Becoming a medical assistant is a great way to start your career in healthcare. With the right training and certification, you can launch a successful career in this growing field. Have you ever thought about becoming a medical assistant? It’s a great career choice with many benefits! In this blog post, we’ll outline 5 reasons why you should become a medical assistant.
⦿ What does a medical assistant do?
A medical assistant is a multi-skilled professional who supports the work of physicians and other health professionals. They perform both clerical and clinical duties, such as scheduling appointments, taking patient histories, recording vital signs, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting with procedures. In some states, they may also be allowed to administer medications or injectables under the supervision of a licensed healthcare provider.
What a medical assistant does will depend on the office where she or he works, state law, and the needs of the assistant’s employer.
⦿ Get an education: what type of training do you need?
Becoming a medical assistant is a great way to start your career in healthcare. With the right training and certification, our first move towards becoming a medical assistant is to enroll into a training course certified by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, or CAAHEP, or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, or ABHES. If you have your eyes on a more advanced position later on, you should consider enrolling in two-year associate’s degree programs.
Once your training is done, you should look into getting hands-on experience. You can look into if your local medical facilities have internship programs that would suit your needs. You should do this even if your chosen medical assistant training program already has some on offer. The more practice you put in before official employment, the better.
⦿ There are three certificates you can get:
- Certified Medical Assistant, or CMA, provided by the American Association of Medical Assistants.
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, or CCMA, provided by the National Healthcare Association.
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, or CCMA, provided by the National Healthcare Association.
⦿ Find a job that’s a good fit for you:
Around 185,000 new positions are expected to be in circulation by 2016. Some popular positions in this field include Specialized Medical Assistant, EKG Technician, or Podiatric Medical Assistant.
⦿ Medical Assistant Salary
According to the BLS2, as of May 2017 medical assistants earned anywhere between $23,830 and $45,900 per year. Your salary also depends on the chosen work environment. For example, in outpatient facilities, medical assistants earn about $33,820 per year; in hospitals, they earn about $33,590; in doctor’s offices, the number is around $32,710 per year.
What makes a medical assistant unique?
- Personal fulfillment
- Quick training in medical assistant programs
- Plentiful job prospects
- Flexible schedule – Most medical assistants work full-time (even on holidays and weekends). However, you can develop a schedule that works with your personal life.
- Advancement opportunities – you might find that you enjoy working closely with patients, so you may consider pursuing an education in nursing.
⦿ Conclusion
Becoming a medical assistant in the United States is a relatively simple process that can secure your future for years to come. Before making a final decision, we recommend that you do some research to find the right program that fits your needs. The information in this article should give you a good head start!
