OPT Certified Medical Assistant Jobs
Certified Medical Assistant jobs on OPT are available at physician offices, urgent care clinics, and hospital systems that routinely hire foreign-trained graduates. Most roles qualify as STEM-adjacent under healthcare science degrees, and many employers are familiar with the 12-month standard OPT authorization window.
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Job Summary
Performs assigned patient care and related administrative duties under the direct supervision of the physician(s). Performs a variety of office/clerical duties as assigned by the office manager. Specific patient care responsibilities will be assigned by the supervising physician after competency is established. This job requires regional travel across all Prisma Health sites.
Essential Functions
- All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's purpose: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
- Perform clinical, technical, administrative, and clerical duties as directed by the physician and within the scope of training and certification, including point of care testing. Report critical lab values to the physician.
- Prepare patients for examination and treatment. Obtain and record patients' chief complaints, current medications, vital signs, pain screening and allergies.
- Prepare exam and treatment rooms. Prepare and maintain supplies and equipment for treatments, sterilizing instruments as needed.
- Assist physician with examinations, tests, procedures, and in-office surgery. Apply splints, casts, and dressings, and remove sutures. Report and assist during emergencies.
- Prepare and administer medications and immunizations as ordered by the physician, including p.o., vaginal and rectal suppositories, intradermal injection and intramuscular injection.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement and participate in ongoing process improvement activities.
- Teach patient and provide printed information, on physician request, about diagnosis, self-care within the scope of assigned duties, health promotion, disease prevention, and community healthcare resources. Patient education must be documented in the medical record.
- Document data and care in the patient medical record/Maintain as confidential.
- Receive and return clinically related telephone calls after communicating with physician regarding medical concerns of the patient. Transmit physician medication orders to pharmacy, as governed by state law.
- Complete medical insurance and other related forms for physician review. Communicate as needed with the patient, referral source, and payor between visits. Complete patient registration, scheduling, and billing tasks, and perform general office/clerical duties as assigned. Schedule tests and treatments, as ordered by the physician.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisory/Management Responsibilities
This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, director or executive.
Minimum Requirements
- Education: In South Carolina, completion of medical assistant training program from one of the following:
- Graduate of a medical assisting education program accredited by the CAAHEP, ABHES, or any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
- Completion of a Career and Technical Education Health Sciences Program approved by the South Carolina Department of Education.
- Military Training: Completion of a medical assisting program provided by a branch of the United States Military.
- Registered Apprenticeship: Completion of a medical assisting United States Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship program.
- Employer-Led Training: Completion of a training program delivered by a health care employer that aligns with a nationally accredited certification exam.
- Completion of the Prisma Health Certification Institute (PHCI) Fast Track Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) program.
- Education: In Tennessee-completion of an accredited medical assistant program preferred.
- Experience - One (1) year of experience
In Lieu Of
NA
Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses
Job Related Certification from one of the following: CMA (AAMA); RMA (AMT); CCMA(NHA); NCMA (NCCT); RMA (ARMA); NRCMA (NAHP); or RMA (AAMP)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
NA
Grandfather Clause
CMAs who obtained certification prior to 1/1/2020 and have maintained certification without lapse while working as a CMA are exempt from the education requirements. Current South Carolina incumbents hired after 1/1/2020 without the education indicated above, have until July 15, 2026, to complete the required state education requirements.
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
Location
1333 Taylor St Baptist
Facility
7001 Corporate
Department
70019600 Ambulatory Internal Resource Pool
Share your talent with us! Our vision is simple: to transform healthcare for the benefits of the communities we serve. The transformation of healthcare requires talented individuals in every role here at Prisma Health.
Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
Job Summary
Performs assigned patient care and related administrative duties under the direct supervision of the physician(s). Performs a variety of office/clerical duties as assigned by the office manager. Specific patient care responsibilities will be assigned by the supervising physician after competency is established. This job requires regional travel across all Prisma Health sites.
Essential Functions
- All team members are expected to be knowledgeable and compliant with Prisma Health's purpose: Inspire health. Serve with compassion. Be the difference.
- Perform clinical, technical, administrative, and clerical duties as directed by the physician and within the scope of training and certification, including point of care testing. Report critical lab values to the physician.
- Prepare patients for examination and treatment. Obtain and record patients' chief complaints, current medications, vital signs, pain screening and allergies.
- Prepare exam and treatment rooms. Prepare and maintain supplies and equipment for treatments, sterilizing instruments as needed.
- Assist physician with examinations, tests, procedures, and in-office surgery. Apply splints, casts, and dressings, and remove sutures. Report and assist during emergencies.
- Prepare and administer medications and immunizations as ordered by the physician, including p.o., vaginal and rectal suppositories, intradermal injection and intramuscular injection.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement and participate in ongoing process improvement activities.
- Teach patient and provide printed information, on physician request, about diagnosis, self-care within the scope of assigned duties, health promotion, disease prevention, and community healthcare resources. Patient education must be documented in the medical record.
- Document data and care in the patient medical record/Maintain as confidential.
- Receive and return clinically related telephone calls after communicating with physician regarding medical concerns of the patient. Transmit physician medication orders to pharmacy, as governed by state law.
