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Medical assistant training options are available in two formats – through a training program or through on-the-job training. Medical assistants are professionals who perform administrative and clinical duties in a healthcare facility. Their job description can vary according to location, size of practice and specialty. Typically, they are responsible for recording patient information, measuring vital signs, assisting physicians with patient examinations, schedule patient appointments and administering injections or medications as directed by physicians.
If you want to know what kind of medical assistant training is required to enter into this field, you ought to continue reading. The following article provides details about training for medical assistants, medical assistant salary and why you should become a medical assistant.

Search Medical Assistant Programs

Get information on Medical Assistant programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

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Medical Assistant Training Program

There are two ways to get medical assistant training:

  1. Education

You can go for the education path by enrolling into a community college, technical school or a vocational school. Various medical assistant schools offer training programs in the form of short, quick courses. These programs typically lead to a certificate or diploma. You may also choose programs that lead to an associate’s degree. Generally, medical assistant programs would cover topics involving a study of anatomy and an understanding of medical terminology.

To enroll in a medical assistant course, you would need to have at least a high school diploma or equivalent. Students who are interested in this field are advised to take courses in chemistry, biology, anatomy and even business and computers.

  1. Job

You can also get medical assistant training through on-the-job training. Senior medical assistants or physicians might offer apprenticeship or externship programs for budding professionals in this field. On-the-job training would help you understand the inner workings of a healthcare facility from the point of view of a medical assistant. It would also help in learning the names of the commonly used instruments, patient interactions and routine tasks that keep the facility running smoothly. This kind of training program can take up to a few months and can even be a year-long process.

Medical Assistant Salary

According to 2018 data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants made an annual median income of $33,610, which equals $16.16 per hour. The top-paying states for medical assistants are as follows:

State Annual Mean Wage
Alaska $45,490
District of Columbia $42,010
Washington $41,340
Minnesota $40,320
Massachusetts $40,270

The state with the highest level of employment for medical assistants was California, with 92,960 jobs. Texas comes in at number two with 59,930 jobs, followed by Florida, with 55,330 jobs.

Why Should I Become a Medical Assistant?

There are numerous reasons why you would want to get into this field of medicine. A few of them are listed below:

  1. High Growth

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation for medical assistants is expected to experience a 29% growth in the years from 2016 to 2026. This means an addition of 183,900 jobs in these years.

  1. Easy Entry

As compared to other medical professions, you will not have to spend a lot of time getting into the job market for medical assistants. All you need is a postsecondary nondegree award.

  1. Less Costly

If you are interested in the field of medicine, but do not want a degree that costs an arm and a leg, then this is just the path for you. It is significantly less costly than typical med school options.

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