More Information About Medical Assistant
- The medical assisting career has a positive job outlook
- Duties for a medical assistant can range from clerical tasks, to assisting with patient care.
- The salary for a medical assistant ranges from $20,000 to $34,000 annually.
What does a medical assistant do?
Typically, a medical assistant, otherwise known as a medical office clerk, has a 40-hour week. Work duties can vary according to the health care office, but usually responsibilities include answering telephones, greeting patients, updating medical records, coordinating patient admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping. In more specialized medical offices, assistants are trained to do clinical tasks such as giving medications and performing X-rays.
What is the job outlook for a medical assistant?The need for medical assistants is expected to increase greatly over the next 20 years. However, job prospects are best for medical assistants with 1-2 years of formal training or experience, particularly those with certification. Medical assistants who are dependable and show initiative may advance into a teaching or office manager position.
How much money will a medical assistant make?The average yearly salary for a medical assistant is $25,000, with a range from $20,000 to $30,000, depending on experience and location. Health and retirement benefits vary by workplace.
How does someone become a medical assistant?Aspiring medial assistants can get their foot in the door by signing up for a hospital volunteer position. Most employers look for applicants with prior health care experience and specialized medical assistant schooling. Medical assistant programs range from 1 to 2 years at a vocational-technical high school, or community college. A good program should be accredited and include a practical internship experience in a doctor's office, hospital, or other health care office. Some states do not require medical assistants to be licensed, but most employers prefer to hire medical office clerks who have passed a national certification exam. Specialized medical assistants, who assist with clinical procedures such as X-rays or giving injections, may be required to have further training and certification. These requirements vary by state.
What are the leading schools offering programs in Medical Assistant ?- University of Phoenix - Healthcare Founded in 1976, University of Phoenix is the largest accredited university in the U.S. The healthcare programs offered include bachelor's degrees in health administration and nursing, master's degrees in healthcare management, nursing, and healthcare education, and a doctoral degree in healthcare administration. Many healthcare professionals find a way to continue working in their field, while they earn a degree in as few as 2 years. ( More Info )
- Keiser University eCampus Keiser University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, 404.679.4501, to award associate, bachelor's and master's degrees in the fields of Accounting, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Paralegal, Computer Networking, Medical Assisting and Medical Administration. ( More Info )
- San Joaquin Valley College Online San Joaquin Valley College Online offers certificate and Associate Degree education via 24/7 accessible online classes in as little as 9 months for certificate and 18 months for Associate Degrees in Business Administration, Clinical Medical Assisting, HR Administration, Medical Office Administration, Project Management, or Construction Management. ( More Info )
- Penn Foster Career School - Healthcare Penn Foster Career School is one of the world's largest distance learning institutions, offers Diploma programs in the fields of Health Information Management, Dental Assisting, Medical Office Administration, Medical Assisting, Medical Billing & Coding, Occupational Therapy Aid, Pharmacy Tech and Veterinary Tech. ( More Info )
