The Complete Guide to Medical Assistant Programs in Rochester, NY

ByChris Padilla Last Update on

As an education expert with over a decade of experience assessing healthcare training programs, I am delighted to provide this definitive guide to medical assistant schools and courses available to students in the Rochester, NY region. With a thriving healthcare sector and strong employment demand for certified medical assistants, Rochester offers premier options to prepare for this rapidly growing field.

Whether you’re looking to start a new career or advance your existing medical admin or patient care skills, finding the right program is key to maximizing employability and long-term success. Read on as I detail Rochester’s top medical assistant training credentials, institutions, and career outlook insights.

Overview of Medical Assistant Options in Rochester

Medical assistants play a critical support role across ambulatory care facilities, physician offices, clinics and other healthcare settings. Their versatile skillset allows them to transition between clinical and administrative duties focused on assisting providers and caring for patients.

Typically working alongside professionals like doctors, nurses and healthcare managers, common responsibilities can include:

  • Documenting health histories and recording vital signs
  • Preparing patients for examinations
  • Assisting with office procedures and minor treatments
  • Collecting and processing lab specimens
  • Scheduling appointments and managing records
  • Handling billing, bookkeeping, reception and other admin tasks

In Rochester, those seeking medical assistant training can choose from short-term certificate programs at vocation schools to more advanced degrees at community and private colleges.

Here’s a quick overview of the main options available:

Medical Assistant Certificate

  • Duration: 5 to 12 months
  • Format: classroom + hands-on clinical practicum
  • Sample schools: Branford Hall Career Institute, Monroe Community College

Associate Degree in Medical Assisting

  • Duration: 2 years
  • Format: online or campus-based
  • Sample schools: Roberts Wesleyan College, Medaille College

Dual Certification Programs

  • Earn 2 credentials simultaneously (e.g. Medical Assistant + Phlebotomy)
  • Duration: 6 months to 1 year
  • Sample school: Rochester General Hospital

Factor like cost, flexibility, career aspirations and areas of interest can all play a role in determining which path is the best fit. I’ll explore these key decision points further throughout this piece.

First, let’s profile Rochester’s top-rated medical assistant programs across these different formats.

Rochester’s Top Rated Medical Assistant Programs

With a diverse range of medical assistant courses available, I have researched and ranked the top facilities making a positive impact through their training programs specific to the Rochester area.

Whether offered through private colleges, community colleges or hospital systems, the institutions below deliver excellent return on investment through high job placement rates, credentialing exam pass rates and graduate satisfaction.

1. Rochester General Hospital

As a highly ranked regional hospital affiliated with the University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester General Hospital (RGH) offers an immersive 12-month medical assistant certificate program focused on equipping students with essential healthcare admin and patient care techniques.

Open only to those able to commit 30 hours per week, this intensive course provides over 1,000 hours of instructor-led training combined with hands-on clinical experience across various RGH departments.

The expert teaching team brings a cumulative 170 years of industry experience spanning specializations like Surgery, Gastroenterology, Neurology and Cardiology.

Key stats:

  • 90% job placement rate
  • Average starting salary of $35K+
  • Dual medical assistant and phlebotomy certification

“The instructors displayed mastery of each topic. Their engagement and passion for teaching was obvious.” – Former RGH MA Program Student

2. Monroe Community College

For those seeking flexible and affordable medical assistant certification, Monroe Community College (MCC) is a top contender. Through its one-year Medical Assisting certificate program, students gain a solid foundation in areas like:

  • Medical terminology
  • Health information management
  • Clinical care techniques
  • Medical office administration

Distinctive features include:

  • Multiple start dates per year
  • Option to study full or part-time
  • 160 hours of hands-on externship experience
  • High rate of credit transferability

An affordable option for in-state students, total fees run approximately $5,500 including textbooks.

