Georgia Medical Assistant Schools & Salaries
Medical Assistant Earnings and Job Growth in Georgia
Medical assistants are in high demand all across the nation, but that need is especially acute in Georgia, where employment of medical assistants is expected to grow by an impressive 49.9 percent over the next several years. With over two dozen accredited medical assisting programs in the state, it’s safe to say that Georgia is ready to train medical assistants to meet the demand. Learn what aspiring students can expect from not only their education, but from the career they will embark on when the education or training is complete.
Top Online Medical Assistant Programs
Explore programs of your interests with the high-quality standards and flexibility you need to take your career to the next level.
Top Colleges for Medical Assisting in Georgia
The medical field is growing and the need for qualified medical professionals is growing along with it. Earning a degree or certificate in medical assisting is a good place to start in this rewarding industry. To help you find the best program for your needs, we did the research for you. We looked at class sizes, the cost of tuition, student services available and more to bring you our list of some of the Top Colleges for Medical Assisting in Georgia.
North Georgia Technical College
Clarkesville, GA- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,400
- Out-of-state$4,800
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate66%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled2,697
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment43%
- AccreditationYes
Albany Technical College
- Albany, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,400
- Out-of-state$4,800
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate55%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled3,285
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment75%
- AccreditationYes
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
- Rome, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,400
- Out-of-state$4,800
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate67%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled6,616
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment53%
- AccreditationYes
Lanier Technical College
- Gainesville, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$3,000
- Out-of-state$6,000
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate60%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled4,616
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment39%
- AccreditationYes
Chattahoochee Technical College
- Marietta, GA
- 2 year
- Campus + Online
- In-State$2,400
- Out-of-state$4,800
- In-StateN/A
- Out-of-stateN/A
- Retention Rate63%
- Acceptance RateN/A
- Students Enrolled10,184
- Institution TypePublic
- Percent Online Enrollment45%
- AccreditationYes
Georgia Medical Assistant Training and Certification
How does Georgia define “medical assistant”?
According to Georgia law, a medical assistant is defined as “an unlicensed person employed by the physician to whom he or she delegates certain medical tasks.” Of the several delegated tasks allowed of medical assistants, taking patient vital signs is the only one that does not require direct supervision. Medical assistants may only perform tasks for which they have been properly trained. These include:
- Taking patient vital signs
- Subcutaneous and intramuscular injections
- Removing sutures
- Changing dressings
- Administering nebulizer treatments
Does Georgia require medical assistant certification?
Though medical assistants in Georgia are not required to have certification, many employers look favorably upon those who do, and several certifications are available. The following are all accepted in the state of Georgia:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
Does Georgia require formal training or education?
Formal education or training is not required to become a medical assistant in Georgia; however, most employers prefer to hire someone who has completed a training program, earned a diploma or degree, or have become certified by a national certifying agency. Certifying agencies do require formal training.
Are there additional certification requirements?
Those who have chosen to become certified must complete certain requirements to keep their certification in good standing. This might include continuing education or a certain number of experience hours. Certification must typically be renewed every five years.
Are there tasks outside the scope of medical assistants in Georgia?
Physicians, registered nurses, advanced practice nurses and similar medical professionals can delegate certain tasks to medical assistants; however, they cannot delegate tasks for which the medical assistant has not received proper training.
Salaries for Medical Assistants in Georgia
Wonder how salaries stack up against the rest of the nation? The following chart compares the average salaries of Georgia medical assistants with the average of those throughout the nation.
| Location | Annual Wage 25th percentile | Annual Wage Median | Annual Wage 75th percentile | Hourly Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | $24,420 | $28,410 | $33,890 | $13.66 |
| National | $25,500 | $29,960 | $36,070 | $14.41 |
Source: BLS, 2014
Georgia City and Area Salaries
What a medical assistant makes can vary depending upon numerous factors, including geographic location. Here’s a sampling of what medical assistants may expect to see on their paychecks, depending upon the area in which they practice.
| Area | Annual Wage 25th percentile | Annual Wage Median | Annual Wage 75th percentile | Hourly Wage Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, GA | $21,530 | $25,880 | $30,190 | $12.82 |
| Athens-Clarke County, GA | $24,610 | $28,730 | $34,570 | $14.39 |
| Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA | $25,270 | $29,410 | $35,130 | $14.62 |
| Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC | $24,150 | $28,200 | $33,900 | $14.39 |
| Brunswick, GA | $25,580 | $30,150 | $39,410 | $15.37 |
| Columbus, GA-AL | $22,080 | $25,120 | $29,130 | $12.64 |
| Dalton, GA | $25,540 | $28,110 | $30,810 | $14.46 |
| Gainesville, GA | $26,390 | $29,410 | $34,190 | $15.10 |
| Hinesville-Fort Stewart, GA | $24,460 | $28,090 | $33,030 | $13.92 |
| Macon, GA | $25,720 | $29,560 | $34,370 | $14.40 |
| Rome, GA | $22,950 | $28,280 | $34,360 | $13.80 |
| Savannah, GA | $25,550 | $28,530 | $32,810 | $14.24 |
| Valdosta, GA | $22,550 | $26,610 | $30,090 | $15.19 |
| Warner Robins, GA | $23,550 | $27,180 | $30,390 | $13.71 |
| North Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $21,630 | $26,350 | $31,070 | $12.94 |
| Middle Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $21,370 | $24,510 | $29,360 | $12.66 |
| East Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $20,420 | $23,620 | $28,330 | $11.99 |
| South Georgia nonmetropolitan area | $18,550 | $23,260 | $28,060 | $11.73 |
Source: BLS, 2014
Hiring Trends for Medical Assistants in Georgia
Those who choose to work as medical assistants in Georgia should have no trouble landing a job; in fact, Projections Central expects a whopping 49.9 percent job growth for medical assistants between 2012 and 2022. The chart below offers more details about Georgia’s robust job growth.
| Location | Average Annual Openings | Current Employment | Projected Employment 2022 | Jobs Added | Growth Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgia | 1,210 | 17,520 | 26,270 | 8,750 | 49.9% |
| National | 26,990 | 560,800 | 723,700 | 162,900 | 29% |
Source: Projections Central, 2012-2022
Spotlighting Medical Assisting Schools in Georgia
There are currently around 25 accredited medical assisting schools or programs available to students in the state of Georgia. The following three spotlight schools provide students with a glimpse of what they might expect from any of the accredited programs in the state.
Columbus Technical College 
School Type: Private College
Accreditation: CAAHEP
School highlights: This school offers numerous programs under the umbrella of health science, which means that medical assisting students can also take courses that further their specializations, such as those in phlebotomy or radiology.
Programs offered: The medical assisting diploma program can be completed with 61 credit hours. Courses focus on practical patient care as well as office management.
West Georgia Technical College
School Type: Public School
Accreditation: CAAHEP, Medical Assisting Education Review Board
School highlights: Part of the technical college system of Georgia, WGTC offers medical assisting courses in various locations in a seven-county area.
Programs offered: Students can obtain a diploma in medical assisting in 12 to 18 months. The program prepares students to sit for national certifying examinations upon graduation.
