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Medical assistants work both with patients and medical teams providing care. This in-demand occupation is a mix of administrative and clinical work with a broad range of responsibilities.
Steps to Become a Medical Assistant
Unlike some healthcare careers, the steps to become a medical assistant are minimal. You’ll need to complete an education program and earn professional certification. To enroll in medical assistant school, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED.
Earn your high school diploma or GED.
Prospective medical assisting students must earn either a high school diploma or GED before enrolling in an accredited medical assisting program.
Enroll in and complete a medical assisting program.
To become a medical assistant, you can earn a certificate/diploma, or an associate degree. Your career aspirations should dictate the type of program you choose.
For instance, if you’re looking to enter the workforce as soon as possible, a certificate program may be your choice. These programs last between nine and 12 months and provide you with a medical assisting education and hands-on experience.
If you plan to pursue more education in the future, an associate degree will provide you with a solid foundation. An associate degree takes about two years to compete and provides medical assisting and liberal arts education and hands-on experience. Because this education is more extensive, it may provide more opportunities for advancement or higher pay.
Both types of programs will cover many of the same topics, including first-aid, medical law and ethics, anatomy, computer applications, pharmacology, recordkeeping, patient relations, medical billing, and coding. Additionally, both an associate degree and diploma may be, at least in part, completed online.
Be sure to choose a program that is accredited. Without accreditation, you won’t be able to earn professional certifications.
Complete an externship or internship.
An externship or internship is a way to get clinical experience before you enter the working world. Both allow you to put your classroom learning to the test and get a feel for what working as a medical assistant is truly like.
Externships and internships are generally the same, but externships are shorter, lasting anywhere from a couple of weeks to two months, while internships usually are several months. This is a time to ask questions, develop skills, and make connections in the field.
Earn a medical assisting professional certification.
A certification in medical assisting denotes that you are knowledgeable in the field and can further signify that you are committed to the profession. While earning a certification is not a strict requirement to enter the field, many employers prefer it, it can play a role in earning a higher salary, and can potentially allow you to take on more complex tasks.
There are seven basic professional certifications for medical assistants. No matter which certification you earn, you’ll be required to pass an exam covering a wide range of topics related to medical assisting. That said, some employers prefer a particular certification, so it is a good idea to research healthcare organizations in your area to whether they preference one in particular.
Apply and interview for positions.
Of course, you cannot find work as a medical assistant without first applying and interviewing for the position. There are many paths to finding potential job opportunities including LinkedIn and other job boards, but it might be a good idea to lean on the network you created during your internship or externship to help find work. You can also research medical assisting trade groups, like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) which tend to have lists of potential employers.
Keep your certification(s) current with continuing education.
Certifications in medical assisting don’t remain valid indefinitely. Keeping your certification current is an important aspect of remaining an attractive potential candidate for new positions or promotions in your current organization. While requirements vary from certification to certification, some common requirements include retaking and passing an exam or earning a specific number of continuing education credits. Recertification might also require you to pay a fee to the certifying body.
Technology and Trends
Medical assistants must be tech-savvy, so consider whether you want to work with software and specialized medical devices on a daily basis. You’ll have the opportunity to work with nebulizers and spirometers, among other tools, and you’ll need to master medical and office software.
Medical assistants must be tech-savvy, so consider whether you want to work with software and specialized medical devices on a daily basis.
Most hospitals and physicians also use electronic health records (EHRs) to manage patient information. Since medical assistants are responsible for managing medical records and ensuring information is accurate, you’ll need to have a clear understanding of:
Since patients can log in and access their own records, it may also be your responsibility to answer their questions and troubleshoot issues.
Learn how to become a medical assistant in different states: Alabama | California | Florida | Georgia | New Jersey | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | South Carolina | Texas
Trending Jobs in Medical Assisting
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than half of medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, but you’ll also find them in medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, and offices of other health practitioners, including specialists.
Clinical Medical Assisting Jobs
Although you’ll still have some administrative duties, working as a medical assistant in a clinic provides more opportunities to work alongside a physician and use medical tools and technology.
Ophthalmology
Ophthalmic medical assistants conduct eye tests, help with the use and care of contact lenses, collect patient medical histories, and assist with minor surgery.
Podiatry
Podiatric medical assistants make casts for feet, develop X-rays, and assist with podiatric surgery. You’ll need to have strong knowledge of foot anatomy and be comfortable working with patients who may be in pain. Medical assistants interested in sports medicine often find podiatry to be a great steppingstone.
OB-GYN
In this role, you’ll help physicians with exams and provide guidance and education to pregnant women. OB-GYN medical assistants should be well-versed in issues such as menopause, HPV, and female anatomy.
