If you’re hoping to start a career in the allied health field, you may be wondering how to become a medical assistant.
As a medical assistant, you could help patients, assist doctors and nurses, and keep healthcare practices running smoothly.
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Once you start looking into medical assistant requirements, you’ll discover that most people can launch this career within 2 years or less. Earning a certificate or a degree in medical assisting could be a strategic way to begin.
How to Become a Medical Assistant
The medical assistant qualifications can vary by employer, but there’s a general path that most workplaces prefer for job applicants to follow. Here’s the typical process for becoming a medical assistant:
- Finish high school. Most medical assisting colleges require you to hold a high school diploma or a GED.
- Apply to a college program. You can choose to earn a college certificate or an associate degree in medical assisting. It’s strategic to attend a school that holds regional accreditation and is also approved by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Online programs are also available.
- Gain hands-on experience. Most college programs for medical assistant students include a period of getting in-the-field experience. Some schools call it an internship, and others call it an externship. Either way, you’ll work under the supervision of someone experienced in this field.
- Complete your program. After meeting all the requirements, you can earn your undergraduate certificate or degree.
- Apply for national certification. Multiple organizations offer nationally recognized certifications for medical assisting professionals. You can apply for certification through one of those associations. A qualifying exam will be required.
- Search for jobs. With a college certificate or degree as well as an industry certification, you may be in a good position for your job search. Employment is often available through doctor’s offices.
- Maintain your credentials. You may be required to renew your certification every few years. To qualify, you might take classes or participate in other continuing education programs.
Some employers prefer certain credentials, such as professional certification through a particular organization.
3 Things You Can Do as a Medical Assistant
After completing medical assistant schooling, your goal might be to work in a doctor’s office. That’s not the only place that your medical assistant training could take you, though.
1. Medical Assistant
When you earn a medical assistant certificate, you may start looking for jobs in that specific line of work. Medical assistants often work in physician’s offices. Some get jobs with hospitals or outpatient centers instead.
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Tasks for a medical assistant may include bringing patients into exam rooms and preparing them for the doctor. This job might also involve assisting the physician with procedures. Medical assistants can do clerical work too.
2. Cardiographic Technician
For an alternative line of work, you could consider being an EKG technician, also known as a cardiographic technician.
This job doesn’t usually require any formal training or certification, so your medical assistant background may set you apart as a well-prepared candidate. EKG technicians often work in hospitals, and they hook patients up to electrodes and run tests. Those tests can show how well someone’s heart is working.
3. Medical Claims Examiner
Your healthcare knowledge could be valuable in the health insurance field. Claims examiners work with providers and insurers to ensure that billings and reimbursements are handled accurately.
Success in this field requires understanding diagnoses as well as the appropriate treatment options for various conditions. Some medical claims examiners work for insurance companies. Others are employed by a hospital or another care provider.
Medical Assisting Careers & Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for healthcare support workers is $29,880 each year. Most medical assistants make between $29,070 and $48,170 annually.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians | $60,570 |
| Health and Medical Insurance Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators | $50,490 |
| Surgical Assistants and Technologists | $48,510 |
| Medical Records Specialists | $46,660 |
| Medical Secretaries and Administrative Assistants | $37,450 |
| Phlebotomists | $37,380 |
| Medical Assistants | $37,190 |
| General Office Clerks | $37,030 |
| Nursing Assistants and Orderlies | $30,290 |
| Home Health and Personal Care Aides | $29,430 |
Some of these careers may require some additional preparation, whether it’s formal education or on-the-job training. Even still, your medical assisting background could be applicable to a wide range of roles.
How to Choose an Online Medical Assisting Program
Many colleges offer medical assistant training. You might look into the following characteristics as you decide which online medical assistant programs fit your needs:
- National certification. Your medical assistant studies might be geared toward a particular national certification program. The coursework would specifically help you prepare for the qualifying exam. You can verify whether a school’s focus matches the certification you’d like to pursue.
- Practice opportunities. It’s beneficial to have in-person or virtual lab experiences during the program. Internships or externships are also valuable and offered by many programs.
