The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has predicted that medical assistant employment will increase 31 percent from 2010 to 2020. So the job outlook is positive, and the career field appears to be both stable and growing. A medical assistant’s job duties vary and can include administrative work, taking a patient’s vital signs, performing basic laboratory tests, and helping the physician with routine procedures and processes. The first step toward becoming a medical assistant is to attend an accredited post-secondary institution for formal training. There, you can get a certificate or diploma in a year or less and possibly even earn an associate degree in medical assisting by taking additional courses.
Why is Medical Assisting Such a Hot Career in 2017?
If you are wondering about the benefits of being a certified medical assistant, we could go on forever. Of course, many people point to the medical assistant salary and job outlook as main reasons to consider this career path. The truth is, there are several benefits of becoming a medical assistant that should give you pause. For students who have a natural love of science, health, and helping others, you can fit right into the field of medical assisting with the right education and training.
Lets take a deeper look at the benefits of being a certified medical assistant …
Medical assistant salary and benefits for professionals in your area should be pretty easy to find. You should start by looking at your local job boards and by contacting schools in your area. They can tell you specific medical assistant salary info so you can determine if you should move forward with your certification.
To give you an idea of what you can expect to make as a salary, here is the data from the BLS: According to 2017 data, the average medical assistant salary in the U.S. was $30,590 per year ($14.71 per hour). When figuring out ‘is medical assistant a good career choice?’ you should also factor in the additional benefits. Some jobs include 401K and medical assistant insurance benefits that would cost you a lot of money out of pocket. When you speak with schools, be sure to ask what types of careers are in your area, and how the medical assistant salary and benefits could differ between them.
When you work as a medical assistant, you really need co consider if you would rather work in an administrative or clinical role. If you would rather work behind a desk, check in patients, and perform billing and other “office” like tasks, then consider programs that focus on administrative training. But if you like being on your feet, performing clinical procedures, and working more hands-on with patients, look for training that will lead to clinical roles.
When most people analyze the question “Why I want to be a medical assistant,” they don’t think of money and opportunity right off the bat. Usually it stems from something in their younger years that made them want to be a doctor or a nurse, or just heal others any way they could. Some people had close relationships with their grandparents and are driven by their influence to care for the elderly. Others may love helping children and want to work in pediatrics. No matter what your passion or reason, there are jobs for medical assistant nursing assistants and orderlies across the nation in a wide variety of healthcare settings for you to choose from.
When you contact schools, be sure to have a list of questions and concerns handy. Since there are so many other things to discuss than medical assistant salary and benefits, it’s important to stay focused. Be sure to discuss accreditation, certification and state requirements, employers they work with, and clinical opportunities they can connect you with. Oh, and don’t forget, you’ll want to know your financial aid options, to be sure you can complete your training with as little stress as possible.
If you want to learn more about the medical assistant salary and benefits that are available for you, use the tools on our site to contact all the schools in your area.