How to Become a Medical Assistant

If you enjoy working closely with people and helping them with their health issues, becoming a medical assistant can lead to good job opportunities. Medical assisting continues to be one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S. You will undergo a professional training process and receive certification from either the American Association of Medical Assistants or the American Registry of Medical Assistants. Medical assistants are used to perform simple lab tests and EKGs, take patient histories and explain medical procedures, complete chart notes, oversee office administration, and assist the physician during medical examinations and procedures. Some medical assistants work in hospitals, but the majority work in physicians' offices.

Education

Many technical schools and community colleges offer medical assistant certification courses. Make sure the school you choose is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Some of these schools and colleges also offer financial aid to help with tuition and books.

Training

Hands-on training, also called a practicum, happens while you are in school. This practicum is an unpaid internship that you undergo as the final portion of your education. The training adds to your classroom knowledge by building your skills in real-life situations with patients. It is during the practicum that you can apply what you've learned during classroom lectures and labs.

License/Certificate

After completing your coursework and practicum, you are eligible to sit for your license examination through the American Association of Medical Assistants or the American Registry of Medical Assistants. After passing the exam, you will become either a certified medical assistant (CMA) or registered medical assistant (RMA), depending on which certification agency's examination you passed. Many employers require that you hold a CMA or RMA , although state and federal governments currently do not mandate medical assistants to hold a certification. 

Salary

The median salary for a full-time medical assistant is $30,709, with the range being $25,304 for CMAs with zero to three years' experience and $35,862 for CMAs with 16+ years' experience.