Medical Assistant Jobs in Virginia Beach, VA
Medical assistants in Virginia Beach earn a metro median near $21 an hour, and Sentara's urgent care float pool posts a range that tops $32. Here are the current openings, followed by who is hiring across Hampton Roads, what certification employers want, and where to train.
Current medical assistant Openings in Virginia Beach, VA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Medical Assistant Work in Virginia Beach
Most medical assistant jobs in Virginia Beach sit in outpatient care rather than hospital wards: urgent cares, primary care offices, specialty practices and cancer centers. Sentara Healthcare, the city's largest private employer, staffs urgent cares in Virginia Beach and Norfolk from a single float pool, and its practices cluster around Sentara Virginia Beach General Hospital near First Colonial Road and Sentara Princess Anne Hospital in the south of the city. Specialty groups add steady demand, with oncology and surgery practices running clinics in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake.
Hampton Roads works as one job market for medical assistants. Plenty of Virginia Beach residents drive I-264 to the Norfolk medical center district every day, and the Peninsula health systems in Hampton and Newport News recruit from the Southside too. The region's large military community also shapes hiring: Sentara accepts a National Registry EMT-Basic certification for its urgent care medical assistant roles, which gives veterans and military spouses with EMT training a direct way in.
Top Virginia Beach Employers Hiring Medical Assistants
These Hampton Roads employers are hiring or recruiting medical assistants on their own careers sites:
- Sentara Healthcare - the region's dominant health system hires certified medical assistants for its Virginia Beach and Norfolk urgent cares and physician practices.
- Virginia Oncology Associates - the cancer practice with clinics in Virginia Beach, Norfolk and Chesapeake hires medical assistants, with CMA certification strongly preferred.
- Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University - the former EVMS medical school hires certified medical assistants for its Norfolk clinical departments, including surgery.
- Riverside Health System - the Newport News health system hires medical assistants for its practices and trains new ones through a paid Earn and Learn program.
Medical Assistant Salaries in Virginia Beach
- Entry level: about $17.50 to $19 per hour for newly certified assistants in physician offices.
- Experienced: roughly $20 to $23 per hour, around the metro median of about $21.
- Senior / specialty: $24 to $32 per hour at the upper end of health system ranges, such as Sentara's urgent care float pool.
These are estimates built from federal wage data for the Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk metro and from pay ranges posted by local employers. Certification, urgent care or specialty experience, float pool flexibility and evening or weekend shifts all push pay up, and health systems generally pay more than small private practices.
How to Become a Medical Assistant in Virginia Beach
Virginia does not license medical assistants, so there is no state board to apply to. Employers set the bar instead, and most Hampton Roads health systems want a national credential: the CMA from the American Association of Medical Assistants, the CCMA from the National Healthcareer Association, the RMA from American Medical Technologists, or the NCMA. ECPI University, whose main campus is in Virginia Beach, offers a Medical Assisting associate degree of 61 credits, about 15 months, that prepares graduates for the CMA or RMA exam. Riverside Health System runs a paid 10 to 12 week Medical Assistant Earn and Learn program that covers tuition and books in exchange for a 12-month work commitment.
What the Job Involves
Medical assistants keep a clinic moving. They room patients, take vital signs and medical histories, update the electronic health record, give injections and vaccines, collect specimens, run EKGs, assist providers with exams and minor procedures, and handle prescription refills and referrals. In smaller offices they also check patients in, verify insurance and schedule follow-ups, so the work mixes clinical and front-desk tasks.
Skills Employers Look For
- A current CMA, CCMA, RMA or NCMA certification
- Accurate vital signs, injections and specimen collection
- Comfort with electronic health records
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
- Clear communication with patients and providers
- Flexibility to float between clinic locations
Career Path and Advancement
Many Virginia Beach medical assistants start in a primary care office or urgent care, then move into specialty practices such as oncology, orthopaedics or surgery, where pay runs higher. From there the ladder leads to lead medical assistant, clinic coordinator or practice manager. Others use the job as a step into nursing: Tidewater Community College's practical nursing certificate on its Virginia Beach Campus and Old Dominion University's nursing programs at the Virginia Beach Higher Education Center are common next moves.
Related Careers in Virginia Beach
If medical assisting interests you, these related Virginia Beach guides are worth a look:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a medical assistant in Virginia Beach?
No. Virginia does not license medical assistants. Most Hampton Roads health systems still require a national certification such as the CMA, CCMA, RMA or NCMA, so plan on earning one before you apply.
How much do medical assistants make in Virginia Beach?
The metro median is about $21 an hour. New assistants usually start around $17.50 to $19, and experienced assistants at health systems can reach $24 to $32 at the top of posted ranges.
Which certification do Virginia Beach employers want?
Sentara accepts the CMA, CCMA, RMA or a National Registry EMT-Basic certification for its urgent care roles. Virginia Oncology Associates strongly prefers the CMA, and Old Dominion University's clinical departments accept the CMA, RMA, CCMA or NCMA.
How long does it take to become a medical assistant?
It depends on the route. Riverside's paid Earn and Learn program runs 10 to 12 weeks, while ECPI University's associate degree takes about 15 months. Certificate programs fall in between.
Can veterans or EMTs become medical assistants in Virginia Beach?
Yes. Sentara lists a National Registry EMT-Basic certification as an accepted credential for its urgent care medical assistant float pool. That makes the role a practical first civilian healthcare job for veterans and military spouses who already hold EMT training.
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