Clinical Medical Assistant Training

Medical assistant training includes clinical and administrative skills.

Clinical medical assistants have a unique role in the health care field, as they perform both clinical and administrative duties. Medical assistants record patient history and vital signs, discuss what to expect during certain medical procedures, draw blood and run lab tests, as well as answer phones, schedule appointments and prepare coding and billing paperwork. The training to be a clinical medical assistant varies; some complete a formal training program resulting in a certificate or associate's degree, while others receive extensive on-the-job training from their employer.

Prerequisites

Individuals interested in becoming clinical medical assistants must fulfill certain prerequisites, depending on the specific requirements of their intended employer or training program. Clinical medical assistants are typically required to be at least 18 years of age with a high school diploma or GED equivalent. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, high school students should take classes in mathematics, health and biology. Students attending vocational schools should also take courses in keyboarding, bookkeeping, computers and office skills.

Classroom Education

Medical assistants typically complete a formal training program offered at vocational schools, technical school and community colleges. Programs range in length from one to two years, depending on whether a certificate or associate's degree is awarded upon completion. Regardless of the length or difficulty of the program, All-Allied-Health-Schools.com reports programs should be accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Curriculum will include courses in clinical and diagnostic procedures, first aid, human anatomy, keyboarding and computer applications, lab techniques, medical billing and insurance coding, medical terminology, medical ethics and law, the administration of medicine, office practices, pharmacology, patient relations, record keeping, accounting and physiology.

Clinical Education

All formal training programs, whether they confer a certificate or an associate's degree, require students to participate in hands-on instruction. Students will receive supervised clinical practice in a hospital or other medical facility for the purposes of practicing and perfecting their skills.

On the Job Training

Not all employers of clinical medical assistants require applicants to have formal training. Some medical facilities hire applicants directly out of high school and provide extensive on-the-job training. Applicants who have graduated from a formal training program will also have to undergo some on-the-job training in order to become familiarized with the office procedures and preferences of their employer.

Certification

Medical assistants who choose to earn voluntary certification enjoy increased employment and income opportunity. Candidates can become certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMT) or the Association of Medical Technologists (AMT). Both organizations require applicants to complete a specified amount of formal training and pass a certification exam.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical Assistants
• All Allied Health Schools: Medical Assistant Training
• American Association of Medical Assistants: How to Become a CMA