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Career Tips & Advice

A Career as a Medical Assistant

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated September 19, 2014. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Medical Assistant holding a medical chart

When you visit the doctor's office, it's likely that you will encounter a medical assistant, as they are an essential part of any healthcare team. Part office work (answering phones and filing paperwork) and part hands-on (drawing blood samples and prepping patients), medical assistants keep healthcare offices running smoothly. Most medical assistants work standard 9-to-5 hours, which makes it an appealing career for those wanting to keep more regular hours than typically found in the healthcare industry.

Medical Assistant Job Outlook

The medical assistant career field is one of the fastest growing in the healthcare sector. Because of an aging baby boomer population, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a staggering 29% growth from 2012 to 2022.

Though not required in most states, a diploma or certificate often makes a medical assistant more appealing as a potential hire, and also increases his or her potential entry salary. Practical experience and reduced on-the-job training mean that employers can hire with confidence. Another way to become more employable is by becoming a CMA, or "Certified Medical Assistant." To do this, one must take the certification exam of the American Association of Medical Assistants and renew this certification every year.

Medical Assistant Technology Skills in High Demand

One key aspect emerging in the medical assistant career is the need to understand electronic health records (EHRs). Having traditionally dealt with patient records in paper form, more and more medical assistants are required to learn new digitized interfaces. Although programs can vary from office to office, prospective employees should be aware that computer skills are increasingly becoming an intricate part of being a medical assistant.

A career as a medical assistant appeals to individuals with strong organizational and interpersonal skills. On any given day, important files may need to be attended to, appointments arranged, and patients are seen. Medical assistants are an essential part of any doctor's office or clinic, and as such, responsibility and stress levels can be high.

Ultimately, a career as a medical assistant can be a rewarding one. Also, becoming a medical assistant is a relatively simple process in terms of gaining employment in the healthcare field- and it can be a great stepping stone to becoming a nurse or even a doctor.

Source URLs:

www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm#tab-6

www.aama-ntl.org/

Take The Next Step Towards a Brighter Future

Interested in learning more about our Medical Assistant program? We have a Concorde representative ready to talk about what matters most to you. Get answers about start dates, curriculum, financial aid, scholarships and more!

  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.