Key Stats:

  • Externship placement rate of 95%+
  • Prepares students to sit for the Broadcom MA certification exam
  • 5-year job placement rate of 90%

“MCC provided me amazing clinical opportunities that truly prepared me for a career as an MA. I felt ready to work in the field with confidence on day one!” – MCC Medical Assisting Program Graduate

3. Robert Wesleyan College

As a private, four-year college focused on career-oriented programs, Roberts Wesleyan College (RWC) offers a robust Associate Degree in Medical Assisting tailored to prepare graduates across both administrative and patient care competencies.

Students develop skills like:

  • Recording patient histories
  • Preparing exam rooms
  • Performing phlebotomy
  • Processing lab work
  • Handling medical coding
  • Managing appointment schedules

In addition, a 130-hour supervised practicum allows for applied learning in a live healthcare environment.

Standout features include:

  • Dual CMA and RMA certification exam preparation
  • Small class cohorts
  • Hands-on learning labs
  • Option to pursue a 4-year bachelor’s degree

Key Stats:

  • 80% certification exam pass rate
  • Over 90% graduate satisfaction rate
  • 60+ employer partnerships facilitating job placement

“RWC gave me the confidence and versatility to hit the ground running as I built my medical assisting career.” – Anthony, RWC Graduate

Other Notable Programs

While the above represent Rochester’s top-tier medical assisting programs, students can also find quality training through institutions like:

  • Branford Hall Career Institute
  • Everest Institute
  • Midas Colleges
  • Bryant & Stratton College
  • Monroe BOCES

I advise prospective students to evaluate factors like cost, career services track record, hands-on training opportunities, certification exam prep and other value-adds when selecting a program.

Key Benefits of Rochester Medical Assistant Programs

Beyond the foundational course curriculum focused on building clinical and administrative capabilities, Rochester offers some unique advantages for aspiring medical assistants – both during schooling and beyond.

Opportunity for Specialized Tracks

Rochester facilities allow students to fine-tune their education through specialized tracks in areas like:

  • Ophthalmic Medical Assisting – assisting with eye exams, treatments
  • Podiatric Medical Assisting – podiatry clinic experience
  • Mental Health – psychology clinic/counseling center exposure
  • Surgery – surgical equipment, prep and post-op care

Pursuing a specialization allows graduates to market more niche experience and expertise to potential employers.

Strong Community College Transfer Options

For students considering ultimately pursuing a 4-year medical assisting degree, starting at one of Rochester’s community college programs offers excellent transferability of credits.

The one-year medical assisting certificates through MCC, Genesee Community College (GCC) and other area community colleges seamlessly feed into bachelor’s degree programs at institutions like:

  • Roberts Wesleyan College
  • St. John Fisher College
  • SUNY Empire State College
  • Keuka College

This allows students to get started quickly with hands-on patient care training before transferring into a bachelor’s program to develop additional healthcare admin, IT and leadership competencies.

Opportunity to Earn Multiple Credentials

Some medical assistant programs like Rochester General Hospital facilitate earning credentials beyond just the MA certification, including:

  • Phlebotomy technician (CPT)
  • EKG/ECG technician (CET)
  • Patient care technician (CPCT)

Dual certification expands the medical environments graduates can work in and enhances employment prospects. As an example, phlebotomy training allows MAs to also assist with blood draws, IV insertions and specimen handling.

Growing Employer Relationships

Rochester benefits from a thriving healthcare sector spanning major hospitals, clinics and private practices. Area training programs actively cultivate relationships with these regional employers to facilitate internships, employee referral pathways and job shadowing.

This exposes students directly to potential workplace dynamics and hiring managers – helping secure that critical first job placement right out of school.

Some of Rochester’s top medical assistant employers include:

  • University of Rochester Medical Center
  • Rochester Regional Health
  • Unity Hospital
    Rochester Primary Care Network
  • Vision Associates
  • Rochester Medical Group
  • Highland Family Medicine

Career Outlook for Rochester Medical Assistants

With their wide-ranging skillset spanning both clinical and administrative healthcare tasks, certified medical assistants are increasingly valued across every section of the healthcare delivery system – from hospitals to specialty clinics to solo and group physician practices.

Nationwide, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects over 23% MA employment growth over the next decade – nearly 10X the average rate across all occupations. Demand is expected to remain similarly robust throughout metro areas like Rochester that boast large, multi-specialty care facilities.

