Medical assisting is currently one of the most thriving careers in the healthcare industry and for good reason. Right now, medical assisting is one of the few careers with a job outlook that is continuously booming. The need for healthcare professionals is something that will always be in demand, especially as new health related issues arise in society. So if a career focused entirely on helping people with their health related issues sounds good to you, here’s how to become a medical assistant.
How do you become a medical assistant?
Medical assistants usually require a high school diploma or the equivalent to that which would be a GED. While the BLS says you can jump into the job and get on-the-job training while only being a high school graduate – it is a very unlikely case. Most medical assistants go to Technical Schools or certificate programs in order the get specialized training that sets them apart from the rest of the competition. Remember this is a profession not just a part-time job, and while there is always a need for medical assistants, employers want people they can depend on and who know what they are doing.
While most states do not require certification, like I said, most employers will be looking for it because they do not have the time to train you on the job. The standard certification is the CMA which stands for Certified Medical Assistant from the American Association of Medical Assistants. Most technical colleges and certification programs will help you study/register for the test, and if you excelled well in your respective program you should pass with flying colors.
What do they do?
If you are wondering what a medical assistant does because you are interested in the job, just know that they are a cross between a nurse and an administrative assistant. An MA does very basic nursing functions like taking blood pressure and temperature, but for the most part they keep track of records and schedule appointments.