours and 225 clock hours.
For the other spring batch of students, the first semester is spring and trains students across 562.5 clock hours and 15 credits hours. The second summer semester covers 8 credit hours and 300 clock hours. Third and final sem (fall) incorporate your externship and 13 credit hours with 487.5 clock hours. Thus, expect a total of 36 credit hours and 1,350 clock hours irrespective of the batch you opt for. Total externship hours are 180. All courses have to be passed with a grade C or better to graduate.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Gonzales, LA |
The MA program at Camelot is a diploma course called the Advanced Medical Assistant program. To enroll, you must have a high school diploma or equivalent certification. A GPA of 2.0 is required alongside 71.5 credit hours of school. The next ideal step on program graduation is to take the exam from the National Healthcare Association (NHA) or American Medical Certification Association (AMCA). Also, attend a mandatory externship for practical work-experience across clinical settings.
The school also provides an Administrative Medical Assistant online program. It extends over 12 weeks and 96 online clock hours. It is ideal for those seeking to get a job in the front office management domain.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Baton Rouge, LA |
At Fortis, expect the MA program to train you as adept entry-level medical assistants across a varied set of clinical and administrative skills (office administration, computer, etc.). Most importantly, Fortis is a national name with too many campuses across the nation. Thus, you can be assured of degree values not only in LA but throughout the United States. The applicants are interviewed based on the personal information sheet filled up during the admission process and then guided to opt the right program based on their interest areas.
Another interesting combination in place at the Fortis is a medical assisting program with Basic X-ray training. It can further your resume as a technical tool to initiate a widely used testing mechanism is covered. The director of career services at Fortis interacts personally with the students as their graduation is approached towards completion and guides them for their job hunt.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Baton Rouge, LA |
The McCann offers a medical clinical assistant course. The credential awarded on successful course graduation is a diploma. The program focuses on the use of technology in medical assistance. The duration of the training is approx 15 months. Expect to get hands-down knowledge in well-equipped labs. The kind of courses you shall be taking while enrolled here are Pathology, Clinical Specialties, and Medical Insurance Billing.
After application submission, each student is counseled by an admission representative individually, which helps the applicants make the right career/program choice. The candidates might have to take a basic skills test, which is dependent on their requirement to take the English and Math foundation courses. You can fill up FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) to check your eligibility. The new admissions can also enroll themselves in the new student orientation program to interact with the staff and fellow students.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Monroe, LA |
Blue Cliff offers a clinical medical assistant training, which is a diploma course. Students must complete 53 quarter credit hours during the program. Hands-on handling of medical procedures is practiced in classes. Medical coding systems such as ICD-10 and CPT are also a part of the curriculum. Learn how to link insurance data processing to the patient billing system and much more.
Expect flexible teaching schedules to suit your preference. There is a day program (9 months) and a night program (15 months). Students also have to provide proof for Hepatitis vaccination amidst the program.
Number of Courses | Diploma |
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Campus | Metairie, LA / Lafayette, LA / Houma, LA / Alexandria, LA |
At MTC, you will be taught by the faculty, who are medical professionals. Real-world externship and certification testing lay the foundation for the career ahead that the MA program aims to gear you up for. EKG, CPR, and First Aid are also essential components of the curriculum. To begin with, you can take the Medical Career Training Readiness Quiz. This online 3-minute test shall help you decide whether the career choice is ideal for you by reporting your strengths and positions you would be best at.
For those opting for the full-time day course, the training duration is usually 7.5 months only. Night classes are also available (13.5 months for graduation). Classes are held 4 days a week. The externship at the end includes 240 hours, i.e., 6 weeks of 40 hours.
Number of Courses | Certificate |
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Campus | Baton Rouge, LA |
From associates’ to certificates and diplomas, the degree that you shall be rewarded is of utmost importance. Louisiana medical assistant programs have each of these on offer, and you must browse through available options to pick the ideal fit.
Use this widget to check what degrees are available in Louisiana.
The state of Louisiana does not require any formal training or certification to practice as a medical assistant in the state. However, there is one state-wise requirement; if you are to draw blood at your workplace, you would first need to possess a phlebotomy certification. Others required to conduct specific laboratory procedures also need to possess a license from the LA State Board of Medical Examiners. These certifications are a part of the accredited MA program curriculums provided across the state.
However, irrespective of the state law, most top healthcare organizations do seek out national certifications and post-secondary education from applicants. Thus, having these in place shall secure your future and enhances the opportunities for you in the job market. As far as training is concerned, an accredited course (by CAAHEP or ABHES) is the best option as only these courses make you eligible for the most coveted national certifications (CMA and RMA).
You can opt for a certificate, diploma, or associate’s degree in medical assisting. Communication skills and digital medical assistant modules also render much value to the skills you acquire (highly valued by prospective employers in the state). Apart from these varied study topics, an essential requirement often considered crucial by employers is of a supervised externship/apprentice/work experience.
Post your program completion, the next essential step to boost your employability is attaining the national certifications. Two most recognized out of these (that you must work towards) are:
Note: Even though these certifications are the most reliable to get you a job, there are others too that can be beneficial for your career in LA. Some of these include:
From behavioral health and aging and adult services to Medicaid and Licensing/Certification, get all healthcare-related information on this platform.
From research, licensing, and regulation plays, this board protects and boosts the health of the state’s inhabitants. They also set out the discipline requirements for doctors and allied health professionals.
It is the LinkedIn handle for Louisiana’s Medical Society. Network with key contacts in the medical world and take your career ahead.
An active group on Facebook for all things connected to healthcare in the state. Learn more about how to become a certified medical assistant in Louisiana.
Written by : Casey Gardner
Casey Gardner is both a healthcare support professional and an accomplished content creator. She has been working as a certified health care professional with marketable skills as a physician assistant, and a qualified medical assistant for last two decades. She has dedicated her nursing career to produce over hundreds of content pieces since 2001, and her work has been published both online as well as offline.
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