Learn how to become a medical assistant in NY

If you’d like to pursue a healthcare career but aren’t sure that extensive schooling and licensure is right for you, a medical assistant career might be the perfect choice. Medical assistants play key roles in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare settings, but they don’t have to meet the strict licensing requirements that doctors and nurses must meet.

New York is a particularly appealing location for medical assistants. According to the New York Health Foundation, as of 2023, 35,720 medical assistants were employed in New York State, which is the fourth highest employment number in any state. During the pandemic, New York State permitted medical assistants to perform COVID-19 tests, so they played an important role in helping to protect the public.

New York State also has a large and busy healthcare system, so there are plenty of medical assistant opportunities. As of 2019, the New York hospital market size was $110.5 billion, with 239 hospitals in operation throughout the state. The hospital industry employed 443,517 staff. Those figures only reflect the hospital industry. The United States Census Bureau estimates New York State’s population to be 19,571,216 as of July 1, 2023, meaning an extensive healthcare system including private practices and clinics is needed to care for those residents. Medical assistants are likely to find many opportunities within this state.

The role of medical assistants in New York

Medical assistants perform various administrative and clinical tasks to support physicians and the entire healthcare team. Their specific responsibilities may vary depending on the healthcare setting, but medical assistants may perform some or all of the following:

• Performing billing and medical coding
• Completing admissions forms
• Obtaining a patient’s medical history
• Taking a patient’s vital signs
• Explaining medical procedures to patients
• Collecting laboratory specimens, including bloodwork samples
• Performing electrocardiograms
• Helping to prepare patients for physical exams
• Restocking medical supplies and maintaining supply inventory
• Sterilizing medical instruments

Successful medical assistants need various soft and hard skills. Medical assistants need specific medical skills, including the ability to take vital signs, perform CPR, collect urine samples and apply wound dressings. Assistants also need the ability to interview patients, schedule appointments and communicate with other team members and supervisors.

Because assistants perform such a wide variety of tasks, they need numerous soft skills. Assistants must be empathetic and able to communicate clearly and well with patients. Those communication skills are also essential when interacting with supervisors and other staff. Medical assistants need to be highly organized and detail-oriented. Multitasking skills are important, too.

Medical assistants can face numerous challenges in their work. Patients can be nervous or difficult to work with. Assistants need to be able to stay calm and focused, even during busy or chaotic times. The job can carry significant pressure, especially when working in a hospital environment. Additionally, medical assistants must adhere to rules and regulations, and they must be sure not to perform any tasks that New York State law prohibits them from doing.

Educational requirements

The New York State Health Foundation explains that in New York State, medical assistants are not required to have any specific education beyond a high school diploma or its equivalent.

However, pursuing education and training in the field may still be beneficial. A medical assistant with a college degree may be more competitive against other candidates, and their education may help them to qualify for a higher salary. Students who want to become medical assistants might choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree program in medical and health services management, medical assisting or a related field.

Several New York schools offer training for medical assistants:

Since New York State doesn’t have any specific education requirements beyond a high school diploma, you could theoretically become a medical assistant straight out of high school.

Gaining experience

Internships and externships are valuable opportunities for students to gain experience before they enter the medical assistant career. These supervised opportunities give students a chance to put the skills they are learning to use, as well as to forge connections with professionals in the field.

Students can also network at healthcare career fairs, conferences and other networking events. Joining New York State associations, such as the New York State Society of Medical Assistants and the Community Health Care Association of New York State can help students identify additional networking opportunities.

Medical assistants need to be prepared to use technology such as computers, printers, phones and fax machines. Assistants will also use a variety of clinical equipment like laboratory machines and urinalysis machines. Additionally, medical assistants will need to learn the specific programs and software an office uses, including billing programs and medical records databases.

Finding employment

New York has a tremendous healthcare system encompassing hospitals, private practices and more, so connecting with local healthcare operations is a helpful first step in identifying medical assistant vacancies. Consider monitoring each practice or hospital’s job boards, as well as using internet job boards like Indeed, the Healthcare Source Job Board and the Career Vitals job board.

Candidates can also network at industry conferences and events, attend health-centered job fairs and hiring events and reach out to their professional network to share that they are seeking employment.

While looking for a medical assistant job, candidates should take the time to build up their resume. Highlighting relevant experience, such as internship and externship opportunities, can help to make a resume stand out. Volunteering in healthcare settings can also help to build relevant experience for a resume.

Highlighting relevant experience, such as internship and externship opportunities, can help to make a resume stand out. Volunteering in healthcare settings can also help to build relevant experience for a resume.

Medical assistant salary in New York state

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2023, medical assistants nationally earned a median annual wage of $42,000. Additionally, the BLS projects medical assistant employment to grow by 13.9% through 2032, which is much faster than the average growth of all occupations. With the baby boomer population aging and needing more healthcare, demand for medical assistants is increasing, making this a prime time to become a medical assistant in New York State.

The BLS reports that medical assistants in New York make a higher than the national median medical assisting wage, which isn’t surprising given that the cost of living in the state is also higher than the national average. Take a look at median salaries in New York and select metro areas:

Several factors can impact the salary that medical assistants earn. Assistants with more experience, as well as those who have gone on to complete certificate, diploma or associate degree programs, may be more valuable to employers, so they may qualify for higher salaries. Where a medical assistant works can impact their earning potential, too. The BLS reports that at a national level medical assistants earned the most working in outpatient care centers, followed by hospitals, doctor’s offices and finally, other health practitioner offices.

Career advancement

Medical assistants may have the opportunity to advance into positions such as billing, office or practice management. Taking courses in leadership and management may help to secure such advancement opportunities. Other certifications, such as the Medical Administrative Assistant or Billing and Coding Specialist certifications, can help to verify that a candidate has the specialized knowledge and skills needed for certain advancement opportunities.

Legal and ethical considerations for medical assistants

New York State does not consider medical assistants to be licensed healthcare professionals, and New York State Section 6530 (11) of Education Law prohibits them from performing certain tasks like taking X-rays, administering vaccines or medications or applying or removing tasks. Medical assistants need to carefully adhere to these limitations and be sure that the work they are performing adheres to the state’s laws. 

New York State Education Law lists what tasks medical assistants are prohibited from performing:

Wrapping up

While it’s possible to become a medical assistant in New York State with just a high school diploma, pursuing additional education, such as a certificate program and then earning a professional credential, can help to make you a more competitive candidate. Working as a medical assistant can be a highly rewarding career, and there are plenty of advancement opportunities. Given New York’s large healthcare system and increasing needs for medical assistants, now is an ideal time to start planning your healthcare career.  

Published: January 5, 2024