Chiropractic
If you’re interested in a natural approach to medicine, working as a chiropractic medical assistant could be a good fit. You’ll help a chiropractor treat patients using a number of methods, including hot and cold therapies.
Administrative Medical Assisting Jobs
Organized, detail-oriented medical assistants thrive in an administrative setting. If you choose to specialize in the non-clinical side of medical assisting, you may spend more time as a medical biller and coder or as an administrative assistant.
As a medical biller and coder, you’ll analyze records, keep track of patient data, determine codes for insurance billing, and work closely with physicians to ensure accuracy.
Organized, detail-oriented medical assistants thrive in an administrative setting.
Administrative medical assistants schedule appointments, fill out insurance forms, and record patient information. They typically work closely with healthcare administrators crafting documents, taking meeting notes, and completing other office tasks.
As you begin your search for a medical assistant school, you’ll find that a strong curriculum will cover both administrative and clinical tasks. Upon graduating, you should be comfortable working in both settings, although you’ll likely need on-the-job training for a specialized medical office.
Salary and job outlook
According to the BLS, the median annual pay for medical assistants is $42,000. The highest 10% earned more than $56,480. Your salary can depend on many factors, including your experience and where you work. The BLS says the state with the highest employment level of medical assistants is California, followed by Texas and Florida.
Since primary care—where most medical assistants work—is growing, the job outlook for medical assistants is strong. The BLS predicts employment to grow 13.9% through 2032, which is much faster than average for all jobs.
Q&A with a medical assistant: How one woman did it
For years, Johnnye Baker, 39, worked as a receptionist in doctors’ offices. She loved working with patients, but her one-on-one contact was limited. She eventually decided to go back to school to become a medical assistant, allowing her to spend much more time directly helping people.
Baker earned her certificate while juggling work and parenting three kids (ages 16, 11 and 7) with her husband. If she can do it, maybe you can too!
Why did you decide to become a medical assistant?
I’ve worked in doctors’ offices as a receptionist but always wanted to get “behind the curtain” and knew I could do more with patients. I caught on to the medical terms pretty quickly and would sometimes be asked to assist with appointments if a second [assistant] was needed. It’s a stable career with a good paying salary and one I want to excel in, but I also want to be able to help patients feel more at ease and build relationships.
What’s your current job?
I had been working part time at a bank while I went to school, but I have worked as a receptionist at doctors’ offices and at an urgent care front desk. I recently graduated but I have to wait until this summer, when my kids are out of school, to take on a full-time position. I think I’d like to work in a dermatologist’s office or similar.
What do you think you will enjoy most about being a medical assistant?
Having worked in medical offices in the past, I appreciate the relationships that MAs have with the patients. The MA is the patient’s first and last contact. I was also looking for a good work-life balance that a job as a medical assistant gives you.
How did you get to where you are today? What kind of support did you have?
The journey wasn’t easy. Being an adult student with a family is really hard. I missed a lot of dinners and bedtimes. It’s hard to give up your evenings when you have a family, and there were many times I’d rather have had a glass of wine than go to school. I had to push myself, but I was fortunate to have a spouse that stepped in and took on a lot of the evening duties while I was at school.
I also had a phenomenal teacher. During my education, the teacher support was amazing. They really pushed me. I wouldn’t have been able to do this without them.
What’s your motivation to keep growing in the field?
I love the feeling of accomplishment and educating people. I also worked in health insurance for a few years, and I loved educating people in that role. I like taking the time to explain something and then seeing the light bulb go off—people will remember that light bulb moment.
What gave you the confidence to go back to school?
I just wanted to do it—and I love learning. I am a confident person, but it can still be a little nerve-wracking walking into a school; the students are very young. I ended up meeting some great people in class. There were many high school seniors, and I sort of became their class “mom”—it was really supportive.
Any advice for anyone wanting to be a medical assistant?
Be prepared to spend a lot of time studying and continuing to learn, long after you’ve left the classroom. Also, know what you like to do. I did some work in a pediatrician’s office, but quickly realized it was not for me. Know what you want to do and what kind of doctor’s office you want to be in. Be resolute in what you want to do.
What advice do you have for fellow prospective students who are on the fence about going back to school?
Give it two weeks and see how you feel. You don’t want to get into it and not finish it. If you don’t have your ducks in a row and don’t have a strong support system, work on that before you commit to starting a program. I had the backing of my family while I was in school. Also: Life throws us curve balls, but we can do hard things. Stick with it!
-Interview by Sheila Cain
Written and reported by:
Hana LaRock
Contributing writer