What Advancement Opportunities are Available for MAs

As a medical assistant you could be considered a "jack of all trades". You know how to take patient history, assist with examinations, administer medications, schedule appointments and prepare medical records.  With all of this experience in both clinical and administrative areas there are many opportunities for your advancement in the medical field in places like:

• Primary Care Facilities
• Medical Labs
• Pediatric Care Facilities
• Retirement Communities

In addition here are just a few of the areas you can break into as a medical assistant.

Medical Assistant Management

One way to advance as an MA is by moving into a management position. This would be a good career path for someone interested in a high level and leadership oriented position. A few examples of management positions for MAs are:

• Clinical Team Leader - As a clinical team leader you would manage a team of medical assistants who report directly to you and ensure that they are meeting all their duties and responsibilities.
• Medical Office Manager - As an office manager you would oversee administrative duties such as hiring, budgeting and direction of non-clinical staff members.
• Medical Records Manager - As a medical records manager you would be responsible for mainting electronic and written records as well as performing administrative duties in your department.

Specialized Fields

There are many specialized fields in the medical industry and a medical assistant with the right training is highly desirable in most of them. A few examples of specialty practices in the medical field are:

• Pediatrics - Specialized medical care focusing on children
• Cardiology - Medical care focusing on the heart
• Phlebotomy - Medical care focusing on blood and blood testing
• Podiatry - Medical care focusing on caring for the feet

Continuing your education in the specialized field of your choice would open up positions with more responsibility and higher pay.

Nursing

Many people use the experience they gain as an MA to break into the nursing field. Jumping straight into nursing can be a lengthy and difficult process, but the field experience you gain as an MA can help give you the direction and motivation necessary. Not to mention nursing school and the certification is much easier when you already have so much hands-on experience in the medical field. Nurses fall into two general categories: practical nurses (PNs) and registered nurses (RNs).

A practical nurse is focused on basic medical care and generally has less responsibility. As a PN you will be supervised by both doctors and RNs. Becoming a PN is a good choice if you want to focus on taking care of patients.

A registered nurse has more responsibilities and is a more difficult position to obtain, but it also comes with increased pay. As an RN you will make decisions about medication doses and perform basic medical procedures like inserting a catheter.

Employment for medical assistants is growing and a fast rate and there are many opportunities for career advancement. If you're interested in entering the medical field now is the time and becoming an MA is one of the quickest and easiest paths. To find out more about becoming a certified MA you can talk with one of our admission counselors at Athena Career Academy.