Medical Assistant Career: A Snapshot of What to Expect

If you’re hoping to start a career that will give you the chance to help others in a healthcare setting, it’s worth considering a medical assistant certification. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary of a medical assistant in 2019 was $34,800 per year. This is a field that’s growing faster than average—with more than 735,000 jobs in 2019 and a projected growth rate of 19%. There are many opportunities to dive into a stable job that will allow you to assist physicians and their patients.

Which Workplaces Need Medical Assistants?

Medical assistants typically work in a doctor’s office or a hospital. According to the BLS, more than half of medical assistants in 2019 worked in physicians’ offices. However, around 15% of them worked in private, state, and local hospitals. Smaller percentages of medical assistants worked in outpatient care facilities and chiropractors’ offices.

Since there are so many healthcare facilities that need certified medical assistants, you have a lot of workplace options to choose from. With the right training, you’ll be able to work in a range of medical settings—from clinics to outpatient facilities—around the country.

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

Medical assistants are professionals trained to perform both administrative tasks, such as recording patient information and scheduling appointments, and take on a clinical role like helping doctors in examining patients. In a clinical setting, medical assistants can prepare blood samples, administer medications or injections and measure a patient’s vital signs.

This is a dynamic career that allows you to take on a range of responsibilities. You could be using software to collect and store patient information one minute and then assisting doctors by removing a patient’s stitches the next minute.

Because medical assistants receive valuable training in both clinical tasks and administrative duties, they can become an integral component of healthcare facilities that work with people of all ages. It’s no wonder they’re in such high demand.

How Can You Become a Medical Assistant?

Becoming a medical assistant involves receiving the appropriate training and certification from a technical or vocational school, university or community college. You can also enroll in a medical assistant program like the one offered by MedCerts, which you can complete online from the comfort of your home.

Whether you have a postsecondary education or only a high school diploma, you can enroll in a medical assistant program and discover what it takes to succeed. You might also receive additional on-the-job training to further hone your skills after you’re hired.

With so many job seekers applying for medical assistant positions, applicants with multiple national certifications tend to stand out. Today's Medical Assistants are expected to take on additional responsibilities – chief among them related to and around the practices of Phlebotomy and Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG). At MedCerts, we offer multiple programs where you can earn more than one certification. If you're hoping to move into a career as a Medical Assistant, we offer three online Medical Assistant programs depending on what certifications you are interested in.

Ready to Check Out Medical Assistant Programs Offered by MedCerts?

With the right strategy, you may complete a medical assistant program in a year or less. Once you receive your certification, you’ll be able to prove that you have the qualifications needed to work in this field.

Start today by contacting MedCerts—and before you know it, you’ll be ready to begin a new career that you’re sure to love.