Medical Assistant Career Overview
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If you want a job in the medical field that offers flexibility, a competitive salary, and career advancement opportunities, you should consider pursuing a career as a medical assistant (MA). An MA performs both clinical and administrative tasks that are an integral part of maintaining smooth operations at any medical facility.
Keep reading to learn more about what you can expect from a career in medical assisting.
About Medical Assisting
If you’re considering pursuing a medical assistant career, it’s important to know what will be expected of you. Take a look at the education, training, and skills you’ll need as well as what your responsibilities will be.
Education & Training
Education and training requirements for MA jobs generally look pretty similar. Here’s what you’ll need to do before applying for an exciting new job:
- Complete a training program that includes opportunities to earn a certification (most will include an externship)
- Pass an industry certification or registration exam to become a:
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
Once you have a couple of years working as an MA under your belt, you can choose a medical specialty that interests you. Choosing a specialty will give you more opportunities for learning, hands-on experience, and career advancement.
Skills
What skills should a medical assistant have?
To be a medical assistant, you have to be detail-oriented, committed to accuracy, empathic, and adaptable. Good interpersonal skills are a must. You must also be able to multitask. You should be well-organized, capable of prioritizing and problem-solving, and able to collaborate with teammates.
What are some hard skills for medical assistant?
In medical assisting, “hard” skills may include understanding injections, taking vital signs, scheduling, patient preparation, and reading an electrocardiogram (EKG).
While this list isn’t exhaustive, medical employers look for the following skills in potential employees:
- Detail-oriented
- Administrative capabilities
- Effective communication
- Organized
- Time management
- Technologically savvy
- Excellent customer service
Responsibilities
What are the responsibilities of a medical assistant?
Any medical assistant role will include both clinical and administrative responsibilities. Below, you’ll find a few examples of duties that fall into each of these two categories.
What is a clinical responsibility of a medical assistant?
- Measure vitals
- Gather patient medical history
- Help perform patient exams
- Conduct lab work
What are the Administrative responsibilities of a medical assistant?
- Schedule patient appointments
- Answer phone calls
- Manage patient records and organize paperwork
- Oversee the patient prescription process
Career Overview
Where an MA Can Work?
Where is the best place to work as a medical assistant?
What is the easiest place to work as a medical assistant?
One perk of a medical assistant career is that you have a range of workplace options:
- Hospital
- Outpatient clinic
- Urgent care clinic
- Private practice
- Specialty medical facility
Depending on which facilities near you are hiring, you can take your pick based on personal preference.
Opportunities After COVID
How the Coronavirus Pandemic Affects the Role of a Medical Assistant?
While COVID has negatively impacted some industries, it has spurred continual growth in the medical field. As facilities navigate the pandemic more effectively, patient capacities will increase, and hospitals will hire more medical personnel.
With the enforcement of safety guidelines, more patients feel comfortable seeking medical care again. The United States also has a growing elderly population which has increased the demand for skilled medical workers.
Enroll At Florida Academy
You can’t choose a better education and training program than the Comprehensive Medical Assisting (CMA) program at Florida Academy (FA). If you’re ready to jumpstart your career in medical assisting, enroll today.
This accredited program prepares students for successful careers in medical assisting by combining classroom instruction taught by industry professionals with hands-on practice via a professional externship. Additionally, the CMA program includes skin care training to prepare you for jobs in medical facilities and for physician that specialize in skin conditions. Apply today, and you can complete our 61-credit hour CMA program in as little as ten months.