Becoming a Medical Assistant
The health field is always growing and people will always be needed to work. Medical assisting is a good career path for people who have an interest in the health field, like to help people, and who like to multitask. A medical assistant can work in a doctor's office or a hospital. There are many types of medical assistant jobs that make it a flexible career choice.
Medical assisting is one of the fastest growing careers in the United States. By the year 2016, almost 200,000 medical assistants will be needed. Employment for medical assistants is projected at 565,000 in the next eight years. Job opportunities for a person seeking a career in medical assisting should be outstanding, especially for people who get the formal training.
Most people who get a career in medical assisting go to school for two years and get an Associate's degree. Another option is to go just for one year and get a certificate. The person will take classes such as first aid, math, medical terminology, anatomy, etc.
While it is not required being certified indicates that a medical assistant meets certain standards of competence. Many employers prefer to hire people who are certified. The CMA is the top medical assisting certification exam. By passing the CMA, this means that you have been credentialed through the AAMA (American Association of Medical Assistants) and this also offers a certain amount of prestige. This certification must be renewed every five years.
Medical assistants are trained to do both clinical and administrative tasks. There are many options for employment. They are not limited to a particular medical specialty. They typically work in a fast paced medical office or small family or group practice, walk in clinics, medical centers and other facilities that are under doctors. Medical assistants are there to keep the doctor on schedule. Duties of a medical assistant include; checking in patients, schedule appointments, checking vital signs, updating medical records, give shots, draw blood, performing basic lab tests, and medical billing and insurance coding.
The earnings of a medical assistant depend on their years of experience, skill level and location. In 2010, the average annual salary for a medical assistant with a CMA credential was $31,361. Around 80 percent of full time medical assistants get some kind of benefits package from their employers.
Once a person has finished all their schooling and gets certified, it is time to find their first job. There are many options available to help a person find their first job. If a person excels at their externship, this can greatly improve their chances of being hired after graduation. Mary C Dyer who is a certified medical assistant says, "Many many students are hired at their extern sites just by showing they have a good attitude, are eager to learn and get along well with the existing staff". Even if the person's extern site doesn't hire them, the person still needs to make a good impression when there. Externship colleagues are the best references to get when applying for other jobs. It is also helpful to talk to a career counselor at the school.
If medical assisting is a career that someone is seriously looking into, they like to multitask, like helping people and are looking to get into the health field; they should get started on it right away. The field of healthcare is always growing and people will always be needed.
For more information visit:www.aama-ntl.org
