How to Get Certified as a Medical Assistant in Florida?
Medical assistants are usually the first people we encounter when we enter a medical facility. The duties of a medical assistant could be clinical or administrative in nature. Medical assistants are responsible for checking your vitals, performing blood tests, and working on medical reports as well.
Requirements to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida
There are some requirements you will have to meet to become a medical assistant in Florida. Employers expect them to have certain qualities. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants are expected to:
- Have analytical skills
- Be detail oriented
- Have strong interpersonal skills
- Have strong technical skills
Steps to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida
- Get a high school diploma
If you want to be a medical assistant, the first step is to get a high school diploma with focus on subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Anatomy, and Math.
- Get a degree or certification
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the entry level education needed to become a medical assistant is a post secondary non-degree award. After you get your high school education, it is advised that you get enrolled into a certificate program or get an associate’s degree. The American Association of Medical Assistants provides the Certified Medical Assistant Qualification, and the American Medical Technologists provides the Registered Medical Assistant certificate. Your certification will eventually expire and you will have to get it renewed after 5 years.
- Apply for jobs
Job opportunities are expected to grow within the medical field. After you are done getting the right qualifications, it is important that you start applying for jobs you are interested in. Medical assistants may be able to find employment in hospitals and offices of physicians.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida?
The amount of time it takes to become a medical assistant depends on the career path you choose. After getting your high school diploma, if you choose to get an associate’s degree, it will take you 2 years. A bachelor’s degree will take you 4 years to complete and a certificate program could take anywhere from 6 months to one year. Your on-the-job training could also take a few months to a year. In total, it should take 1 year to 5 years to become a medical assistant.
How Much Does a Medical Assistant make in Florida?
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2018 data, medical assistants in Florida made a mean annual wage of $32,870 and the hourly mean wage was $15.80. The number of people working as medical assistants in Florida alone as of May 2018 was 55,330. Job prospects in the industry on a national level are expected to grow at nearly four times the average rate at 29%. A new addition of 183,900 jobs is expected between the years 2016 to 2026.
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