Medical Assistant Schools & Salaries in West Virginia

Medical assisting programs are highly beneficial for students who are interested in advancing their career without interrupting their daily routines.
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Updated June 30, 2023

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According to a 2016 study by WalletHub, West Virginia has the most expensive medical malpractice insurance rates in the country. This means that in order to control those costs as much as possible, WV physicians must take special precautions when treating patients. One precaution they may choose to take is ensuring their support staff, including medical assistants, are properly educated and trained. Medical assisting in West Virginia is on the rise, with an additional 140 jobs projected to be added each year from 2012 to 2022. To meet the demand, several schools in the state offer programs that culminate in a diploma or associate degree in medical assisting.

What can students expect from these schools, and from their career after graduation? This guide focuses on the specific requirements for medical assistants in West Virginia, as well as what they might expect from their new career.

AccreditedSchoolsOnline.org is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

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Top-Notch Medical Assisting Programs in West Virginia

OUR METHODOLOGY+

To be considered for this ranking, schools were required to meet the following criteria:

  • Accredited at the institutional level
  • Private nonprofit or public school
  • Minimum of 1 bachelor's or master's degree in subject area for 4-year schools
  • Minimum of 1 associate degree or certificate program in subject area for 2-year schools

Schools were then scored on factors such as:

  • Cost & Financial Aid
  • Number and variety of program offerings
  • Student-teacher ratios
  • Graduation rates (4-year schools only)
  • Placement and support services offered
  • Academic/Career counseling services
  • Employment services
  • Loan default rates

These factors were assembled for each school and rated using a peer-based-value (PBV) calculation. PBV compares the cost of a program to the cost of other programs with the same (or similar) qualitative score and cost. PBV denotes the overall value or "bang for your buck" of a college or degree program.

Medical assisting programs are highly beneficial for students who are interested in advancing their career without interrupting their daily routines. One of most important steps to beginning a program is finding the right school, which is why we've looked at data points—graduation rate, tuition cost, etc.—from schools throughout West Virginia and compiled a list of the state's best programs. Look below to find the best medical assisting programs in West Virginia.

  1. Mountwest Community and Technical College
    Location

    Huntington, WV

    Students interested in a career assisting doctors and other care providers can pursue a medical assistant associate of applied science degree from Mountwest Community and Technical College. Graduates will be prepared to perform clinical duties such as performing CPR and administering first aid, taking and recording vital signs, recording patient histories and securing lab samples. They will also learn to perform front-office tasks like billing, scheduling and reception. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Students will benefit from a variety of tools throughout their academic journeys, including career services and academic advisement.

  2. Blue Ridge Community and Technical College
    Location

    Martinsburg, WV

    The career-oriented medical assisting program at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College prepares students for immediate entry into the field of allied health. Graduates will be well versed in both front-office administrative and clerical work, as well as patient-oriented clinical responsibilities. The program culminates in an associate of applied science degree. Support services include access to the bookstore, where students can secure most of their required academic materials. There is also the E2Campus system, which alerts students about closings and emergencies, library services and a wide range of clubs, organizations and activities.

  3. New River Community and Technical College
    Location

    Beaver , WV

    The associate of applied science degree in medical assisting at New River Community and Technical College prepares students not only for immediate entry into the workforce, but to sit for the National HealthCareer Association exam. Before beginning classes, new students will participate in an orientation designed to help them transition successfully. The school provides a range of student resources, including technology services, access to the Student Government Association, and a dedicated Student Success Center. The center offers writing services, peer tutoring, online tutoring, study groups, mentoring, career counseling, multimedia computer labs and make-up testing.

  4. West Virginia Northern Community College
    Location

    Wheeling, WV

    The clinical medical assistant program at West Virginia Northern Community College is a 1+1 program that has specific requirements that part-time students may not be able to meet. Graduates will be qualified to serve in a variety of ambulatory care environments, including hospitals and doctors offices. Their education will prepare them to successfully perform both clinical and administrative duties. Prospective students are welcome and encouraged to sign up for a campus tour. The library and learning resource center offers a vast menu of books, magazines, ebooks, journals and periodicals, as well as reference materials and articles.

  5. Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
    Location

    Logan, WV

    Students who complete the medical assisting program at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College will be prepared for entry-level work in a variety of ambulatory health environments, and they will also be qualified to successfully sit for the necessary certification exams. Among the many resources students will enjoy as they progress in their academic journeys are academic advising, career services, tutoring and access to the college's study, research and academic resources within the library. Students will receive their own college email accounts as well as logon access to the MySouthern online portal.

  6. BridgeValley Community & Technical College
    Location

    South Charleston, WV

    The two-year medical assisting program at BridgeValley Community & Technical College prepares students for entry-level positions in several different professional medical settings. Graduates will be qualified to perform front-office administrative work, as well as hands-on clinical work. The program, which is completed over four semesters, is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. BridgeValley has a mobile app that complements the college's online portal, and new students will receive login instructions as well as their own email accounts. The college offers a variety of student resources, including career services, academic advising, tutoring, clubs, organizations and peer coaching.

