Certified Medical Assistant program at Bay de Noc Community College sees growth
The CMA program is seeing increases in enrollment after just one semester of its opening. Administrators say the growth is attributable in part to people reevaluating career prospects in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bay de Noc Community College launched its Certified Medical Assistant program in the Fall 2020 semester and it is already seeing interest rise among prospective students. Part of the appeal of the program is the steps the college has taken to ensure that all graduates can find immediate employment upon graduation. Administrators also credit the availability of financial aid, the flexibility of classes, and the time frame of completion, which can be as little as three semesters for the 40 credit hour program.
The program at Bay de Noc Community College was developed to meet the growing need for CMAs in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and across the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that medical assistants are in higher demand than many other professions, with the job outlook for the next 10 years projected to see 19 percent growth. While developing the program, administrators at Bay de Noc secured partnerships with multiple healthcare facilities across the region to secure immediate access to jobs for graduates upon completion of the program.
When the program began in 2020, the first cohort of students consisted of seven participants. Now, the college reports that the program has 25 new students either enrolled or in the application process. In a recent news release from the college, Nicole Wagner, Medical Assistant Program Director, spoke about the growth of the program. She noted that many enrollees are non-traditional students (typically understood as older, financially independent students) who are looking to gain skills for a career change or gain credentials that will allow for career advancement within healthcare. As Wagner puts it, "In this uncertain time, where more individuals are finding themselves evaluating their future plans and goals, now is a perfect time to enroll in our program…Medical Assistant students can be confident that they are selecting a program that is strong and will support their goals from start to finish."
Upon completion of the program, students are eligible to take a nationally recognized exam to earn CMA credentials. Financial aid is available for the program and some students may be eligible for a newly implemented Futures for Frontliners initiative from the State of Michigan that provides free tuition for any resident classified as an essential frontline worker.