- Complete medical insurance and other related forms for physician review. Communicate as needed with the patient, referral source, and payor between visits. Complete patient registration, scheduling, and billing tasks, and perform general office/clerical duties as assigned. Schedule tests and treatments, as ordered by the physician.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Supervisory/Management Responsibilities
This is a non-management job that will report to a supervisor, director or executive.
Minimum Requirements
- Education: In South Carolina, completion of medical assistant training program from one of the following:
- Graduate of a medical assisting education program accredited by the CAAHEP, ABHES, or any accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.
- Completion of a Career and Technical Education Health Sciences Program approved by the South Carolina Department of Education.
- Military Training: Completion of a medical assisting program provided by a branch of the United States Military.
- Registered Apprenticeship: Completion of a medical assisting United States Department of Labor-approved Registered Apprenticeship program.
- Employer-Led Training: Completion of a training program delivered by a health care employer that aligns with a nationally accredited certification exam.
- Completion of the Prisma Health Certification Institute (PHCI) Fast Track Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) program.
- Education: In Tennessee-completion of an accredited medical assistant program preferred.
- Experience - One (1) year of experience
In Lieu Of
NA
Required Certifications, Registrations, Licenses
Job Related Certification from one of the following: CMA (AAMA); RMA (AMT); CCMA(NHA); NCMA (NCCT); RMA (ARMA); NRCMA (NAHP); or RMA (AAMP)
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
NA
Grandfather Clause
CMAs who obtained certification prior to 1/1/2020 and have maintained certification without lapse while working as a CMA are exempt from the education requirements. Current South Carolina incumbents hired after 1/1/2020 without the education indicated above, have until July 15, 2026, to complete the required state education requirements.
Work Shift
Day (United States of America)
Location
1333 Taylor St Baptist
Facility
7001 Corporate
Department
70019600 Ambulatory Internal Resource Pool
Share your talent with us! Our vision is simple: to transform healthcare for the benefits of the communities we serve. The transformation of healthcare requires talented individuals in every role here at Prisma Health.
See all 128+ OPT Certified Medical Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Certified Medical Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Certified Medical Assistant
Target multi-location healthcare employers
Large healthcare systems like Kaiser Permanente or HCA Healthcare have dedicated HR teams experienced with work authorization paperwork. They're far more likely to understand OPT than a solo physician's private practice with no prior international hires.
Lead with your CMA certification upfront
AAMA or NHA certification signals you've already cleared the credentialing hurdle employers care most about. Mentioning your CMA credential before your visa status reframes you as a qualified hire first, reducing hesitation around authorization logistics.
Clarify OPT authorization in your cover letter
Briefly explain that OPT grants 12 months of work authorization requiring no employer petition or USCIS filing. Many healthcare managers assume sponsorship is complicated. A single clear sentence removes that assumption before it becomes an objection.
Check whether your degree qualifies for STEM OPT extension
Health sciences, clinical laboratory science, and related majors may qualify for a 24-month STEM OPT extension if listed on the STEM designated degree program list. This extends your authorized period to 36 months total, significantly improving your long-term hiring appeal.
Highlight clinical hours and patient volume experience
Employers hiring CMAs prioritize hands-on clinical exposure over academic credentials alone. Quantify your externship hours, the specialties you rotated through, and the patient volume you supported. Concrete numbers make your application stand out regardless of visa status.
Certified Medical Assistant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Can F-1 OPT students work as Certified Medical Assistants legally?
Yes. OPT authorizes F-1 graduates to work in roles directly related to their field of study. Graduates of medical assisting, health sciences, or allied health programs qualify to work as Certified Medical Assistants during their OPT period. Your work must be in a role connected to your degree, which CMA positions clearly satisfy for most relevant programs.
Do employers need to file paperwork to hire me on OPT as a CMA?
No employer filing is required during your OPT period. Unlike H-1B sponsorship, OPT is pre-authorized through your DSO and USCIS before you start the job. Your employer just needs to verify your Employment Authorization Document. You do need to report your employer to your DSO within 10 days of starting work.
Does a medical assisting degree qualify for the STEM OPT extension?
It depends on your specific degree and CIP code. Some health informatics, clinical laboratory science, and health sciences degrees are on the STEM designated degree program list, qualifying graduates for a 24-month extension beyond standard OPT. A general medical assisting certificate or associate degree often does not qualify. Check the official STEM list and confirm with your DSO early.
Where can I find Certified Medical Assistant jobs that are open to OPT students?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for F-1 OPT and visa-holding job seekers, so the employers listed there are already aware of work authorization requirements. Searching on Migrate Mate filters for roles where sponsorship or OPT acceptance is already part of the employer's hiring process, saving you from applying to positions that will screen you out immediately.
Can I work part-time as a CMA during the post-completion OPT period?
Yes, but with a restriction. Post-completion OPT requires you to work at least 20 hours per week to remain in valid status. Part-time CMA roles at 20 hours or more are permitted. Working fewer than 20 hours per week or being unemployed for more than 90 cumulative days during your OPT period puts your status at risk.