West Virginia Medical Assisting Careers: By the Numbers

1. How does West Virginia define "medical assistant"?

West Virginia doesn't have a clear definition of medical assistant; however, there are definitions for the following, which relate to the work of medical assisting:

  • "Approved Medication Assistive Personnel" in West Virginia are defined as unlicensed facility staff members who have successfully completed training and competency testing or who has been deemed competent by a registered nurse to administer medications and perform health maintenance tasks. This would include medical assistants.
  • "Podiatric medical assistant" is defined as "a person who has been issued a permit...to perform podiatric radiographs."

2. Is certification required?

Certification is not an overall requirement to become a medical assistant in West Virginia. However, in order to perform certain tasks in certain settings, certification is required. The following certifications are necessary for the following reasons:

  • To take x-rays as part of a podiatry practice
  • Certification through the American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants (ASPMA)

3. Is certification available?

In addition to the certification for podiatry medical assistants, there are other certifications that are recognized nationwide and might be helpful when seeking out employment in West Virginia. The following certifications are recognized by employers of medical assistants in the state.

  
CertificationOrganization
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)MNational Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)

4. Is formal training required?

Formal training is not required to become a medical assistant in West Virginia. However, those who want to administer medications while under supervision of licensed personnel can opt to become "Approved Medication Assistive Personnel." This requires that the applicant be trained and retrained every two years. Training is provided by the department in which the applicant works, pursuant to the rules of the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Registered Nurses.

Those who want to enter the training program must:

  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Be certified in CPR and first aid
  • Participate in the initial training program
  • Pass a competency evaluation
  • Complete a retraining program every two years

5. Are there any additional requirements?

Those who want to work as podiatric medical assistants must obtain a permit. In order to do this, they must:

  • Be of good moral character
  • Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
  • Earn certification from the ASPMA
  • Maintain their active certification in the ASPMA
  • Not be convicted of a felony within five years of application
  • Not be convicted of a felony or misdemeanor that relates to radiologic technology

6. Are there tasks outside the scope of medical assistants in West Virginia?

Though the scope of practice for medical assistants in West Virginia is not defined, they are considered unlicensed personnel under the supervision of licensed personnel; therefore, anything that requires a medical license of any kind cannot be performed independently by a medical assistant.

Salaries for Medical Assistants in West Virginia

Salaries for medical assistants in West Virginia are markedly lower than medical assisting wages nationwide. The chart below offers detailed information on the income of medical assistants in West Virginia as compared to national figures.

 Annual Wage
25th percentile
Annual Wage
Median
Annual Wage
75th percentile
Hourly Wage
Median
West Virginia$21,140$24,810$28,730$11.93
National$25,500$29,960$36,070$14.41
Source: BLS, 2014

West Virginia City and Metropolitan Area Salaries

The salaries of medical assistants in West Virginia depend upon many factors, including geographical location. For instance, those in Morgantown make, on average, a bit more than those who work in Wheeling. The chart below breaks down medical assisting salaries in West Virginia by geographic area.

     
AreaAnnual Wage
25th percentile
Annual Wage
Median
Annual Wage
75th percentile
Hourly Wage
Median
Charleston, WV$20,960$24,760$29,200$11.90
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH$21,890$25,300$28,890$12.16
Morgantown, WV$22,910$26,660$30,190$12.82
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH$20,820$23,310$27,390$11.21
Wheeling, WV-OH$21,450$25,700$29,880$12.35
Southern West Virginia nonmetropolitan area$20,880$24,820$28,290$11.93
North Central West Virginia nonmetropolitan area$19,840$23,000$26,990$11.06
Source: BLS, 2014

West Virginia expects to see an additional 140 job openings for medical assistants each year from 2012 to 2022. The following chart breaks the employment trends down even further and compares them with the rest of the nation.

Medical Assistant Estimated Employment Growth 2012-2022

 Average Annual
Openings
Current
Employment
Projected
Employment 2022
Jobs
Added
Growth
Rate
West Virginia1403,2704,06079023.9%
National26,990560,800723,700162,90029%
*Source: Projections Central, 2012-2022

West Virginia Medical Assistant Resources

American Society of Podiatric Medical Assistants
Any medical assistant working for a podiatrist in West Virginia who wants to take x-rays and work with related delegated tasks must have certification through this organization.

West Virginia Administration of Medications
This government website focuses on the administration of medications, which ones are allowed to be administered under supervision, what can be delegated and the like.

West Virginia Professions and Occupations Code - Podiatric Medical Assistant
Discusses the requirements to become a podiatric medical assistant who can perform podiatric radiographs.

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