How Long Is Medical Assistant Training? Guide To Being a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are trained healthcare professionals who work in a variety of positions to help physicians provide patients with the care they need. The role of a medical assistant is critical to helping physicians and other healthcare professionals work efficiently. If you are interested in helping others and are a great multitasker, becoming a certified medical assistant be a rewarding career. In this article, we discuss everything you need to know about becoming a medical assistant including common job duties, salary information, how to become a medical assistant and how long each phase of the training process is.

Medical assistants are trained healthcare professionals who provide administrative and/or clinical support to physicians and other healthcare providers in several different health care settings. The job duties of a medical assistant may vary depending on both the position and the health care setting they work in, but typically include:

Handling scheduling of patient appointments

Greeting patients and escorting them to examination rooms

Coding insurance forms, verifying coverage, obtaining prior-authorizations and submitting claims

Maintaining accurate records and filing in accordance with HIPAA standards

Answering phone calls, responding to patient questions and taking messages for physicians

Taking patient vital signs such as height, weight, pulse, temperature and blood pressure

Collecting information on patient medical history at the beginning of appointments

Collecting tissue specimens and urine and blood samples from patients for lab testing

Dressing wounds and removing sutures

Assisting physicians with patient examinations

Performing simple diagnostic tests such as running basic lab tests and performing EKGs

Sterilizing medical instruments and disposing of contaminated materials

Maintaining patient confidentiality per HIPAA standards

It is important to know that state laws vary about what procedures and tasks a medical assistant is allowed to perform.

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Medical assistants may work in full-time or part-time positions and are typically paid an hourly wage. The salary of a medical assistant may vary based on their level of education and certification, experience, geographic location and the type of medical facility they work for. The national average salary for a medical assistant is .css-1v152rs{border-radius:0;color:#2557a7;font-family:”Noto Sans”,”Helvetica Neue”,”Helvetica”,”Arial”,”Liberation Sans”,”Roboto”,”Noto”,sans-serif;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;-webkit-transition:border-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),background-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),opacity 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-style 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-width 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-radius 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);transition:border-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),background-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),opacity 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-style 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-bottom-width 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),border-radius 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),box-shadow 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1),color 200ms cubic-bezier(0.645, 0.045, 0.355, 1);border-bottom:1px solid;cursor:pointer;}.css-1v152rs:hover{color:#164081;}.css-1v152rs:active{color:#0d2d5e;}.css-1v152rs:focus{outline:none;border-bottom:1px solid;border-bottom-color:transparent;border-radius:4px;box-shadow:0 0 0 1px;}.css-1v152rs:focus:not([data-focus-visible-added]){box-shadow:none;border-bottom:1px solid;border-radius:0;}.css-1v152rs:hover,.css-1v152rs:active{color:#164081;}.css-1v152rs:visited{color:#2557a7;}@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce){.css-1v152rs{-webkit-transition:none;transition:none;}}.css-1v152rs:focus:active:not([data-focus-visible-added]){box-shadow:none;border-bottom:1px solid;border-radius:0;} with a salary range between $7.25 per hour and $27.90 per hour.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects medical assistants will experience a job growth rate of 23% between the years 2018 and 2028. This projected job growth rate is much faster than the average job growth rate for all occupations (5%). This means medical assistants should experience good job stability and are likely to have several career opportunities available to them.

Follow these steps to become a medical assistant:

Earn a high school diploma.

Enroll in a medical assistant program.

Gain relevant experience.

Become a certified medical assistant.

Look for medical assistant positions.

Prepare a resume and apply to medical assistant jobs.

Consider options to advance your career.

The first step toward becoming a medical assistant is to earn your high school diploma or GED certificate. You will need your high school diploma or GED as a minimum educational qualification for medical assistant jobs. Relevant coursework you can take in high school includes anatomy, biology, chemistry, computers and business.

Next, enroll in an accredited medical assistant program. While a high school diploma or GED is the minimum education requirement for a medical assistant, most employers prefer candidates who are certified medical assistants. You will need to complete some form of post-secondary education in a formal medical assistant training program to be eligible for certification. There are many types of medical assistant training programs available. The amount of time it will take you to complete your training program varies depending on the level of education you choose.

