At Kadlec clinics across the Tri-Cities in Washington, our caregivers benefit from our support of continuing education to enable professional advancement. Our goal is to help every caregiver, including Medical Assistants (MAs), achieve their highest possible career potential.

Opportunities for growth are embedded in our structure, from our Kadlec Medical Assistant (MA-R and MA-A) Training Programs, which offer medical assistant students experience in a real-world work environment, to our robust career ladder for Medical Assistants. Associate MAs can grow into MAs, and then pursue roles as Senior MAs, and then Lead MAs.

Medical Assistant tiers provide a built-in career ladder

Kadlec Medical Assistant Alyssa explains, “I appreciate how much growth opportunity Kadlec offers. You could come in as an MA apprentice without any MA experience, and Kadlec can train you. Then there’s four different levels for MAs, so you can tier up. And that’s very good compared to private practice, where you don’t have those options.” Alyssa is happily climbing the career ladder. “I just became a senior MA, and there’s still one more to work up to.”

“Kadlec is very generous with their staff.”

Raina, a Lead MA at a Kadlec neurology clinic, has seen this type of up-leveling of her career first hand along with encouragement to go even further. “I started here just fresh out of school as an Associate MA, which is level one,” she says. “And I’ve worked my way up through two, three, and now four, which is the lead.”

Raina is currently pursuing a new degree with Kadlec’s support. “Kadlec offers a lot of education benefits, and I am currently going to school to finish my bachelor’s in healthcare administration. My manager brings me into administrative duties so I can learn some of that stuff.” When asked how far she sees herself going in her career, she says, “Being a clinic manager is my first goal, and then a clinic director.”

Despite the various roles, Raina offers a hands-on leadership style when her team needs help and appreciates the inclusive nature of Kadlec clinic teams. “Everyone here, their opinion matters, their knowledge matters. Their skill level matters, and they really encourage people to communicate on a level of, ‘We are all equal,’ which is very unique.”

Moving from MA to RN is possible with Kadlec’s help

Kadlec Medical Assistant Laura has been with Kadlec for 14 years, in both the hospital and the clinics, and found both to be great experiences. Her path has included a variety of departments as well, including registration, the emergency department, and surgery. Now, with Kadlec’s support, she’s pursuing nursing certification.

“Kadlec is very growth and goal oriented. They encourage their staff to go back to school and continue their education to move forward with their careers. They even go as far as to help cover tuition expenses,” Laura explains. “I’ve been an MA for 14 years. I am now working on my RN with the help of Kadlec covering that tuition, so I can become a nurse here for Kadlec. I would love to be a nurse in either the ICU or the emergency room.”

Kadlec’s Medical Assistant  (MA-R and MA-A) Training Programs

Medical Assistant students can build an excellent clinical skill set in a real-world work environment at Kadlec. Our Medical Assistant Registered (MA-R) Training Program allows students enrolled in Medical Assistant Certified programs to gain on-the-job experience by working 1-2 shifts a week in a Kadlec Clinic. Students selected for the program receive an offer of employment at a Kadlec Clinic as a Medical Assistant Registered and a sign-on bonus of $3,000.

Our 12-month Medical Assistant Apprentice (MA-A) program pays caregivers to work in a clinic as Medical Assistant apprentices while they go to school to obtain their Medical Assistant Certification in Washington. Apprentices receive opportunities in several primary and specialty care areas, along with flexible scheduling determined by the student’s school schedule and specific clinic needs.

Tuition for the MA-A Program is covered by Providence, the parent organization of Kadlec. Cohort applications open in Fall and Spring.

Clinic RN Danielle witnessed a colleague’s journey through the MA-A program. “Someone who was working in our front desk role got certified as an MA so that she could work more in the clinic setting, and she got to do that through Kadlec.” For those who are working and going back to school at the same time, Danielle says, “Our managers are really flexible when it comes to scheduling with people who are in school to accommodate that.”

Your path to a rewarding healthcare career starts here

If you’re looking for a welcoming environment where you can grow your career, explore Kadlec’s Medical Assistant Training Programs or take a look at Kadlec’s open Medical Assistant roles.