ESCANABA — Bay College Training and Development will offer a new clinical medical assistant program starting in October.

This non-credit workforce development program is designed to prepare students for the National Health Career Association Certified Clinical Medical Assistant national certification examination. This training also is ideal for those interested in pursuing a future formal nursing program.

Clinical medical assistants are trained to function as professionals in multiple health care settings. Medical assistants with a clinical background perform various tasks including assisting with the administration of medications and with minor procedures, performing an EKG electrocardiogram, obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients and other related tasks. Job opportunities are prevalent with physical and chiropractic offices, clinics, hospitals, and outpatient facilities. According to Salary.com, the medical assistant salary range in the United States falls between $31,832 and $37,284 a year.

The Clinical Medical Assistant training program consists of 140 course contact hours, plus a 160-hour clinical externship. The schedule will be 6 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays from Oct. 2 to Jan. 24. Training also will take place from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays on Oct. 13 and 27, Nov. 10, Dec. 1 and Jan. 5 and 19.

Cost of the program is $2,599 and includes textbooks. To register, go to https://mytraining.baycollege.edu. For more information, call 906-217-4200.