There are some medical assistant certificate programs that will take you less than a year to complete. However, you also have the option of pursuing an associate-level degree in medical assisting. While an associate degree will likely take you between 18 months and two years to complete, having this higher level of education can help distinguish you as a stronger candidate when looking for jobs. Having an associate degree will also set you up for pursuing further education and opportunities to advance your career in the future.

Many medical assistant training programs require you to complete a certain amount of clinical experience as part of your training program. However, if your training program does not require you to gain clinical experience, you should still try to get this experience on your own through an internship or volunteer experience. This hands-on experience will give you an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge you have learned in your medical assistant training program and build valuable experience you can add to your resume.

There are several options available for obtaining certification as a medical assistant. Obtaining certification as a medical assistant typically involves passing an exam and paying a fee. A medical assistant certification designation is a nationally-recognized credential when you receive certification from a program that is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

One of the most popular medical assistant certifications is The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) designation offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Other medical assistant certifications include the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) designation offered by American Medical Technologists, the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) designation offered by the National Center for Competency Testing, the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant designation and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) designation offered by the National Healthcareer Association. Each of these designations are accredited by the NCCA.

Once you have earned your medical assistant certification, you can begin looking for open positions as a medical assistant. It is important to search for the positions you are interested in applying to and review the job descriptions before you prepare your resume. The job descriptions will give you valuable information about what each employer is looking for in a qualified candidate.

After you have found the medical assistant jobs you are interested in applying to, you can use the information from the job descriptions to create a resume that is customized to the skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. You can use our online resume builder to prepare a resume that will help you stand out as a strong candidate to recruiters and hiring managers. Once you have finished preparing your resume, you can return to the original job posting and use the online application process to apply to the job.

The following is a list of common jobs a medical assistant may do:

Ward Clerk

Medical Office Assistant

Claims Processor

Clinical Assistant

Phlebotomy Technician

EKG Technician

Claims Examiner

Claims Adjuster

Surgical Technician

Provides administrative and clerical support in a clinical setting such as a hospital. Ward Clerks are assigned to a specific department in the hospital such as the emergency room, intensive care unit or the surgical ward. Ward Clerks are also commonly referred to as Unit Clerks, Ward Secretaries and Unit Secretaries.

: Provides general administrative support to physicians and medical facilities such as coding and filing insurance forms, medical billing, scheduling appointments and clinical procedures such as labs and diagnostic testing, managing patients’ medical records, answering phones, greeting patients and escorting them to exam rooms and maintaining office inventory.

Work for insurance companies processing insurance claims by gathering information from policyholders to verify the accuracy of their claims, preparing paperwork related to each claim and authorizing payment of claims in compliance with the policies and procedures of the insurance company and the policyholder’s contract.

Provides clinical support to physicians and medical facilities such as performing simple diagnostic testing, checking a patient’s vital signs, administering medications and injections, assisting physicians during patient examinations, dressing wounds and removing sutures and providing patient education on diagnosis care and treatment.

Draw blood from patients for a variety of reasons such as blood donation or laboratory testing. Phlebotomy Technicians often work in hospitals, blood banks and other medical facilities. Phlebotomy Technicians are also commonly referred to as Phlebotomists.

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Perform electrocardiogram (EKG) testing on patients by attaching the necessary electrodes and wires to the patient’s chest, arms and legs and running EKG machinery. EKG tests monitor the performance of a patient’s heart to look for possible heart conditions. EKG Technicians often work in hospitals and other medical facilities.

Review insurance claims to verify both the reporting and investigation of claims were processed in compliance with legal standards and an insurance company’s policies and procedures. Claims Examiners may also be responsible for approving or denying insurance claims after they have been processed by a Claims Processor and may assist Claims Adjusters with their role.

Inspect personal injury claims or property damage to determine how much the insurance company should be liable for paying for the policyholder’s loss. Claims Adjusters may inspect physical property such as vehicles and homes, interview claimants and witnesses and do additional research such as reading police reports to determine the value of a claim.

: Assist surgeons with surgical procedures by preparing operating rooms and patients for surgery, sterilizing equipment, transporting patients to the operating room and helping physicians during the surgical procedure.