Medical Assistant Schools in Illinois
Have you been thinking of changing careers? Would you like to work in the medical field, but do not have time to get the education needed to become a nurse or a physician? If so, medical assisting is a fantastic career choice for you. Medical assistants are vital parts of any modern healthcare facility and can be found working alongside doctors and nurses in clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and more. Illinois is an excellent state in which to become a medical assistant. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are currently between 13,890 and 82,450 medical assistants working in the state, making it one of the top states in the country for the medical assisting career field. In addition, Illinois medical assistants earn an average salary of between $30,870 and $32,320 per year. This is a bit above the national average, which adds to the attractiveness of this career.
Illinois has a wealth of medical assistant training programs that offer education at varying levels. Many of these programs are accredited through the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. This accreditation is useful because it shows employers that you received rigorous training and also makes you eligible to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant examination after graduation.
College of DuPage
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Tuition:$6,160
- Program:Certificate
- The College of DuPage, located in Glen Ellyn, has a certificate program in medical assisting that can be completed in three full-time terms. Students who choose the College of DuPage receive an outstanding education as well as access to an amazing variety of services and resources. This school will help students locate and secure transportation, housing, childcare, and any other services needed for success. In addition, students who wish to build leadership experience and skills can take advantage of the school’s free Living Leadership certificate program. This program includes classes, workshops, retreats, and conferences to help students become strong, able leaders in the workforce and in society.
College of Lake County
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Tuition:$4,715 (certificate); $99/credit hour (degree)
- Program: Certificate, Associate’s degree
- The College of Lake County offers a certificate and an associate’s degree in medical assisting. Located in Grayslake, this school has provided higher education to more than 400,000 students since its beginnings in 1969. The medical assistant certificate program at the College of Lake County can be completed in less than a year, or students may choose to invest two years in an associate’s degree program. Admissions are selective and the deadlines for screening are the first Wednesday in May for the fall cohort or the last Wednesday in October for the spring cohort.
Everest College
- Accreditation: CAAHEP, ABHES
- Tuition:$18,841
- Program: Diploma
- Everest College has campuses in Bedford Park, Burr Ridge, Melrose Park, Merrionette Park, and Skokie. These campuses offer a medical assistant diploma that students can complete in 41 weeks of full-time study. Everest has become one of the most widely-recognized names in career training and prides itself on offering state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities, knowledgeable instructors, and excellent student support services.
Highland Community College
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Tuition: $9,500 (all inclusive)
- Program: Associate’s degree
- Highland Community College offers an associate’s degree in medical assisting at around one-third of the average tuition rate in Illinois. The program provides all of the training needed to perform both clinical and administrative duties in a variety of healthcare facilities. The instruction at HCC is top-notch, as evidenced by the school’s 92% first-time CMA examination pass rate and its 100% job placement rate. If you are ready to get the education you need to become a medical assistant, this may be the perfect school for you.
Illinois Central College
- Accreditation: CAAHEP
- Tuition: $3,860
- Program: Certificate
- Located in Peoria, Illinois Central College offers students a high quality certificate in medical assisting. The program can be completed in 40 credit hours and costs less than $4,000, making it a very affordable option for aspiring medical assistants. Since its beginnings in 1967, the school has expanded to be the seventh largest community college district in the state.
Coyne College
- Accreditation: ABHES
- Tuition: $19,105 (diploma); $25,589 (degree)
- Program: Diploma, Associate’s Degree
- Coyne College in Chicago offers students the choice between a diploma or an associate’s degree in medical assisting. The degree program takes approximately 75 weeks to complete, while students can earn a diploma in only 54 weeks during day classes or 90 weeks during night classes. Coyne College has been in operation since 1899, when it started as an electrical college. Since then, it has grown to become one of the best-known career colleges in the state.