- Program emphasis. Some colleges spend more time teaching students about the administrative side of medical assisting. Others focus more on the clinical skills used in this profession. If you have a preference, you can pick a program that reflects that.
- Program type. You may be able to get a certificate or an associate degree in this field. Degrees are more thorough but take longer to complete. Many colleges offer only one option or the other, so that may factor into your plans.
- Start dates. If you want to begin college as soon as possible, you could find a school with multiple start dates throughout the year.
Of course, no matter what you study in college, it’s always beneficial to select an accredited school.
Accreditation
For a reliable certificate or degree in medical assisting, it’s essential to pick a regionally accredited institution for your training. Colleges that hold regional accreditation are known for providing students with a solid education.
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If you decide to continue your schooling, the accredited courses you’ve completed may transfer, which could help you earn a degree more quickly. Accredited colleges also look better on resumes. Plus, accredited classes may be part of the requirements for industry certification programs.
Programmatic Accreditation for Medical Assisting Training Programs
To make sure that you’re being thoroughly prepared for the workforce, it’s also strategic to look for a program that holds industry accreditation. That way, you can feel confident that your studies conform to current standards for medical assistants.
One approved organization for program-specific accreditation in this field is the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). This accreditor approves college programs that train medical assistants and other professionals in the allied health field.
Is Financial Aid Available?
Yes, if you qualify, you may be able to get financial aid to help with your medical assistant tuition. After you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can see if you’re eligible to use federal financial aid programs. The eligibility for federal grants and loans is based on income. Similar state programs may be available to you as well.
You might also explore scholarship opportunities from your college or another organization. Some scholarships are intended especially for people going into allied health fields. Some employers also contribute to team members’ college expenses.
What Is a Medical Assistant?
A medical assistant is an allied health professional. People in this field work alongside doctors and other healthcare providers to cover a variety of clinical and clerical tasks.
Medical assistants are typically trained professionals who have been through educational programs. In medical assistant school, they learn about anatomy, health conditions, electronic records, and patient care. In physician’s offices and other healthcare settings, medical assistants speak with patients, perform basic clinical tasks, and maintain accurate health records.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
When considering what a medical assistant does, the simplest answer is that medical assistants usually work in doctor’s offices. They may go back and forth between exam rooms and the front office.
Clinical duties of medical assistants may involve bringing patients into exam rooms and recording their temperature and blood pressure. They might also ask about symptoms or run diagnostic tests. When the doctor comes in, the assistants may help with the exam or procedures.
In the office, medical assistants may type information into electronic health records systems. They can also answer phones, book appointments for patients, and manage office paperwork.
Is a Medical Assistant a Good Career?
Yes, medical assistant is a good career for many professionals. Medical assistants are needed in many healthcare facilities, especially doctor’s offices, so full-time job opportunities are rather plentiful.
Figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that medical assistants usually earn between $29,070 and $48,170 each year. The pay is highest in outpatient care centers. There, the median salary is $38,270. In addition to being in demand and paying a reliable salary, this career also provides a tangible way to help patients during times of illness or injury. Many people find that part of the job to be quite fulfilling.
What Degree Do You Need to Be a Medical Assistant?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a certificate or a degree is not always essential for working as a medical assistant, but it can certainly help.
Some healthcare facilities are willing to provide on-the-job training for new hires. Many, though, prefer to hire assistants who already know what they’re doing. College courses and national certifications allow applicants to demonstrate their knowledge.
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You can enter this field, then, with either a medical assistant certificate or an on-campus or online medical assistant associate degree. Certificate programs are shorter, while associate degree programs offer a more robust, well-rounded set of courses.
Is Medical Assistant School Hard?
Medical assistant school often starts with courses about medical terminology and human anatomy. Additional classes cover illnesses, diagnoses, medications, and lab tests. The classes might also prepare you to get your first aid and CPR certification. This type of program also offers administrative training.
In particular, you’ll learn about electronic health records. There will be courses on acting professionally and maintaining patients’ privacy too. The education requirements for medical assistant training also include clinicals, where you’d practice your skills in real-world healthcare settings. During that experience, you would be working under the supervision of an experienced professional.
What Are the Qualifications to Be a Medical Assistant?
