How to Become a Medical Assistant in West Virginia – WV

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 4 2010

Medical assistants, sometimes known as medical office assistants, play an important role in physician’s offices, outpatient care facilities, and other medical offices in West Virginia. Those interested in becoming a medical office assistant first should consider if their personality suits them for this work. Unlike some positions, medical assistants generally have good communication skills because they interact with many different people throughout the day. They also must perform a variety of jobs so they must be good at and enjoy multitasking.

If you think this is a career you would like, here are the steps that you need to take to become a medical assistant. Although this profession does not currently require licensing by the state of West Virginia or the federal government, many employers are calling for those with a certification to ensure that the candidate is well qualified to handle the duties entrusted to them.

1. Look for West Virginia medical assistant programs that are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
2. Enroll and graduate from an accredited medical assistant program in West Virginia.
3. Complete a practicum, which is a period of time where students in the medical assistant program put the knowledge and skills that they attained during their courses to work in a real life environment, such as a physician’s office.