Medical Assistant Training

Medical assistants play a vital role in today's healthcare industry. Apart from the noble and altruistic nature of the profession which allows practitioners to offer an important service to the community, ensuring the well-being of patients, the medical assistant profession is also very lucrative and financially stable.

Medical assistant job responsibilities vary depending on the nature and size of the health care facility where the individual works, but typically involve multiple administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, handling private medical documents, and assisting patients with the admissions process.

The most widely accepted certifications are the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA).

Most accredited schools, including Ameritech, accept federal financial aid. The extent of a medical assistant's duties may vary significantly on an individual basis, depending upon the practice's needs and the assistant's capabilities. N.C. A&T offers a certified clinical medical assistant program in conjunction with Health Ed Today.

The BLS also reports an average hourly wage for medical assistants of around $16 per hour, which can be substantially higher depending upon location and experience. In some jobs, assistants may also have clerical responsibilities, like answering the phones, greeting patients, taking them to the exam room and updating their medical records.

NET (2016)—a data organization partnered with the US Department of Labor—found that 65 percent of medical assistants hold post-secondary certificates and 18 percent have associate degrees. You may contact the AAMA for the information concerning grounds for denials or eligibility for the Certified Medical Assistant CMA (AAMA) credential.

Contact the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of College of the Mainland. By 2026, the rate of employment of Medical Assistants is anticipated to grow 29%.

Students who complete the medical assistant training program will also have access to MTI's job placement assistance service. The Lone Star College Medical Assistant Programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs () upon the recommendation of the Medical Assistant Education Review Board (MAERB).

Students also explore medical office management, insurance billing and coding, and medical law and ethics. Certified medical assistants must also be able to communicate their own ideas clearly, whether talking to physicians or patients. These courses are good choices for a variety of people, depending on your lifestyle, career goals and motivation.

What's more, you can earn your Associate of Applied Science Degree in Health Science in Medical Assisting in just 15 months through MCI's year-round program. Students go on to deliver unparalleled medical assisting to health care industries throughout the country.

It can lay the groundwork for a higher-level degree, such as a bachelor's or master's degree in healthcare management. Yolanda Patterson, BSN, MBA, is the director of the Medical Assistant and Medical Office Administration programs at the Concorde Career Institute in Tampa, Florida.