All information submitted to Charter College is subject to our Privacy Policy.
By clicking 'Learn More About Charter College', I authorize Charter College to call (on a recorded line), text, or email me at email and telephone number provided above with additional school information, and that such communications may be initiated using an automatic telephone dialing system. Reply STOP to end texts. I understand that I am not required to provide this consent to be eligible to enroll or otherwise purchase services.
Once you’ve decided that a career as a Medical Assistant might be the right healthcare career for you, there will be steps you need to take before you can land your first job. Each state has its own requirements for licensing.
To become a medical assistant in Washington state, you will need to be certified or registered by the Washington Department of Health, Medical Assisting Credentialing. You will need to complete an apprenticeship or an accredited training program like the medical assistant program at Charter College, which is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
In your training, you will learn clinical and administrative duties including how to:
Before you can officially apply for your medical assisting certification with the state of Washington, you need to pass an exam. Once you do, you will need to apply for your certification within five years.
If you meet all other requirements but don’t pass an exam, you can qualify for the Medical Assistant Interim Certification. The interim certification is treated like a full certification for one year or until you pass an exam, whichever happens first.
To apply for your medical assisting certification in Washington, you must pass one of the following:
Once you’ve completed your training and are ready to apply for your license, you will need to have your transcripts or other official documents sent directly from the school or other organization to the state. The documents that you submit must show the date that you completed the program.
You will need to prove that you completed seven hours of HIV/AIDS training. In addition, you’ll have to provide proof that you finished high school or received your GED and that you can read, write and converse in English.
As you apply for your certification, the state will require you to list any other states where you have, did have or tried to receive credentials. You will need to tell them when you applied for the credential, even if it wasn’t granted. That other jurisdiction where you applied for certification will have to complete the verification form and send it directly to the Washington State Department of Health.
Once you’re confident that you have fulfilled the necessary requirements to apply for a medical assisting license, it’s time to actually apply! You can do so online or download documents and apply on paper, and you’ll have to pay a fee.
A credentialing specialist will review your application, verify that it meets all the requirements, and the state will complete a background check. You will be formally notified upon licensure. Once you are credentialed, you’ll have to renew your license every two years.
Are you ready to get started on the road toward your career in medical assisting? Contact Charter College today to learn about our accredited medical assistant program that you could complete in as little as 10 months.