Interested in Becoming a Medical Assistant?
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants are healthcare professionals who help run the offices of physicians and healthcare providers by performing daily administrative and clinical tasks. In smaller practices medical assistants generally have a wide range of responsibilities, performing their duties independently, and are often the first point of contact for patients entering the medical facility.
Medical Assistant Education and Training
Although formal training and certification in medical assisting is not absolutely required, it is much preferred by employers. Some medical assistants are hired with just a high school diploma or equivalent and trained on the job, but this is becoming less and less common. Accredited medical assistant training programs teach all the necessary clinical, administrative, and interpersonal skills.
Employment and Salary Information for Medical Assistants
More than half of all medical assistants work in physicians' offices. Others work in public and private hospitals, inpatient and outpatient facilities, and the offices of chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists and more. A few also work in medical and diagnostic laboratories, or nursing and residential care facilities.
The Benefits of Certification for Medical Assistants
Certification gives applicants a competitive edge: it demonstrates their commitment to the profession and shows that they possess a certain level of competency and knowledge in the field. Because it indicates a high standard of proficiency, the majority of employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants.
How to Get a Job as a Medical Assistant
Although certification is not a legal requirement for medical assistants, it will greatly increase your chances of finding employment. In addition, employers prefer candidates to have experience in a medical office environment, hold at least a high school diploma, and have current first-aid certification.
Find Schools Offering Accredited Medical Assistant Programs
To help you with your school hunt, we've compiled a list of all the schools offering medical assistant programs that are recognized as accredited by the U.S. Department of Education. In brackets we've indicated whether the school has institutional accreditation, or just programmatic accreditation for this course. Best of luck finding the school that's best for you!