Medical assistants are responsible for both administrative and clinical duties in physician's offices, hospitals, and other health care facilities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), these health care professionals help to check vital signs, schedule patient appointments and enter patient information into Electronic Health Records (EHRs), among other duties. Because the health care industry is necessitating more widespread use of EHRs for a greater number of patients, medical assistants may see good job prospects, according to the BLS.
Medical Assistant Specializations
At a medical assistant school, students learn how to perform both administrative and clinical tasks. However, after graduation, professionals in the field may go on to specialize in one of the following areas.
- Administrative medical assistants focus on tasks that don't involve direct patient care. They may answer the phone, schedule appointments and update patient medical records.
- Clinical medical assistants have a hands-on job that can include preparing patients for x-rays, sterilizing medical instruments and performing basic laboratory tests. State laws can affect what does a medical assistant do in this specialization.
- Specialized medical assistants work for health care specialists. They may be employed by ophthalmologists, podiatrists or other medical practices that focus on a specific type of care.
How to Become a Medical Assistant
While everyone's career path can be different, the following steps are often followed by medical assistants:
- Earn a high school diploma.
- Enroll in a medical assistant school. Some employers may provide on-the-job training to high school graduates, but most are looking for applicants with a medical assistant associate degree or certificate.
- Get certified. There are a number of online medical assistant certification programs that can help you demonstrate your expertise in the field.
As part of your education, you'll need to become familiar with the following subjects:
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Medical Terminology
Degree programs
Medical assistant schools generally offer two levels of education.
- Certificate/Diploma: These short term programs can be completed in less than a year and provide the foundation of the skills and knowledge needed to work as a medical assistant. Students will learn everything from anatomy basics to how to administer injections.
- Associate Degree: A medical assistant associate degree traditionally takes two years to complete, but some accelerated programs can be finished in as little as 16 months. An associate degree will cover the same fundamentals as a diploma or certificate but may provide added instruction in general education topics. An associate degree can be a good choice for anyone who thinks they may want to someday earn a bachelor's degree.
Medical Assistant Schools
Community colleges and technical schools offer medical assistant programs at both levels. Online medical assistant schools are also available, and these can make it easy for busy adults to finish their education while working or raising a family. Medical assistant online schools may use a variety of digital resources such as discussion forums, e-textbooks and multi-media presentations to teach lessons. Students can often log-in at whatever time is convenient for them to review course material.
Certification for Medical Assistants
Upon completion of an associate degree, certificate or diploma program, students may choose to pursue professional certification. Although there are no federal requirements for certification, potential employers may require graduates of medical assistant programs to hold one or more certifications for employment. The following are some examples.
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) from American Medical Technologists
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) from the National Healthcareer Association
Each certification has its own set of requirements, including education, clinical hours and examination. Individuals interested in certification after graduation should contact each certifying organization to receive an up-to-date list of certification requirements.
Career Advancement
Completing online medical assistant certification programs is one way to advance a career. Employers may be seeking workers who have a specific certification or specialty. Other workers in the field choose to advance their career by going back to school to become nurses or physician assistants.
Best Medical Assistant Programs for 2019-20
When enrolling in a medical assisting school, you hope it will offer the education and resources needed for career success. We looked at data from the U.S. Department of Education and National Center for Education Statistics to find those schools with strong student success outcomes, affordable tuition and flexible learning options. The following are the top medical assisting programs according to our methodology.
Named one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute, Northeast Alabama Community College works to make its programs affordable and accessible. The school notes its tuition is only 50-60 percent of the amount charged by many four-year schools. What's more, low and no-interest loans may be available to students enrolled at Northeast Alabama Community College.
Medical assisting programs at NACC: Students can earn either a short-term certificate or an associate degree in medical assisting at Northeast. The associate degree program is approved by the American Medical Technologists Association, and there are three options for short-term certificates: general, phlebotomist and medical transcription. Graduates may be eligible for certification as Registered Medical Assistants, Clinical Medical Administrative Assistants or Certified Clinical Medical Assistants.
Lanier Technical College is part of the Technical College System of Georgia and enrolls more than 5,000 students. The school is focused on meeting the workforce needs of area employers and provides career-technical, continuing education and adult education services. Lanier Technical College offers classes at five campus locations as well as online.
Medical assisting programs at LTC: The medical assisting program at LTC can result in a certificate, diploma or associate degree. The medical administrative assistant certificate covers two semesters and doesn't include clinical instruction. However, the diploma and associate degree programs are more comprehensive and include an externship to provide real-world experience. Students sit for either the Certified Medical Assisting exam or the Registered Medical Assisting exam upon graduation.
For more than 45 years, Stanly Community College has worked to meet the needs of students in North Carolina. The school offers one-year diplomas and certificates as well as two-year associate degrees. Classes are held at five locations, and some courses may be offered online as well. In terms of support services, students have access to career advising, a student success center, writing center and counseling services.
Medical assisting programs at SCC: There are medical assisting certificate, diploma and associate degree options at SCC. The diploma program is accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, and all associate degree students receive a diploma first before continuing on with their degree program. Graduates are eligible to become Certified Medical Assistants.
