Everything You Want to Know About Becoming a Medical Assistant

When deciding on a career path, you'll want to pursue one that provides stability, room for growth, and, of course, a job that is both emotionally and financially rewarding. The healthcare field can offer all of these things. One job in particular that you can consider is that of a medical assistant.

The following is a guide about medical assistants to help you better understand the position and determine whether it's a career you want to pursue.

Medical Assistant Duties And Responsibilities

Medical assistants are responsible for providing direct patient care under the supervision of a medical professional, such as a doctor or nurse. The exact duties and responsibilities of a medical assistant will vary depending on the size and type of practice they work in. However, some core duties include:

• Taking vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate)
• Documenting patient information
• Preparing patients for examination
• Performing laboratory tests and other diagnostic procedures
• Administering medication and injections
• Assisting doctors with medical procedures
• Scheduling appointments
• Answering phones and greeting patients
• Filing insurance forms and other paperwork

Facts About Becoming a Medical Assistant

If the idea of helping people for a living appeals to you, then you'll be happy to know that few other jobs provide as quick of a return on investment (ROI) as that of a trained medical assistant. With that in mind, the following are a few facts you should know about becoming a medical assistant:

• Affordable: Unlike other jobs in the healthcare field that require years and years of expensive education and training, you can complete a clinical medical assistant (CMA) program in less than a year. Our program at Athena Career Academy is 800 hours long and can be finished in 7 1/2 months. As such, you won't be drowning in student debt by the time you start working.
  
  
• Flexible class schedules: If you have a family to take care of or another job that you can't quit because you have to pay the bills, don't worry. CMA programs generally provide students with a lot of flexibility, which means you can take day or night classes and fit them around your current schedule.
  
  
• Quick return on your investment: Odds are you'll be able to get a job relatively quickly once you've completed your program and have passed your certification exams. As a result, you'll be able to pay off any payment plan you might have had to finance for your enrollment relatively quickly.
  
  
• In demand for the foreseeable future: According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, there's a 16 percent growth rate for medical assistants projected through 2031, which is faster than average.
  
  
• Many career advancement opportunities: As a medical assistant, you'll gain experience in the field and have the opportunity to advance your career in the future. As such, there will be plenty of career advancement opportunities, such as in nursing or healthcare administration fields.
  
  
• Stepping stone into specialty career paths: You can continue your education and become a specialized medical assistant in certain fields, such as pediatrics or gerontology.
  
  
• Great money while climbing the ladder: Considering the fact that it takes less than a year to become a medical assistant, the money is great. The median salary for a medical assistant is $37,190 per year.

Enroll In Our CMA Program Today

If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, you can learn more about how to enroll in our CMA program at Athena Career Academy. We provide students with hands-on experience as well as the skills and knowledge needed to become successful medical assistants. Contact us at Athena Career Academy today to learn more about how we can help you achieve your goals!