The qualifications to work as a medical assistant vary among healthcare facilities. Some employers don’t ask for any particular training or experience.
Most, though, prefer to hire people who are ready to get started on the job. College courses can offer that preparation. Many employers will accept either a certificate in medical assisting or an associate degree. In addition, workplaces may prefer candidates who hold national certification in medical assisting.
There are several certification programs available. They include Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA). Preference for the various certification options varies among employers.
Where Do Medical Assistants Work?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 58% of medical assistants work in physician’s offices. The median annual salary for medical assistants in such workplaces is $37,150.
Other potential employers include hospitals, chiropractor’s offices, and outpatient care centers. Outpatient facilities usually pay the highest salaries. Medical assistants may also become EKG technicians in hospitals or medical claims examiners for health insurance companies.
It might also be possible to work as a home health aide through a home health agency or as a personal care aide in a nursing home. Doctor’s offices may hire medical assistants to work as medical secretaries or administrative assistants.
What Skills Do You Need to Be a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants spend a lot of time talking to patients and other healthcare professionals. As such, it’s helpful for them to be good communicators who enjoy being around others.
Healthcare facilities can be busy places, and medical assistants are often scurrying from one exam room to the next. It’s useful for them to be able to handle a variety of responsibilities. In this role, you’ll likely need to give all your attention to one patient and then switch gears when it’s the next patient’s turn.
Electronic health records are used in most healthcare practices, so it’s also essential to know how to use computers and software.
How Much Does a Medical Assistant Make?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that the median salary for medical assistants is $37,190. Most medical assistants earn at least $29,070 per year. Top earners make over $48,170 annually. The median pay for medical assistants working in hospitals is $37,800.
Medical assistants may also work as medical secretaries or medical administrative assistants. The median salary for those roles is $37,450. Phlebotomy is another area to consider. Technicians in that field make a median of $37,380 each year. It might also be possible to work as a surgical assistant, a role that has a median wage of $48,510.
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Being an EKG technician could be one of the highest-paid options for professionals with a background in medical assisting. The median salary for that job category is $60,570.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant?
You may be able to start working as a medical assistant within 1 to 2 years. In general, the length of time it takes depends on the type of program you select.
Certificate programs usually last about 1 year, while associate degree programs take closer to 2 years. With either approach, you may get through school the fastest if you take online classes. Online programs often use shorter terms and year-round classes.
If you want to become nationally certified before applying for jobs, you may want to choose a medical assistant program that helps prepare you for your preferred certification exam.
What’s the Difference Between an Associate’s Degree vs. Certificate in Medical Assisting?
A college may offer medical assisting studies as a certificate program or a degree. You can consider which option is best for your goals.
| Medical Assistant Certificate | Associates in Medical Assistant |
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For certification and employment as a medical assistant, either program could be an acceptable option.
What’s the Difference Between an LPN vs. Medical Assistant?
If you’d like to enter the healthcare field in 2 years or less, you might look at becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN) or a medical assistant.
| Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | Medical Assistant (MA) |
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It typically takes 1 to 2 years to complete either program.
Is Becoming a Medical Assistant Worth It?
Yes, becoming a medical assistant is worth it for many students. Medical assistant training can provide a quick on-ramp to a career in the healthcare sector. In 2 years or less, you could receive official training to help you get started in this line of work.
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Healthcare is a top need for many people, so jobs for allied health professionals are in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects that jobs for medical assistants will grow by 16% over the next ten years. Hiring more medical assistants will help healthcare facilities deal with increased patient loads as the population ages.
Getting Your Medical Assistant Degree Online
If you’d like the opportunity to work in healthcare and help people with their medical needs, then you might consider becoming a medical assistant.
As a medical assistant, you could look for work in doctor’s offices, hospitals, or outpatient care facilities. You may have the ability to work directly with patients or take care of office tasks. There are also online options for studying medical assisting.
Whether you’d like a medical assistant certificate or degree, you can complete the coursework online and prepare for an in-person internship. After completing an accredited program, you’ll likely be ready to pursue certification and employment.
If you’re ready to begin your educational and professional journey, why not start exploring accredited schools today?
