Cost and Duration

North Dakota schools provide three types of programs for medical assistant candidates. The first is a certificate course, the second is a diploma, and the third is an associate in applied science degree. The duration of the program usually depends upon its type. For the certificate course, the usual term is a little less than a year, and for the diploma, the program duration is a year or 12 months. However, for an associate degree program, the duration is 2 years.

All MA programs provide a unique blend of lectures and lab work to their students. Medical assistant candidates must complete an unpaid clinical externship of 160 hours or more at a clinical facility chosen by the school to gain practical experience. They work in these clinical and ambulatory settings under the direct supervision of licensed physicians and course coordinators.

The estimated cost of MA programs in North Dakota ranges around $3,000 for resident students. The tuition fees, in some cases, are also the same for students from Canadian provinces. However, the tuition estimate is more for international students and non-resident students.

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Best Medical Assistant School in North Dakota for 2023

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Acquiring an excellent medical assistant degree is not easy, and we have not established that at first. All degrees don’t fetch a higher employability chance or add to your credentials suitably. Thus, if you get hold of the right training and certification, it works as a testimony for your skills approved at the national level.

However, finding the right medical assistant program for yourself is not a piece of cake. So, when you’re looking for the college of your choice, you must do proper background research. You must base your decision on factors like duration of the course, certification of the college, availability of financial aid, and other curriculum-related measures. To make your efforts easy, we are listing the best MA school in North Dakota. Take a look!

86.75

Dakota College at Bottineau offers the special opportunity of earning all their allied health degrees, including the medical assistant degrees, online. Known for enhancing careers and empowering ambitious individuals, the college offers 2 courses. The first is a 1-year diploma program, and the second is a 2-year associate degree. If you want to expand your career options, you can also earn a Certificate in Medical Coding and a Medical Administrative Assistant degree.

You can complete both the certificate degree and associate degree in MA at the pace that works for you. The medical assisting degrees provided by Dakota College focuses more on specific MA courses rather than general education. You can earn a certificate in medical assisting in 2 semesters. Classes begin in the fall semester. If you want to further your education, you can acquire an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree by adding a couple of MA focused courses.

After the successful completion of your certificate, you’ll be eligible to appear for the Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) examination by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). After completing the AAS degree, you’ll be eligible to appear for Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) examination by American Medical Technologists (AMT). Both the certificate and the associate degree require students to complete a 180-hour cooperative educational experience in a medical or clinical facility. Students are encouraged to apply for financial aid to pay for college, and the availability of numerous scholarships makes it more convenient.

Number of Courses	Certificate, Associate's Degree
Campus	Bottineau, ND / Minot, ND / Valley City, ND

Medical Assistant Degree Finder in North Dakota

Whether you must opt for an AAS program, or a shorter program like a diploma or a certificate course, choosing what’s best for you can be confusing. Find the best MA degree programs in North Dakota.

Training and Certification Requirements for North Dakota Medical Assistants

Though North Dakota does not define the scope of practice for MAs or mandates formal training and national certification requirements, having both allows you to get noticed by employers. Acquiring formal training and national certification increases your chances of employability and adds to your credentials.

The two most well-known national certification options include Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from American Medical Technologists and Certified Medical Assistants (CMA) offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The CMA exam happens over 2 hours and 40 minutes, where a medical assistant candidate has to answer 200 questions at a Prometric center.

These certifications have to be renewed every 3 to 5 years. For RMA, a candidate can renew it by operating within guidelines set forth by AMT and staying in compliance with Certificate Continuation Program (CCP) every 3 years. It is best to procure formal education/training for medical assisting from a CAAHEP accredited school, as that is an eligibility criterion for both RMA and CMA exams.

Other certification options include the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) credential provided by NCCT, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) by National Healthcare Association (NHA), and Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant (NRCMA) provided by the National Association of Health Professionals (NAHP).

Useful Resources and Links of Organizations for ND Medical Assistants

North Dakota Medical Assistant Scope of Practice

As per common law principles inherent in state licensure, North Dakota permits physicians to delegate a reasonable scope of clinical tasks like EKGs, taking vital signs, and venepuncture. They permit competent MAs working under direct supervision on site. The North Dakota Board of Nursing urges all medical assistants in the state to apply, reapply, or renew their registry status via the Initial Medical Assistant III Application. Read more about the scope of practice and delegable duties here.
North Dakota Department of Health

The Department of Health is responsible for overseeing all the health-related affairs in the state, besides ensuring public healthcare and well-being by making all proper facilities available. For all health-related updates in the state, this is a valuable resource MA candidates can fall back upon.
North Dakota Board of Nursing

The ND Board of Nursing ensures that citizens receive adequate and quality nursing care through the regulation of proper standards. They also overlook the scope of delegable duties of medical assistants in the state.

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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