Introduction
Becoming certified as a medical assistant is a great pathway to embark on for those interested in a career in the healthcare field. Medical assisting involves taking on a variety of administrative and clinical tasks in a medical office or clinic setting.
To become a certified medical assistant, individuals must complete a medical assistant training program.
These programs provide the necessary knowledge and skills to perform tasks such as measuring vital signs, administering medications, and documenting medical histories.
Additionally, medical assistants work closely with physicians, physician assistant and other healthcare professionals to ensure smooth operation of the medical office. Upon completing a medical assisting program, individuals are eligible to take the certification exam.
Achieving certification demonstrates proficiency and can enhance employment opportunities in the field. By becoming a certified medical assistant, individuals can contribute to the well-being of patients and play a vital role in the healthcare system.
So, let’s get started and know how to become a certified medical assistant!
Medical Assistant Career: Meaning
Certified Medical Assistants help healthcare professionals with tasks in the clinic and office. These tasks can range from taking vital signs, giving injections, and drawing blood to making calls, scheduling appointments, and collecting patient information.
In other words, they’re essential for keeping medical teams running smoothly. If you’re looking for a rewarding career that makes a real difference in the lives of others, becoming a Certified Medical Assistant could be the perfect choice for you.
Employers often prefer candidates who have gained national certification. This certification shows that you’re committed to your profession.
Skills Needed to Become Certified Medical Assistant
Want to be a medical assistant? You’ll need a collection of hard and soft skills to do the job right.
Hard skills are those you get from studying and learning. Like administrative expertise such as record keeping, scheduling appointments, and other office tasks.
You’ll also need to understand what goes on in medical settings such as taking vital signs, helping with medical procedures, collecting specimens, and more.
As for soft skills, these come from being a people person -patience when things don’t go exactly as planned and providing emotional comfort.
Other than this, you should also have the right skills to stay organized and take care of important tasks. That means keeping track of patient appointments, maintaining medical records, calling in prescriptions, and ordering office supplies.
You’ll need to be comfortable with computers, too. Basically, you’ll need all the skills you need to run an office smoothly. Medical assistants usually work in hospitals, clinics and private practices and do lots of important tasks.
These might include updating patient record preparing patients for examinations, giving them information and instructions, helping with exams, treatments and procedures, cleaning rooms, collecting specimens, administering immunisations or removing sutures.
Plus, they may need to tell patients about any follow-up care needed or explain any special diets. Oh and they perform ECGs too! If this sounds like something you’d love to do, then take the first step today and find out what you need to become a medical assistant.
Now, you probably already have some of the essential skills employers look for. These ‘soft skills’ are traits that come naturally or with experience, like being a leader, good at communicating, managing your time, and so on.
Examples of important soft skills for medical assistants are:
- Talking and listening to people
- Being able to understand the needs of others
- Being thorough
- Being trustworthy and honest
- Working well in a team
- Thinking carefully about things
- Keeping organized
- Keeping your promises
- Staying motivated
How to Become a Certified Medical Assistant?
1. Obtaining Your High School Diploma for CMA Certification
Ready to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)? First things first: you’ll need your GED or High school diploma. It might be a little harder, but it is possible to become a CMA without any other post-secondary training.
That’s why having your high school diploma is the first step you need to take. So, if you’ve already got your diploma, you’re good to go – time for the next step!
2. Exploring Accredited Medical Assistant Programs
If you’re looking to pursue a career as a certified medical assistant, taking the right steps is important. The second step is to research accredited programs that fit the criteria set by the AAMA.
Look into community colleges, vocational schools, and universities near you – or meet with people already in this job to learn more.
3. Completing an Approved CMA (AAMA) Educational Program
Choose an accredited program and start learning about medical care – from anatomy & physiology basics to more specialized subjects like radiology.
Once you complete your course, you’ll be ready to take the CMA certification exam and officially become a certified Medical Assistant. It’s never too late to get started on a great new career!
4. Achieving Success in the CMA Examination
To become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), you’ll need to take an accredited medical assistant program, then pass the CMA (AAMA) Certification Exam.
If you’ve been accepted to a CAAHEP or ABHES approved program, your transcripts will be sent to the AAMA as proof of eligibility for the exam. The fee for members to take the exam is $125, and $250 for non-members.
Representing the basic competencies required of CMA professionals, this 200-question multiple choice exam covers everything from Human Behavior & Death & Dying, to Nonverbal Communication & Professionalism.
You’ve got three attempts to pass and prove you’re ready to join the ranks of CMA-certified professionals. Results will arrive within three weeks, followed by an official CMA certificate shortly after.
You don’t have to wait until you finish your program—you can take the test one month early.
9,047 people took the CMA exam between July of 2021 and July of 2022, and 58% of them passed on their first try. As of March 2023, there are 75,659 certified Medical Assistants with the American Association of Medical Assistants.