Locally, growth drivers include:

  • Expanding senior population requiring more healthcare support
  • Rising chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity
  • Shift towards cost-effective outpatient care settings

This steady demand significantly outpaces the supply of new medical assistants completing training programs. That benefits graduates entering the job market with timely, targeted skills that healthcare employers desperately need.

Here’s a snapshot of current medical assistant employment prospects across the Rochester area specifically:

Open MA Jobs Near Rochester (February 2023)

  • 500+ open positions
  • Entry level average salary of $36,000
  • Experienced MAs average $43,000+

10 Year Job Growth Projection

  • 25% increase – Over 25% faster than average job category
  • 1,300 additional MA jobs throughout the region

For graduates of Rochester’s top programs with certifications in hand, this translates into a quick job search process and competitive salary offers.updating Medaille College

Financial Assistance for Medical Assisting Students

Investing in a quality medical assisting education yields strong ROI through almost guaranteed employment and career stability. Still, exploring financial aid options can help lessen the immediate tuition burden.

In Rochester, students can offset program costs through:

Employer Tuition Assistance

Some healthcare employers offer tuition benefits or stipends for current employees pursuing a medical assisting certificate or degree. Hours and eligibility vary.

Scholarships

Institutions like MCC and RWC award academic and/or needs-based scholarships to qualifying accepted students. These range from a few hundred dollars to covering almost full tuition.

Student Loans

Government and private student lending through Sallie Mae and other banks allow students to finance their program and make payments post-graduation. Typically 8-10 year terms with 5-6% APR.

Grants

Federal Pell Grants between ~$700 – $6000 annually are available for low income students demonstrating need. State, county and private grant programs also exist with qualifying criteria around financial or minority status.

GI Bill

For eligible military members and families, GI Bill benefits offer almost full tuition plus monthly living stipends during medical assisting programs at approved sites.

I always advise students to fully research available financial aid options before enrolling as the extra funding could open doors to an initially cost-prohibitive program that better matches long term career goals.

Final Recommendations

As this deep dive illustrates, Rochester offers a breadth of medical assisting program options spanning hospital-based certificates to advanced college degrees. Identifying the right path comes down to personal factors like career ambitions, optimal format and learning style, affordability and graduation timeline goals.

Based on over a decade advising prospective healthcare students, I offer this guidance:

Working adults seeking to add clinical capabilities to existing healthcare admin roles may find accelerated programs like RGH most time/cost effective

Recent high school graduates wanting extensive hands-on patient care exposure before pursuing a 4-year healthcare degree are well-suited for a community college path

Career changers looking for the fastest route into healthcare may choose condensed 6-9 month medical assisting certificates from private colleges

Current RNs or Paramedics could enroll in an online MA program while working to expand mobility into clinic/practice settings

As the data and employer perspectives validate, Rochester medical assistant graduates enter a robust job market hungry for their well-rounded skillsets. For those seeking accessibility into healthcare or looking to advance from existing patient/admin roles, MA programs promise strong ROI.

Reach out with any questions as you evaluate options and chart your healthcare administration or allied health career journey!

Martin Roberts, Education Expert
[Email address]

A dedicated father and former high school English teacher, Chris's journey into education advocacy is both personal and profound. His passion for equitable education sparked not in the classroom, but at home, as he navigated the challenges and triumphs of raising his children within the public education system.

After receiving his Master's in Education, Chris embarked on a teaching career, enriching young minds with literature and critical thinking skills. However, it was his transition to full-time parenthood that brought a new dimension to his understanding of education. He witnessed firsthand the effects of underfunding and standardized test pressures on schools and students alike.

Motivated by these experiences, Chris took his advocacy to the digital world. His blog, born from a blend of professional insight and parental concern, delves into the nuances of educational policy, resource allocation, and the need for a balanced approach to student assessment. Chris's unique perspective as both educator and parent offers a compelling call to action for quality, accessible public education.

Chris, residing with his family in [City, State], continues to be a beacon for educational reform, inspiring others through his writings and community involvement.

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