Medical assistants are the workhorse support staff of the clinical world, found in the offices of doctors, chiropractors, podiatrists and other health care professionals. Although their duties vary widely between states and individual workplaces, most perform both administrative and routine clinical tasks. Training is available on the job or through formal courses at vocational and community colleges.
It's possible to begin as a medical assistant with little or no background in health care. Many offices will hire staff with only a high school diploma, if they have a suitable employment history and adequate computer or organizational skills. Assistants hold the primary responsibility for interacting with the practice's patients. This includes scheduling and confirming appointments, maintaining accurate patient records, maintaining up-to-date contact information and all the organizational details common to any workplace. As they become familiar with the practice's procedures, assistants might also take on clinical duties such as cleaning equipment, taking and recording vital signs, or administering flu shots and other routine injections.
Many vocational and community colleges offer formal training programs for medial assistants, on either a classroom or distance-education basis. Some are certificate or diploma programs lasting one year or less, while last two years and award an associate degree. Associate degree programs might incorporate related material such as medical record keeping or billing and coding, making their graduates more valuable to potential employers. With the advent of electronic health records and a corresponding emphasis on computer skills, this reduces the degree of training that needs to be conducted on the job.
There is no requirement for state licensing of medical assistants in general, though some states require assistants to pass an examination before performing some tasks, such as X-rays. Medical assistants who wish to demonstrate a high level of competency can pursue voluntary certification through a number of industry bodies, including the National Council for Competency Testing, American Association of Medical Assistants, National Healthcareer Association and American Medical Technologists. Most require either formal training or a specified level of experience in the field or a combination of the two.
The health care industry is expected to continue its rapid growth over the next several years, and this includes strong job growth for medical assistants. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projected a 31 percent increase in employment for MAs between 2010 and 2020, more than twice the average for all occupations. Wages will vary broadly with factors such as training, experience, geographic location and workplace. The bureau reported an average salary of $30,170 in its May 2011 figures, with the lowest-paid 10 percent earning up to $20,880 and the top 10 percent reporting salaries of $40,810 or higher.
- American Medical Association: Health Care Careers Directory --- Medical Assistant
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook -- Medical Assistants
- National Center for Competency Testing: Certification Information
- American Medical Technologists: Medical Assistant
- American Association of Medical Assistants: Become a CMA (AAMA)
- National Healthcareer Association: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment Statistics -- Medical Assistants
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