Medical Assistant Career Zone
Medical assistants take direction from physicians while performing clinical and administrative duties, usually within an office or hospital. They may schedule appointments, help with billing, perform insurance coding, and maintain medical records.
Recording medical histories, taking vital signs, drawing blood, administering medications, and preparing patients for their examinations are some clinical duties a medical assistant may perform. Medical assistant duties vary and are often determined by the specialty of the practitioner and the size and location of the practice.
Medical Assistant Career Assessment
Take our Medical Assistant career assessment. This 30 question quiz let’s you know if you’re cut out for a career in medical assisting by analyzing your abilities, skills, and interests.
Medical Assistant Snapshot
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting is currently one of the most in-demand professions in the country. If you have excellent organizational skills and enjoy working in a medical setting such as a hospital or physician’s office, a career as a medical assistant may be a perfect fit.
Here are further details on a career as a medical assistant (statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average earnings for medical assistants per year.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a post-secondary certificate while 18% have an Associate’s degree.
Medical Assistant Education
Medical assistants typically have earned a high school diploma and completed a training program of either one or two years. While formal training is normally preferred, some medical assistants are trained on the job. If you choose to attend a medical assisting program, you will receive instruction in anatomy, biology, and physiology, as well as various administrative courses and instruction on how to use different types of medical equipment.
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
Medical assistants are currently in high demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assisting careers are expected to grow by 23% between 2014 and 2024, which is much faster than average. Therefore job prospects in this field are excellent.
Medical Assistant Salaries
Most medical assistants earn an average of $30,590 per year; however, this figure varies depending on the type and location of the practice. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,040, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,880 per year. Learn more about medical assistant salaries.
Medical Assistant Job Duties
Medical assisting may consist of both administrative and clinical tasks. In addition to maintaining patient files, taking medical histories, submitting insurance claims, and arranging appointments and medical procedures, medical assistants often prepare patients for examination, assist during exams, and prepare lab samples. These tasks typically vary from one office setting to another, depending on the size and type of practice.
Medical Assistant Career
Find out the most common medical assisting work activities and more in the table below.
Medical Assistant Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Medical Assistants: | Typical Work Activities: |
---|---|---|---|
•Active Listening •Speaking •Social Perceptiveness •Monitoring •Reading Comprehension •Critical Thinking •Writing •Active Learning | •Oral Expression •Oral Comprehension •Problem Sensitivity •Speech Clarity •Near Vision •Speech Recognition •Written Comprehension | •Hyperdermic Needles •Mercury Blood Pressure Units •Nebulizers or Accessories •Ophthalmoscopes | •Thinking Creatively •Interacting With Computers •Getting Information •Making Decisions and Solving Problems |
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