What do you need to do in order to become a Medical Assistant in the United States ?

Medical Assistants are healthcare professionals that help doctors in running operations of hospitals, clinics, labs and other healthcare facilities. They perform a number of administrative and clerical duties, and their responsibilities differ according to the location and size of the practice and the physician’s specialty.

There are different types of Medical Assistants such as, Physician Assistants, Administrative medical assistant and Clinical medical assistants, ophthalmic medical assistants, optometric assistants, and podiatric medical assistants. Each of these fields fall under medical assisting but has varying roles in a healthcare facility and should not be confused with one another, especially physician assistants.

What do you need to do in order to become a Medical Assistant in the United States?

There no major prerequisites to becoming a medical assistant. Only a high school diploma or an equivalent will suffice, as most medical assistants receive on-the-job training. Some vocational-technical schools offer one to two year programs that result in a diploma or certificate credentials. There are other post-secondary vocational schools that offer a two year associate’s program in medical assisting.

There no major prerequisites to becoming a medical assistant. Only a high school diploma or an equivalent will suffice, as most medical assistants receive on-the-job training. Some vocational-technical schools offer one to two year programs that result in a diploma or certificate credentials. There are other post-secondary vocational schools that offer a two year associate’s program in medical assisting.

Since only a high school diploma or an equivalent is required to enter the field, it is preferred that high school  students should undertake courses such as, mathematics, health, biology, keyboarding, bookkeeping, computers, and office skills. Major courses offered at the diploma, certificate and associate’s degree level are: anatomy, physiology, and medical terminology, as well as keyboarding, transcription, recordkeeping, accounting, and insurance processing.

In addition to this they learn first aid, clinical and diagnostic procedures, laboratory techniques, pharmaceutical principles, and the administration of medications. Medical assistants are also taught to be neat and clean, and are well-trained in maintaining patient relations, medical law, office practices, and ethics.

Additionally you can earn some medical assistant certifications from organizations such as, the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and the Association of Medical Technologists (AMT). These certifications really improve your salary and job opportunities.

Accredited programs often include a mandatory internship that provides practical work experience in physicians' offices or other healthcare facilities. In addition, volunteer experience in a healthcare facility also enhances your job opportunity. Many medical assistants that are hired often have to attend a few training sessions and work closely with more experienced professionals for months before they are allowed to work on their own.

Considering the nature of the jobs medical assistants like other healthcare professionals need to be presentable and well-groomed. They should be able to relax the patients and be able to clearly explain the physician’s recommendations. They should also recognize and abide by the confidentiality of medical information.