Founded in 1947, Laredo Community College is the oldest institution of higher learning in its city. The historic Fort McIntosh campus is located where a military camp was established in the mid-19th Century. While some of the buildings on campus reflect that bygone era, Laredo Community College has renovated and updated its facilities and uses the latest technology to educate its students for the careers of tomorrow.
Medical assisting programs at LC: The medical assistant program at LC offers a certificate and an associate degree. There is an enhanced certificate in coding available as well. The curriculum at LC covers both administrative and clinical duties. What's more, students receive real-world experience through clinical rotations. Graduates may be eligible for national certification exams.
Carrington College specializes in education programs for health care workers. The school offers hands-on training, and students use industry standard technology in their classes. Carrington College operates campuses in eight states, and its San Jose location has nine program options. The college has a fixed tuition promise that means rates are locked in for active students for the duration of their program.
Medical assisting programs at Carrington: You can earn a medical assisting certificate from Carrington in less than one year or an associate degree in less than two years. The school's medical assisting program covers both front office administrative duties and clinical tasks. Students may have access to externships, clinical rotations or other opportunities for fieldwork. The Carrington career services office is available to help graduates find employment.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is a relatively young institution. It was formed with the merger of two other technical colleges is 2009 and is part of the Technical College System of Georgia. However, it hasn't taken long for Georgia Northwestern to gain a reputation for quality academics and a supportive learning environment.
Medical assisting programs at GNTC: The medical assisting program at GNTC can result in either a diploma or an associate degree. The curriculum for each covers administrative and clinical duties and prepares students for entry-level positions in the field. For those who only want to do administrative work, GNTC offers a medical front office assistant certificate that can be earned 100 percent online. It is also eligible for free tuition through the HOPE Career Grant.
As Indiana's only full-fledged community college, Ivy Tech Community College offers comprehensive degree programs at more than 40 locations statewide. It has an affordable tuition rate and small class sizes. In addition to its campus-based programs, more than 1,000 courses are available online. Ivy Tech Community College was founded in 1963 and contains seven degree-granting schools.
Medical assisting programs at Ivy Tech: While Ivy Tech has open admissions, its medical assisting program is selective. Accepted students can earn a certificate in three semesters or an associate degree in four semesters. Certificates may be free for some students thanks to the Next Level Jobs program. Ivy Tech stresses hands-on learning, and graduates should be prepared to sit for the examination to become Certified Medical Assistants.
With more than 100 years of technical education experience, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College has a proven track record of student success. The school notes 94 percent of its graduates are employed within six months of graduation, and 98% of students are satisfied or very satisfied with their training experience. What's more, Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College is known for being military-friendly and has been named one of the top 150 community colleges in the nation by the Aspen Institute.
Medical assisting programs at WITC: WITC offers a medical assistant technical diploma that can be earned in one year. Students complete a 6-week clinical office practicum to gain real-world experience, and more than 95 percent of WITC's graduates pass the professional certification exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants.
Pamlico Community College has regularly found itself included in rankings of the best community colleges in the country. It's a military-friendly school that was named one of the top 150 community colleges for 2019 by the Aspen Institute. With a 9:1 student-faculty ratio, personalized attention is a hallmark of an education at Pamlico Community College.
Medical assisting programs at PCC: The medical assisting program at PCC results in a diploma. The curriculum teaches the skills needed for entry-level jobs in the field, and students should be prepared to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant exam. Ninety percent of students who have sat for the exam passed it on their first try, and PCC reports the medical assisting program has had a 100 percent graduate satisfaction rate over the past five years.
Program Costs and Financial Aid
Skills and Qualities for Medical Assistants
It takes more than book smarts to be successful in this field. Good medical assistants excel because they have the following skills and abilities.
- Active Listening: Medical assistants are often responsible for meeting with patients at the start of a visit. They must be able to listen carefully to patient concerns and ask appropriate questions so they can relay accurate information to a physician or other health care professional.
- Service Orientation: If you want to be a medical assistant, you need to love helping others. Having a service orientation means actively looking for ways you can be of assistance.
- Active Learning: Medicine is an evolving field, and medical assistants need to be able to learn and adapt as needed.
- Oral Expression: Medical assistants may need to answer questions or offer instruction to patients and being able to communicate clearly and effectively is essential to the job.
- Near Vision: A medical assistant may need to type data into electronic health records or read displays when collecting vital signs. Both require clear vision.
Career Outlook and Salary Information for Medical Assistants
The future appears bright for workers in this field, but medical assistant salary can vary depending on a person's education, experience and certification. However, you can use the national numbers below as a guideline for what to expect.
Likewise, job opportunities for medical assistants may depend on several factors. Those who live near major medical facilities or hospital systems may have the best prospects. The chart below shows national expectations for the occupation's growth.
Career | Total Employment | Average Salary | Projected Job Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Assistants | 712,430 | $35,720 | 22.6% |
Professional Resources for Medical Assistants
There are several organizations devoted to promoting and assisting the medical assistant profession. They include the following.
- American Association of Medical Assistants - The AAMA is the only association dedicated exclusively to medical assistants. It was founded in 1956 and offers certification, continuing education and other resources to professionals in the field.
- American Registry of Medical Assistants - The ARMA is a private, credentialing organization for medical assistants.
- American Medical Technologists - AMT offers certifications for a number of health care professionals, including medical assistants.