How to Become a Medical Assistant in Months

Medical assistants work in hospitals, doctors' offices and clinics. They assist doctors during minor procedures. They take medical histories and patients' vital signs. Some medical assistants perform electrocardiograms or remove sutures. Medical assisting programs usually take anywhere from one to two years to complete. However, it is possible to become a medical assistant more quickly.

Instructions

1. Go through an accelerated program. There are medical assistant programs that may be completed in a few months instead of the usual year or more. Accelerated programs fit in all the education of a longer program in a shorter time frame. Look for accelerated programs through adult education centers and private technical schools.

2. Consider an online program. Find a school that offers online classes that may be completed at your own pace. Although not technically an accelerated program, online classes may be quicker than attending classes at a school. This might allow you to complete the program in only a few months.

3. Focus on either being a front office or back office medical assistant. Back office assistants work directly with patients, doing medical procedures and assisting the doctor. Front office assistants might do clerical work such as scheduling appointments and billing. Many medical assistant programs teach both back office and front office skills. However, programs that focus only on one aspect of the job, such as being a back office assistant, might be quicker to complete.

4. Find an on the job training medical assistant position. This might be an option for someone who hopes to skip taking classes. Some clinics and doctors' offices might hire the person they feel is right for the job even if she does not have formal training as a medical assistant. Search for positions at the unemployment office, online, through word of mouth and in your local newspaper.

5. Get credit for work experience. When you find a medical assistant program, determine whether prior work experience may be used for credit toward the program requirements. This might allow you to complete the program more quickly. For example, experience as a nurses aide or an emergency medical technician might qualify. Keep in mind volunteer experience might also count toward school credit.

6. Set aside adequate time to devote to studying and completing classes. A medical assistant program that can be completed in months is likely to be more intense and condensed than a typical program.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider other responsibilities such as family and work when determining whether an accelerated medical assistant program is for you.

Resources

• Medical assistant schools, online and by state
• Medical assistant 6 to 8 week home study program