A medical assistant is in charge of all the preparatory work needed to help doctors do their jobs. Medical assistants can work in a variety of job sectors, and they do not have to go through extensive training to work in the field. If you want to hold an introductory career in the medical world, medical assisting careers may be perfect for you. Here is a look at what may be required of you to become a medical assistant.

Medical Assisting Education

In order to become a medical assistant, you have to hold a high school diploma or equivalent. If you would like to get a license in medical assisting, you will need to go through college or vocational training. This is not a requirement to work as a medical assistant, as there are some employers who will train new employees to do their work. Applicants with a degree or certification are usually preferred, but you could technically get a job without that training.

Most medical assistants will only work part time for the first few years before they find full time work. That time comprises of extensive training in whatever job sector they choose to work in. If you want to work in radiology, you will go through a vastly different training program than you will for work in physical therapy. In less than three years though, you should have all the education you need to be a medical assistant.

If you are interested in becoming a medical assistant, you could always pursue your education online. That would give you a chance to work, raise a family, maintain a social life, and still get the training you need to start a successful career. Many medical assistants go to school online to pursue additional training when they want to become phlebotomists, registered nurses, medical transcriptionists, or other workers in medical assisting careers. You may be able to use the internet for all your educational needs.

Medical Assistant Job Duties

Medical assistant job duties range from simple office work to general patient care. In most situations, medical assistants are responsible for managing medical records, checking vital signs, recording measurements, taking phone calls, and performing small tasks that help doctors focus on their jobs. Medical assistants may work in many sectors of the medical field, and their duties typically correspond to the sector they choose. What you end up doing in this career will be entirely up to you.

Medical Assistant Work Places

Medical assistants can work virtually anywhere medical staff members are needed. Many of them work under doctors in labs, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health facilities, and private practices. Others work alongside physical therapists, dentists, radiologists, pharmacists, and similar medical personnel to take on the everyday tasks that do not require extensive medical knowledge to complete. If you want to work in a specialized area of medical assisting, you may need to go through additional training programs to learn more about your job. With a basic set of skills though, you can work just about anywhere.

Some of the most popular employers of medical assistants include Planned Parenthood, Concentra Medical Center Inc., Kaiser Permanente, Family Practice Clinic, and Ob Gyn Associates. You can look into available positions in your own area through those employers or others looking for medical assistants.

Medical Assistant Salary

According to PayScale.com, the average medical assistant earns between $16,570 and $36,082 his or her first year. After five to nine years of experience, your annual salary may jump between $19,661 and $39,034. Medical assistants with 10 to 19 years of experience typically make between $22,587 and $45,147 a year. Those with more than 20 years of experience can earn as much as $56,236 a year. This may not be the equivalent of a nurse’s salary, but it isn’t bad for the minimal training you have to go through for medical assisting.

If you are more interested in hourly rates than overall salaries, the average medical assistant earns between $9.67 and $16.64 an hour. Overtime rates tend to run between $12,78 and $25.14 an hour. Based on those numbers, you can see that you would make much more working overtime than you would working 40 hours a week. It is up to you as to whether or not you want to devote that much time to this profession.

Conclusion

Medical assisting could prove to be a rewarding career for you. Whether you enjoy working with other people or you just want a career you can get into quickly, you could be a perfect candidate for medical assisting. 95% of medical assistants are women, but men are becoming more prominent in the field every year. With a little training, you could find a wonderful future as a medical assistant.