A Glimpse into Medical Assistant Education
Job Growth and Certification Requirements for this Health Care Career
The need for medical assistants in health care is one of the fastest growing careers in the country. The demand for medical assistants is expected to increase by 35 percent between now and 2016, which is faster than normal when compared with other careers (Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Handbook, 2008-2009).
Along with being one of the top ten most demanded careers in the health care industry, medical assistants are also one of the top ten careers expected to benefit the most from the president’s economic stimulus plan (MSN Careers, "15 Jobs the Stimulus Plan May Boost", April 15, 2009).
Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. Although they are sometimes confused with physician assistants they do not examine, diagnose, or treat patients. Their duties are primarily administrative in nature.
Duties of medical assistants include updating and filing patients’ medical records, filling out insurance forms, and arranging for hospital admissions and laboratory services. They also perform tasks less specific to medical settings such as answering telephones, greeting patients, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, and handling billing and bookkeeping.
Paying for Medical Assistant School
Students in certified medical assistant schools are eligible to receive financial aid from federal sources and other free sources of free money to pay for their education. Additional alternative funding is available through unsecured bank and Sallie Mae loans.
Entry Level Education for Medical Assistants
Medical assistant education programs are offered in vocational schools, technical schools, and community or junior colleges. Education to become a medical assistant typically lasts one year for a certificate program or two years to earn an associate degree in applied science. Some education requirements may be waived with transferrable skills and education.
Program courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, typing, transcription, recordkeeping, accounting, medical coding, and insurance processing. As part of medical assistant programs students learn laboratory techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical principles, the administration of medications, and first aid. Students also study office practices, patient relations, medical law, ethics, and complete internships or externships.
Although there are no certification requirements for medical assistants, most physicians' offices and other health care facilities prefer to only hire certified medical assistants (CMA). The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers medical assistant certifications, which must be renewed every five years. The AAMA Certification/Recertification Examination is offered year-round. Only schools offering programs which prepare for this certification are recommended for enrollment, because the school must meet AAMA standards.
Continuing Education for Medical Assistants
After earning a CMA certification, the next step is earning a registered medical assistant (RMA) certification. American Medical Technologists (AMT) is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) for awarding the RMA certification. The RMA certification must be renewed every three years. Only schools or continuing education programs which lead to a RMA certification are recommended for enrollment, because the school or program must meet AMT and NCCA standards.
Making Connections with Medical Assistant Education
A medical assistant is typically the first person patients meet when they visit their doctor’s office. As a member of a patient’s health care team, medical assistants collect current health care information to help provide the best health care services.
Because of the rapid growth of this career field, graduates from programs which lead to becoming a certified medical assistant will have little difficulty finding employment. Entry into this career field provides additional opportunities to branch out within the health care industry with additional education.
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