Requirements to be a medical assistant
Who are the medical assistants in the healthcare industry? Medical assistants are healthcare professionals who work under the direction of their employer, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurses. They perform administrative and clinical duties in a variety of practices, such as the ones listed below.
Job responsibilities include:
A medical assistant is required to have a high school diploma or equivalent. They are also required to take the Medical Assistant National Certification Examination, given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Some employers may require an associate’s degree in medical assisting.
Medical assistants must be able to multitask and prioritize their work, display flexibility in working with difficult people, demonstrate good customer service skills, deal with stressful situations, have excellent keyboarding skills, and be proficient in Microsoft Office. Good organizational skills are also required for this profession. Additionally, medical assistants need the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
Medical assistants must carry out everyday tasks, such as lifting patients from a stretcher into a wheelchair, must have the physical ability. They also need manual skills and attention to detail. Medical assistants should be emotionally mature and able to recognize emergencies and react quickly and appropriately.
As with most jobs, experience is an essential part of being a medical assistant. Medical assistants must maintain their knowledge and skills through on-the-job training, seminars, workshops, classes, and conferences.
What do Medical Assistants do?
Medical assistants take care of cumbersome administrative and clinical duties under the direction of their employer, including physicians, physician assistants, and nurses. Administrative duties include scheduling appointments, filing insurance claims, updating and maintaining medical records, billing patients, and answering phone calls.
Clinical duties include taking vital signs such as weight, height, and temperature; preparing patients for examinations or treatments; recording information pertinent to a patient’s condition in the medical record; drawing blood from patients; changing dressings on wounds; collecting lab specimens from patients; giving injections or other medications to patients; and explaining procedures to patients.
What are the education requirements?
A medical assistant is required to have a high school diploma or equivalent. Some employers require an associate’s degree in medical assisting, although certification fulfills this requirement for some employers. Although not all states require medical assistants to be certified, it is highly recommended by employers.
To become certified, an individual must pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. A few states require medical assistants to be licensed or registered. Still, many employers will hire unlicensed assistants who have completed a training course and passed the certification exam instead of applicants with no experience.
What kind of work environment does a Medical Assistant Typically work in?
Medical assistants are most often found in doctors’ offices but may also be found in hospitals, outpatient care centers, home health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and insurance companies. Although many medical assistants are full-time employees, some are paid per assignment or project. Self-employed medical assistants work for themselves and hire out to physicians or other companies.
What is the salary of a medical assistant?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants earned an average annual salary of $30,710 as of May 2011. The median earning was around $26,590 per year, and half of all medical assistants earned less than $26,970 each year. The lowest 10 percent earned under $21,710 per year, and the top 10 percent earned more than $41,390 per year.
How long does it take to become a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant’s career education is very versatile as they can find employment in different work environments. The duration to become a medical assistant is as short as six months and as long as four years, depending on the length of time spent in school and the prerequisites required by particular schools. After completing education, an individual must acquire certification or licensure before finding employment.
What are the requirements to become a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Some employers may require prior experience as well. To become a medical assistant, students can complete formal training through an accredited program offered by a vocational school, community college, or junior/community/junior colleges.
Many schools offer certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees in medical assisting. Formal training consists of classroom lectures and lab practice for up to one year. Other requirements include on-the-job training or experience working as a medical assistant or another related job.
To become certified, students must pass the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam given by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Most employers prefer to hire medical assistants who are certified or registered. Still, some will also hire unlicensed assistants who have completed a training course and passed the certification exam instead of applicants with no experience.
