Not every job in the medical world demands years of study or thousands of dollars.
There are jobs such as medical assistant that is just like that. Medical assistant jobs are booming and this is why you should be entering that fast-growing industry.
What is a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants are entrance-level health care practitioners who provide administrative and clerical assistance in a number of health-care settings.
Most medical assistants rely exclusively on administrative activities such as handling medical bills and appointments for scheduling.
Others rely primarily on clerical tasks such as gathering samples from patients and taking essential substances.
By covering both areas some pull double duty. Why would anyone opt to become a physician assistant rather than going to school to become a nurse or a doctor?
Becoming a physician assistant has many benefits including:
- Quick Qualification. It usually takes less than a year to receive the qualifications you need to become a physician assistant versus two to four years to become a registered nurse.
- Available in all states. Like other medical practitioners, medical assistants in individual states do not need to be licensed; they can operate anywhere in the country after being qualified.
- Job conditions are versatile. Health assistants mostly work in hospitals, but they often operate in environments such as nursing homes, chiropractor’s offices, physician’s offices, outpatient surgery centers and sometimes as home health assistants.
- Security at work. Medical assistants are still in high demand –and demand is also on the rise. As per the U.S. The sector is projected to rise by 29 percent between 2016 and 2026 against the average of 7 percent across all occupations, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics1, or BLS.
How to Become a Medical Assistant
It’s better than you would think in terms of being a medical assistant. Below is a simple snapshot of what to do.
Next, you would need to conclude an accredited training programme. However if some employers do not need certification from medical assistants, the vast majority are doing so.
You’ll need to complete an approved physician assistant training program to become licensed.
The best program should be certified either by the Allied Health Education Program Accreditation Commission, or CAAHEP, or by the Health Education Schools Accrediting Bureau, or ABHES.
Two-year degree programs for associates are also available, which could be beneficial for those who later choose to step into more advanced positions.
If you have completed your schooling you will need to obtain clinical experience. There are several approved training programs which include clinical training.
Some allow you to find your own internship or external place to finish the program.
Also if the curriculum does not require professional training, you can strive to put the training to work separately before formally joining the workforce.
Finally, you’ll want to consider formally getting certified.
You ought to have completed an approved training program or be able to show that you have ample applicable job experience to sit for a physician assistant certification examen. Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) is the most common qualification issued by the American Association of Medical Assistants, or AAMA.
The National Healthcare Association, or NHA, provides certifications for Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, or CCMA, and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, or CMAA.
How Much Can I Earn?
Becoming a medical assistant is a huge investment, particularly when considering the minimum requirements for training and education.
Those professionals enjoy national fair pay.The median annual salary for medical assistants as of May 2017 has been $32,480, or $15.61 an hour, according to the BLS.
The lowest 10% earned $23,830 a year, or $11.46 an hour; the highest 10% earned $45,900 a annum, or $22.07 an hour.
Wages for medical assistants often differ according to the work environment. Here are only a few examples:
- Outpatient facilities – $33,820 per year, or $16.26 per hour
- Hospitals – $33,590 per year, or $16.15 per hour
- Doctor’s offices – $32,710 per year, or $15.76 per hour
Jobs in This Field
As previously reported, between 2016 and 2026, the medical assistant market is expected to rise by 29 per cent.
This includes the addition of more than 183,900 new physician assistant positions during that period.
Many careers include several specializations and being a physician assistant is a perfect way to apply for a variety of roles in the healthcare field.
Some examples include:
- Specialised Medical Assistant
- EKG Technician
- Hospital Unit or Ward Clerk
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Podiatric Medical Assistant
How to Become a Medical Assistant
As you can see, when you are a licensed medical assistant, there is not too much time or financial commitment involved.
Bearing in mind the fair pay, job security and promotion opportunities, you’re sure to find that the investment is more than worth it.
Still, there are hundreds of training programs all over the country and finding the right one is crucial.
Similarly, medical assistants have a number of certifications and it helps to find out which ones are right for you.
So intend to do quite a bit of work before formally setting out on this career path. As with everything, being aware of the latest work is always a good idea.
We recommend that you evaluate at least 3 or 4 choices before you take a final decision.
Typically doing an online search is the fastest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to bear in mind.
