Most people who want to work in the healthcare field likely aspire to be doctors or nurses. However, medical assistant is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States. The medical assistant career path offers many of the same benefits as other healthcare professions, in addition to perks of its own.
The American Association of Medical Assistants describes a medical assistant as someone who works alongside doctors, usually in a clinical or office setting. Though the description may seem similar to that of a nurse, there are some key differences.
Medical assistants commonly handle tasks such as checking vital signs, showing patients to their rooms and various administrative duties. A licensed practical nurse, on the other hand, provides basic care measures like catheterization and prescription administration. While medical assistants often work in clinics and ambulatory care, licensed practical nurses more commonly work in settings like nursing homes and hospitals.
For those looking to enter the healthcare field, medical assistant might be a great fit. To showcase some of the occupational perks alluded to earlier, a list of five reasons medical assistants love their jobs is featured below.
1. Bountiful Job Outlook
Medical assistant employment in California is projected to increase by 18 percent between 2020 and 2030. The Bureau of Labor Statistics attributes the projection to the increased demand for medical support staff in physicians’ offices and clinics to accommodate the number of aging baby boomers.
Note: The data provided above are from a source unaffiliated with MTI College, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to MTI graduates and, by providing the above information, MTI makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.
Medical assistants are essential cogs that allow offices and clinics to operate smoothly. They facilitate the flow of patients throughout the facility and handle a variety of other clinical and administrative tasks. Doctors in all specializations need medical assistants to help run their offices.
2. Starting Work Sooner
Medical assistants can begin working in the healthcare field sooner than students who attend nursing programs at four-year universities. Many schools offer programs that can be completed in as little as 12 months.
There is no additional waiting to complete residency because externships can be completed at the same time as the coursework. National certification may be required depending on the employer. Though most states do not require certifications, MTI College prepares medical assistant students for the CCMA certification exam. The certification can help bolster a medical assistant’s job prospects.
3. Limitless Career Paths
Medical assistants graduate with the knowledge and experience needed to excel in the healthcare industry. They are trained in both clinical and administrative tasks that are critical to running an office or clinic.
With a vast array of skills at their disposal, medical assistants can explore different areas of medicine and discover what they are passionate about. Medical assistants have the opportunity to specialize in a certain type of medicine, teach students who also want to become medical assistants or even be the office manager.
4. Diverse On-the-Job Experiences
Medical assistants are capable of performing many different tasks needed to keep the clinic or office open in addition to treating patients. Their versatility also ensures they will not be bored on the job because there is always something they can do.
Additionally, the patients who come in to be treated and what they are seeking to be treated for varies daily. Every day on the job is different than the one before.
5. Helping People
Medical assistants help physicians run their offices, but they also provide patients with compassion and understanding while doing so. Like their fellow healthcare professionals, medical assistants take satisfaction in knowing they are helping patients and changing their lives for the better.
A quality education is a crucial start to a medical assistant’s career. Students can complete MTI College’s Medical Assistant Diploma program in as little as 12 months.
MTI College’s Medical Assistant program prepares students for the California Certified Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam, which can also be taken on campus. We offer the essential resources medical assisting students need to excel in the classroom, in their externships, and in the workforce to help care for patients.