Alaska Medical Assistant Schools

Medical assistants receive specialized training at Alaska medical assistant schools to perform their duties. Some of the courses they take are medical office procedures in order to learn patient records, scheduling, transcription, and coding and billing. Clinical courses may include x-ray, ultrasound, phlebotomy, taking vitals, and using other diagnostic equipment.

Medical assistants can earn a certificate or diploma as a medical assistant or in a specialized field to gain an entry-level position. Those who complete an associate’s or bachelor’s degree have more opportunities and earn higher salaries.

About Medical Assistant Careers in Alaska

Alaska medical assistants have become invaluable to physicians in offices, clinics, and hospitals after proper training at one of Alaska’s medical assistant schools. Medical assistants are trained to perform administrative tasks such as scheduling patient appointments, maintaining patient files, and preparing invoices for insurance companies. Clinical duties include taking vital signs, medical histories, blood samples, preparing patients for exams, and administering medications under a doctor’s directions.

Medical assistants may choose to specialize in any of the administrative or clinical skills.

The job outlook for medical assistants in the nation is better than most professions over the next ten years. The need for medical assistants will grow by 35%. The average salary for Alaska medical assistants is $37,750.

Financial Aid in Alaska

There are several scholarships available to Alaska residents who attend Alaskan colleges and universities. Scholarships are financial aid that are never repaid. Two of Alaska’s scholarships are:

GEAR UP Alaska Scholarship awards $7,000 per year to full-time students enrolled in college or university and $3,500 per year for part-time students. Students who maintained academic excellence in the GEAR UP program during grades 6, 7, and 8 are eligible.
The AlaskaAdvantage Education Grant Program is provided for students who are enrolled in qualifying workforce shortage programs and for students who have a high score on the SAT or ACT.

(Figures courtesy of the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database.)