Career Advancement Options for Medical Assistants

Deciding to become a medical assistant is one of the quickest ways to enter into the healthcare field, which is a big draw for students who are looking to get their training completed fast and start working. However, after the dust settles, and you’ve finished school and started working as a full-time medical assistant, you might be wondering what future career advancement options are available? 

One smart and savvy option to advance in your medical assistant career path and make yourself more in-demand is to specialize in a particular area of medicine. Another benefit to working in a specialty is that it offers you a chance to work in a field that truly interests and excites you. The list of specializations available are nearly endless with so many options to choose from that it would be difficult to name them all, but a few examples include:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics
• Podiatry
• Oncology
• Rheumatology
• Neurology

Nursing

Many MA’s make the wise decision to use their medical experience and knowledge to their advantage by going back to school to become a nurse, whether it’s a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or a Registered Nurse (RN). Many MA’s successfully transition into nursing because they have patient care experience and know how to work closely with physicians and other medical providers, making them more prepared and successful nursing students.

Medical or Clinical Office Manager

Many medical assistants can use their hands-on-experience and transition to a healthcare office manager. Deciding to become a medical or clinical office manager is one of the most popular ways for a medical assistant to advance.

Medical Coding

Since medical assistants often handle both administrative and clinical duties, it’s not uncommon for an MA to already possess some medical coding knowledge and experience. For the MA who receives on-the-job training in billing and coding, becoming a medical coding and billing specialist is an excellent opportunity to specialize in the administrative field of medicine and potentially earn a higher salary.

Phlebotomy Technician

Many medical assistants receive basic phlebotomy as part of their medical assistant training, but some may enjoy working in the lab so much that they decide to make the switch from a medical assistant to a full-time phlebotomy technician. This exciting and fulfilling career is expected to grow 23% from 2018 to 2028, with the demand for phlebotomists remaining high.

Medical Claims Examiner

Medical claims examiners work with health insurance clients to determine coverage while acting as the point of contact for the insurance companies. The primary duty of a medical claims examiner is to review insurance claims while ensuring that all client information is accurate and that all requirements are met before approving a claim. This career pays well, with many companies preferring to hire candidates with a medical background, such as medical assisting.

Certified EKG Technician

For those with an interest in cardiology, or diseases and conditions that affect the heart and cardiovascular system, becoming an EKG Technician might be a natural progression to take. As an EKG Technician, you’ll perform electrocardiograms (EKG’s) and may also receive training in Holter monitor and stress testing procedures. The demand for EKG techs is estimated to increase yearly, as heart disease continues to be a prevalent problem for many Americans.

Finding Your Way

Only you can decide which medical assistant career path is the right one for you. With a little determination, you’ll find your way. Our flexible class schedules and no waitlist for our accredited programs make it impossible for you NOT to consider going back to school for a better career. Contact Athena Career Academy to speak with our admissions team about enrolling today.