Medical Assistant Career Education
Career Prospects
The job outlook for this medical professional is very good. These highly trained and multifaceted professionals are key to managing a medical facility efficiently and smoothly because of their broad range of knowledge about medical practices and their skill in the office or clinical environment.
Job Description
Various Duties
Medical Administration Assistant duties vary on a daily basis. However, it is a good idea to take a look at the multitude of tasks that they might complete daily to grasp the importance of their job. Some of the duties performed by the trained Medical Administration Assistant might include the following.
- Taking and recording the patient's medical history
- Taking the patient's vital signs and recording
- Preparing patients for medical examination
- Preparing and giving patients injections requested by a doctor
- Scheduling patient's appointments
- Preparing lab work
- Preparing patient's medical records
Places of Employment
The graduate of the medical program should find job opportunities in medical offices, medical clinics, medical laboratories, government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, educational institutions, hospitals, surgical centers, and more. It is expected that the job opportunities for the Medical Administration Assistant will continue to grow well into the future. This is due to the aging population and the growing requirement for highly skilled people to handle the broad scope of tasks required in the medical office and clinical settings.
Important Medical Assistant Certifications
CMA Certification
The CMA (AAMA) credential designates a medical assistant who has achieved certification through the Certifying Board of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). The CMA has been educated and tested in a wide scope of general, clinical, and administrative responsibilities as outlined in the Occupational Analysis of the CMA (AAMA).
RMA Credential
The Registered Medical Assistant credential, or RMA, is offered through the American Medical Technologists (AMT). Candidates must meet one of these requirements: recent graduate of an accredited program, recent graduate of a medical program through the United States Armed Forces, five years of experience as a medical assistant, meet requirements for instruction of a medical assistant training program, or prove completion of another approved medical assistant certification.
How Much Does a Trained Medical Assistant Make?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, a trained medical assistant mean salary was $15.79 per hour or $32,850 per year. As with any occupation, a medical assistant salary is dependent on the job, employer location, and level of experience. Medical assistant salary is usually implemented in the form of hourly wages, which will increase based on skill level, knowledge, and experience.