The Louisiana Workforce Commission in partnership with Ochsner Health Systems is offering a free medical assistant training program to the River Parishes. The new training program will give job seekers the opportunity to train for one of the many current openings in the quickly growing medical assistant field.
The program features accelerated classes in combination with on-the-job training. Participants in the program will also receive information on the various opportunities available in the medical industry and become CPR certified.
A high school diploma or equivalent is required to enter the program. Program participants must pass a criminal background check and drug screening before being accepted to the 20-week program.
Students who successfully complete the program and meet the hiring requirements will be able to interview with Ocshsner Health System for a full time position as a medical assistant. A minimum of 75 percent of the graduates will be hired with the health care provider.
“As the health care landscape continues to change, there is an ever-growing need for well-trained health care professionals,” said Missy Sparks, associate vice president of talent management at Ochsner.
The four-month program which will now be available in St. James, St. John and St. Charles parishes, has already opened enrollment for its Spring 2017 session.
The free training program was first launched in 2013 and since then more than 100 students have graduated. Ochsner reports that 94 percent of the graduates employed by its system are still working there. The health care system has also offered additional medical assistant training to more than 400 of its employees. The additional training allows the medical assistants the opportunity to widen their skillset and branch out into other health care fields.
Cost of the medical assistant program is being covered by River Parishes Workforce Development Board and LWC.