Are you considering a job in the healthcare industry such as a medical assistant? Maybe you’re looking into financial aid for medical assistant education in New York and you’d like to know more about the profession. Here are the facts when it comes to becoming a medical assistant.
Job Outlook for Medical Assistants : According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for medical assistants is indeed very rosy. It’s projected that medical assistant jobs will grow 23 percent between 2014 and 2024 which is much faster than average when compared to other jobs. The average medical assistants made in 2015 was around $30,590 a year, with the highest earning making over $43,880. A good paying job such as a medical assistant certainly warrants going to school and seeking financial aid for medical assistant education in New York.
What Can You Expect to Do as a Medical Assistant? : You may wonder what you may do as a medical assistant. Some tasks are allowed in some states such as giving shots and vaccinations. You may work with a doctor to perform tasks such as taking a patient’s blood pressure, taking their pulse, and getting other vital signs, filling out paperwork, set up appointments for patients, preparing samples for the lab, and even enter data into the computer. You may have to learn electronic health record software.
Where Will I Work as a Medical Assistant? : Most medical assistants work in doctors’ offices, although hospitals, outpatient care centers, and other types of health practitioners may use medical assistants. Most medical assistants work full time, and may keep odd hours, especially if they are employed in a hospital or outpatient care center. The medical assistants are generally expected to work while the medical facility open, which usually means shifts that may include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Do I Need a Special Education to Become a Medical Assistant? : It depends. Some states require that you graduated from a post secondary education program which trains medical assistants. Most doctors and hospitals look for medical assistants with that type of education from recognised schools. While it’s true that you don’t need a certificate or diploma verifying that you took the appropriate classes, you will have to be trained on the job if a doctor were to hire you with no experience. Since the training usually takes only one year, it’s probably a good idea to look for medical assistant education. Also, some states require that you graduate from an accredited program. While your state may not require it, if you move, you may discover you should have attended an accredited program for medical assistants. Going to school for a year prevents this possible problem.
Another thing to consider is whether you should become certified or not. While most states don’t require certification, it’s a good idea to get certified as a medical assistant. The reason why is that most employers look for and prefer certified candidates. That means that becoming certified will give you an edge over other candidates who do not have certification.