Learn How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant in 5 Easy Steps

Overall, the forecast for medical assistant positions is good, as the aging baby boomer generation continues to boost the need for medical support.

 

Because of the physician shortage, medical assistants will have greater chances to handle basic clinical and administrative functions.

Indeed, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that more than 160,000 new opportunities for medical assistants will be available across the country between 2012 and 2022, representing a substantially faster than average pace of employment growth.

Most medical assistants work in primary care, which is a rapidly developing segment of the medical sector.

A successful medical office assistant will have the following characteristics, according to the US Department of Labor: communication skills, the ability to work well under pressure, attention to detail, customer service ability, listening skills, knowledge of medical terminology, clerical skills, knowledge of medical treatment, and more.

 

In general, a licensed medical assistant starting should expect to make roughly $40,000 at the start of their career.

How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant in 5 Easy Steps

While certification is not always required for medical assistant professions, it is highly encouraged and requested.

Here are the steps you can take to become a certified medical assistant.

1. Complete Required Training

Before taking your certification exam, you must first finish training through a recognized school, which might be challenging to find.

Look for programs the Commission has approved on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.

The medical assistant certification procedure usually takes around a year or less.

You should consider how you want your medical profession to progress to select the appropriate type of medical assistant training.