Medical Assistant Degree Introduction
Welcome to MedicalAssistantDegree.com where you'll find all you need to know about earning your medical assistant degree.
If you've always wanted to be a part of the health care field and help to make sure patients receive the best care possible, becoming a medical assistant could be for you. Moreover, if you're looking down the road at possibly pursuing other health care positions, becoming a medical assistant can give you a good start.
Trained, certified medical assistants are increasingly in demand as the health care industry continues to grow. Gone are the days when high school graduates could snatch up medical assistant jobs, though; nowadays, employers are looking for individuals specifically trained to carry out both administrative and clinical medical assistant job duties.
With all this in mind, today is the perfect day for you to begin your career as a medical assistant. Financial aid may be an option for you, so why not get started by browsing through MedicalAssistantDegree.com right now?
Is Becoming a Medical Assistant for You?
Medical assistants perform a wide variety of tasks as integral members of health care teams. While some perform largely administrative tasks, others are directly involved with patients. Some of the possible administrative duties of medical assistants include the following:
- Filing and updating of medical records
- Filling out insurance forms
- Calling hospitals and laboratories to arrange for services
- Greeting patients
- Handling phone calls and correspondence
- Scheduling appointments
- Doing bookkeeping and billing
Some clinical responsibilities of medical assistants may include the following:
- Assisting physicians during exams
- Taking medical histories and vital signs
- Instructing patients on treatment procedures, medications, and diets
- Preparing patients for exams, x-rays, and other procedures
- Sterilizing medical equipment and making sure it's arranged properly
- Administering medications
- Removing stitches
Most medical assistants work in physicians' offices, but other possible places of employment include hospitals, outpatient care centers, and offices of other health care practitioners.
Interested in Medical Assistant Training?In order to become a medical assistant, you will need to decide between two basic educational paths: certificate/diploma or associate's degree.
Certificate/diploma medical assistant programs generally take between nine months and a year to complete. Through a certificate/diploma program at a community or career college, your courses will focus entirely on what you need to know to become a medical assistant, which means you will not have other more general academic requirements to fulfill. As the program is shorter than an associate's degree program, it will also be less expensive.
Associate's medical assistant degrees take two years of full-time study to complete. In addition to acquiring the knowledge necessary to become a medical assistant at a community or career college, you'll also be responsible for the successful completion of more generalized liberal arts requirements.
While this program will take longer to complete, it can also make you a more marketable job candidate and allow you to build on your degree if you decide to go back to school later, i.e., your associate's degree credits may be applied toward earning a bachelor's degree.
Online programs are available for both medical assistant certificates/diplomas and medical assistant associate's degrees.
What About Medical Assistant Certification?
As employers are increasingly interested in medical assistant applicants who are certified, you should also know that the two major accreditation bodies are the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES).
Ideally, the program you choose will have been accredited by one of these two organizations; graduating from an accredited school makes you eligible for certification as a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) by the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The Association of Medical Technologists (AMT) also awards certification credentials to medical assistants.
Job Outlook and Salary for Medical Assistants?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical assistants can expect excellent job prospects over the next 10 years, especially for those with certification and/or experience. Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average because of technological advances, an aging population, and a need to fill empty spots left open by those leaving the profession.
According to the BLS, medical assistants earned a median annual wage of $28,300 in May 2008, with the middle 50% earning between $23,700 and $33,050. Earnings vary by skill level, location, and experience.
Choosing the Right Medical Assistant Degree Program?
Overall, some factors you should consider when choosing a medical assistant degree program include the following:
- Time and money you have available for a program
- Available financial aid
- Whether you would like to pursue more advanced medical studies at a later date
- Job placement statistics for your school(s) of choice
- Certification available
No matter what type of medical assistant training you choose to pursue, MedicalAssistantDegree.com can help. Why not get started on your path to becoming a medical assistant today?