Exploring the Pros and Cons of a Medical Assistant Career

Medical assisting is growing at a much faster rate than any other profession, making it a lucrative career for anyone. Medical assistants help physicians and nurses in performing clinical procedures, but they can also perform administrative duties as well, making them a versatile member of any healthcare team. 

If you’re considering becoming a medical assistant, weighing out the pros and cons can help you determine if this is the right career for you.

What are the Pros of a Medical Assisting Career? 

Jump Start Your Career Quickly

Unlike other healthcare professions which can take several years of college to complete, medical assistants can begin working in the medical field much faster. Many medical assisting programs can be completed in one year or less. This is an excellent career choice for students who need to get trained and begin working quickly. 

Job Growth and Demand 

Finding a job isn’t easy in some professions but medical assisting is one of the fastest growing occupations. Due to the aging population and other circumstances, it’s not showing any signs of slowing down in the future. Medical assisting is projected to grow 23 percent through 2028. If there are patients, there will always be a demand for talented certified medical assistants. 

Variety of Job Duties

Another compelling reason for becoming a medical assistant is they work closely with physicians and are trained to perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks. This job almost guarantees you’ll never grow bored, as you’re constantly learning new skills. 

Some of the administrative duties may include answering phones and scheduling appointments, greeting patients and checking them in, filing and updating patient medical records, and filling out medical billing forms. 

Some of the clinical duties may include taking medical histories, preparing patients for exams, collecting lab specimens and blood draws, changing dressings, removing sutures, and explaining medical procedures to patients. 

Versatile Work Settings 

Medical assisting is an incredibly versatile career with plenty of occupational settings to choose from. Some of the most common work settings for a medical assistant include primary care facilities and clinics, specialty clinics, urgent care clinics, hospitals, long term care facilities, chiropractic offices, hospice, and even prisons. 

Sense of Purpose 

There’s no greater accomplishment than helping people in their time of need. Medical assistants get paid to help people, giving them a sense of purpose over their career choices. Medical assistants get the opportunity to make a difference in a patient’s life every single day. Even something as simple as a smile can help make someone’s day brighter. 

What are the Cons of a Medical Assisting Career? 

Salary

A career as a medical assistant is a promising career, but when comparing the salary to other healthcare careers, your earning potential may be one of the only disadvantages of becoming a medical assistant. As a medical assistant you can expect to earn anywhere from $33,742 and $39,523 a year. Medical assisting is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door and it opens even better opportunities down the road. For a fulfilling career with benefits and training in under a year, being able to start your career quickly makes medical assisting a great career choice with advancement opportunities. 

Limited Transfer Credits 

If you wish to pursue a registered nursing program after completing your medical assisting training, you will get limited transfer credit options for classes you studied during your certificate program. Many of the educational institutions don’t allow you to transfer credits, but that doesn’t mean your training and experience as an MA is a total loss. Through your experience as an MA you’ll hone your soft skills and have the confidence to pursue any continuing education path you want to take in healthcare. You’ll also have a great job to help you get through a more rigid education program if you decide to go back to school later.

The Bottom Line 

The advantages of becoming a medical assistant far outweigh any negatives. If medical assisting sounds like the right career for you, contact Athena Career Academy to find out how to get started.