Medical Assistant Careers and Training Programs
Medical Assistant Career Overview
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the health care sector to be the fastest growing industry over the next ten years. Medical assisting is the fastest growing career in the health care sector. People are living longer, the population is growing at a very rapid pace resulting in higher demand for health care services for the young and old alike. Medical assisting careers have become popular due to the short amount of time it takes to gain the education and certification needed to begin a well paying job in a physician practice or hospital setting. In fact a lot of individuals first become medical assistants before they become an RN. Roughly 60% of medical assistants, also known as MAs, work in a physician practice setting while the remaining 40% are in specialty clinics, hospital settings, cancer and dialysis care clinics, blood banks, school offices, rehabilitation, correctional facilities and more. A relatively new area for Medical assistants is in health spas or medical practices where Botox injections and other cosmetic procedures are being administered. The pay in these practices is very good because of the specialty setting and much of the business is cash. The BLS forecasts that the best opportunities for medical assistants will be for those that are formally trained in vocational programs lasting 6 months to a year or in 2 year programs resulting in an associate degree and those holding a national certification in medical assisting. Click here to find an accredited Medical Assisting school near you. Many medical assistants advance their careers with further education and move into office manager roles as well as nursing positions.
Medical Assistant Job Description
The job description and duties for medical assistants vary depending on office size and location. In a smaller or more rural office a medical assistant may take responsibility for the front office administrative tasks as well as the back office clinical tasks, such as drawing blood, taking vitals, rooming patients, and administering injections. In a larger practice the front office and back office are divided and the medical assistant role will primarily cover the clinical aspect of the practice. Speaking of clinical duties for medical assistants, while medical assistants are in school they are trained in phlebotomy, EKG and X-ray procedures. A number of states are requiring that medical assistants have a specific license to perform phlebotomy, EKG and X-rays.
Medical Assistant Salaries
The BLS reported median annual salaries for medical assistants in May, 2004. One can expect these salaries to be a bit higher due to the growth of the health care industry and the rising demand for medical assistants across the country in more recent years. BLS Medical Assistant Salaries:
Medical Assistants in Outpatient Centers $25360
Medical Assistants in General and Surgical Hospitals $25,160
Medical Assistants in Physician Offices $24,930.
A recent job posting (June, 2007) in Santa Ana, CA stated pay of $12.50 to $15.00 an hour and required at least one year of work experience. Salary.com reports that the median annual salary for medical assistants in the United States is $27,525. According to payscale.com, California has the highest median annual salary for medical assistants ($31,708) followed closely by New York ($29,461). According to indeed.com, as of June 7, 2007, the average annual medical assistant salary in the United States was $32,000. This should give you a ballpark figure of what salary to expect as a medical assistant. These numbers will vary depending on size and location of facility as well as your years of experience and certification.
The first step to take toward a medical assisting career is to choose an accredited medical assistant program. Kaplan University, Everest Institute and Everest College are emerging as leaders in the medical assistant training field. Each are well respected and well known in the health care community. Request free information from Everest College, Everest Institute and Kaplan University medical assisting programs today.
Schools Offering Medical Assisting Programs
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Kaplan University: The Kaplan University Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting degree program will prepare you online to become a professional medical assistant. It will also qualify you to seek national certification and licensing. The Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recommendation of the Curriculum Review Board (CRB) of the American Association of Medial Assistants Endowment (AAMAE). Graduates are eligible to take the Certified Medical Assistant exam, given by the American Association of Medical Assistants; or the Registered Medical Assistant exam, offered by the American Medical Technologists.*
Everest College: The objective of the Everest College Medical Assisting program is to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level positions as Medical Assistants. Gain employment in a hospital, clinic, doctor´s office, nursing home, medical supply business, home healthcare agency, insurance company or pharmaceutical company. Review the Everest College campus locations and request free information from a campus near you. If you do not see a campus near you check out the Everest Institute campus locations below.
Arizona: Mesa, Phoenix
California: Alhambra, Anaheim, City of Industry, Gardena, Hayward, Los Angeles (Wilshire), Ontario, Reseda, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose, West Los Angeles
Colorado: Colorado Springs, Denver/Thornton, Denver/Aurora
Illinois: Burr Ridge, Chicago, Merrionette Park, North Aurora, Skokie
Indiana: Merrillville
Missouri: Springfield, St. Louis/Earth City
Oregon: Portland
Texas: Dallas, Fort Worth
Utah: Salt Lake City
Virginia: Arlington, Tyson’s Corner/McLean
Washington: Bremerton, Everett, Renton, Tacoma, Vancouver
Everest Institute: Everest Institute’s Medical Assisting program provides graduates with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level positions as Medical Assistants. Medical assistant education at Everest Institute includes hands-on training in patient care and communication, clinical assisting, pharmacology, medical insurance, bookkeeping, health sciences, cardiopulmonary, electrocardiography, laboratory procedures, Endocrinology, reproduction and therapeutic care.
Check out the Everest Institute campus locations and request free information from a campus near you.
Georgia: Atlanta, Dekalb, Jonesboro, Marietta, Norcross
Massachusetts: Brighton, Chelsea
Maryland: Silver Spring
Michigan: Dearborn, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Southfield
Minnesota: Eagan
New Jersey: South Plainfield
New York: Rochester
Ohio: Gahanna/Columbus
Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh
Texas: Austin, Houston/Greenpoint, Houston/Hobby, Houston/Bissonnet, San Antonio
Virginia: Chesapeake, Newport News
West Virginia: Cross Lanes
WyoTech: The objective of the Medical Assisting program at WyoTech is to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge that will enable them to qualify for entry-level positions as Medical Assistants. Graduates of the WyoTech medical assisting training program will be prepared to maintain the highest quality of patient care; take vital signs, run laboratory and diagnostic tests, all while utilizing your organization, communication and management skills. Request free enrollment, financial aid, tuition and program information from the WyoTech medical assisting program today.
WyoTech Campus Locations:
California: Long Beach
