Requirements to Be a Medical Assistant
A medical assistant is a health care professional who performs front and back office duties that help organize and regulate a medical clinic or office.
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Facts
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A medical assistant is employed in a physician's office, clinic or hospital. A medical assistant is responsible for administrative or clinical duties and is trained to maintain patient files, record vitals, keep records, complete insurance forms, schedule appointments, prepare laboratory tests and talk to patients about the physician's health care instructions.
Education
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A medical assistant career begins with a high school diploma or equivalent and graduation from an accredited medical assistant program taught by a vocational school, college, university or community college. Medical assistant program courses consist of both administrative and clinical classes such as bookkeeping, billing, medical insurance processing, medical terminology, human anatomy, laboratory techniques and basic examinations and procedures.
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Clinical Training
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Clinical training for medical assistants can be completed in six months to one year, depending on the program. The completion of clinical training is required for all medical assistant programs to ensure students are prepared for employment in a medical facility. During clinical training, medical assistants simulate medical practices and administrative training learned in the classroom and are required to train under a board-certified physician and/or registered nurse.
Certification Requirements
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Most states do not require a certification; however, some states require a medical assistant to be certified before performing certain procedures such as administering medications or drawing blood. Medical assistant certifications are mandated and administered by the American Association of Medical Assistants and the National Center for Competency Tests.
Benefits
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Depending on employer and location, a medical assistant earns $19,000 to $28,000 annually with benefits. Experienced medical assistants could be promoted into office management, senior medical assistant, medical billing or medical technician positions depending on size of facility. With additional training, medial assistants can advance into a nursing position fairly quickly.
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