Medical Assistant - Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants work alongside doctors and nurses, performing routine administrative and clinical tasks. Their work helps keep a practice running smoothly. Although they may work in hospitals, the majority of medical assistants work in doctors' offices.
 
Medical assistance is a fast-growing field requiring only a year or two of formal education. Medical assistant jobs are an ideal choice for those looking for an entry-level position in healthcare.

Job Description

So what is a medical assistant? Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative duties in a health practitioner's office. Their duties vary, depending on the size of the office and the doctor's specialty. Common administrative job duties include:
  • coordinating hospital admissions and lab services
  • filling out insurance forms
  • updating and filing patients' medical records.
 
Clinical job duties vary by state, but common tasks include:
  • assisting physicians
  • collecting and preparing lab specimens
  • explaining treatment procedures
  • performing basic lab tests
  • recording vital signs
  • sterilizing medical instruments
  • taking medical history.
 
In addition to these tasks, medical assistants may also prepare examining room equipment, purchase supplies, and clean waiting and examining rooms.

Salary Guide

Medical assistant salary varies widely depending on location, experience and skill level. Median earnings for medical assistants in 2006 were $26,290 per year. The middle 50 percent of medical assistants earned between $21,970 and $31,210.

Education and Training

Potential medical assistants have three options for completing their education and training requirements. The first is by earning a certificate or diploma at a vocational school or community college. This process takes one year. The second option is to earn an associate's degree from a community college. Required courses include:
  • anatomy
  • bookkeeping and accounting
  • diagnostic procedures
  • first aid
  • insurance processing
  • lab techniques
  • medical terminology
  • physiology
  • typing and transcriptions.
 
The third option is on-the-job training, without formal education. This practice is less common than it used to be. Candidates for on-the-job training need a high school diploma and ideally should have some volunteer experience in the healthcare field.
 
Certification is not required, but many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants. Medical assistants can earn certifications in a specialty, such as podiatry, optometry or ophthalmology.

Prior Work Experience

Medical assistant jobs are entry-level healthcare positions. Many assistants find jobs soon after earning their certificate or degree. Volunteer experience in the healthcare field is a plus, as is any former position that involved working with the public.

Career Advancement

Medical assistant employment is expected to grow much faster than average through 2016. Job prospects are excellent, especially for those with formal education or training.
 
Advancement opportunities are plentiful for ambitious medical assistants. Those wishing to remain in the healthcare field may continue their education, studying to become doctors or nurses. Others may choose to teach medical assisting or aspire toward managerial positions in healthcare administration.

Related Associations and Groups

  • American Association of Medical Assistants
  • American Medical Technologists
  • National Healthcareer Association.
 
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