5. Sustaining Your AAMA (CMA) Certification Every 60 Months
Once you’re a CMA, you’ll need to maintain your AAMA credential every 60 months. You can do this by taking an exam or earning 60 continuing education units (CEUs) across general, administrative, and clinical content areas.
Each certifying agency may have slightly different timelines and requirements, so make sure to check their guidelines. With these steps, you’ll be on the path to becoming a CMA!
Medical Assistant Program & Certified Medical Assistant Credential
Think you’re cut out for a career as a Medical Assistant? Take it one step further and become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA). Becoming a CMA means that you’ve met special qualifications and passed an important exam.
Pass this test, and employers won’t just see that you have the skills to be a Medical Assistant- they’ll know that you’re serious about the profession. The certification makes you stand out too, so it can help you get ahead of the competition in the job market.
So what are you waiting for? Start your certification journey today and become a Certified Medical Assistant!
Working as a Certified Medical Assistant : Average salary
Certified medical assistants earn an average of $44,256 per year. Your salary could be different, depending on where you are, your experience, and the type of facility you work in.
Some benefits you may be eligible for include 401(k) matching, professional development support, loan repayment programs, and paid time off.
The good news is that the number of jobs in this field is estimated to increase by a whopping 16% between 2021 and 2031. This is much higher than the national average for all other jobs.
The growth of healthcare facilities is the main reason behind this growth– with more medical centers, there is increased demand for workers like CMAs to do clinical and administrative duties.
Pros of Becoming a Medical Assistant
1. Diverse Career Settings for Medical Assistants
Becoming a Medical Assistant has many advantages. You can find work in a variety of health settings, from cities to rural communities, and all sorts of places in between. You can work in hospitals, clinics, private practices, care facilities, and more.
Plus, you can specialize in the type of care you provide. This could include pediatric care, geriatrics, OB/GYN, chiropractic, psychiatry, cardiology and much more. With so many options, you can easily create a career that fits your interests and goals!
2. Growing Demand for Medical Assistants
The healthcare industry is in need of medical assistants – especially during the current pandemic. As the baby boomer generation ages, there will be an even higher demand for medical care.
Medical assistants can help healthcare professionals better care for patients, providing more preventative medical services. If you’re looking for a job with a secure future, becoming a medical assistant might just be perfect for you.
3. Certification Opportunities for Medical Assistants
Getting certified as a medical assistant is a great way to set yourself apart and demonstrate your expertise.
While certification isn’t required for all medical assistant jobs, having it will make you attractive to potential employers. Make sure to add this achievement to your resume and impress employers with your qualifications!
4. Flexibility in Medical Assistant Schedules
Working as a medical assistant can provide a lot of flexibility in your schedule. With longer shifts, you have fewer days per week that you need to work, giving you more free time.
This could be the perfect job for you if the traditional 9-5 hours don’t fit with your lifestyle – you could even find a role with evening hours so you can spend time with family and friends.
5. Short Training Duration for Medical Assistants
If you’ve ever dreamed of a career in healthcare, now is your chance! Medical assistants aren’t in school for years like some other professionals – training only takes months.
You can even skip formal education depending on your state, but most employers prefer prior experience, so think about looking into programs that can give you the skills you need.
6. Advancing Education as a Medical Assistant
Being a medical assistant is a great way to get ahead in your career and take advantage of educational opportunities. Some workplaces offer tuition reimbursement, which can help you pay for the costs of getting a degree.
All you have to do is agree to stay in the job for a certain amount of time. If you leave early, you may have to pay back some of the money for your classes. This is a great way to get support for furthering your education and becoming more valuable to your employer.
7. Assured Job Security for Medical Assistants
In a world of ever-changing opportunities, medical assistants can rest assured their career is here to stay. With secure job prospects and a vital role in keeping the healthcare environment going, being a medical assistant offers advantages that go beyond a regular paycheck.
Knowing that your job is essential in providing care to those who need it provides a sense of security in knowing you can always support yourself and your family.
8. Consistent Earnings as a Medical Assistant
Being a medical assistant has many advantages, one of which is a steady income. You won’t become a millionaire overnight, but you and your family can have peace of mind knowing that you’ll have a reliable paycheck.
That means you don’t have to worry about where your next income is coming from. With the steady salary, you can provide the basic needs for yourself and your loved ones. So if you’re looking for a job with security and assurance, consider becoming a medical assistant.
Varieties of Medical Assistant Certifications
1. Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Credential
Becoming a CMA certified medical assistant is a great way to increase your career opportunities and job security. It shows healthcare professionals that you have the knowledge and skills they need, and is widely respected in the field.
Passing the CMA Exam can give you a big boost when it comes to getting ahead. It proves that you have what it takes to excel as a medical assistant, and to make an impact on any healthcare team.
2. Progressing Your Path: Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Certification
If you’re a medical assistant, you may want to become a registered medical assistant (RMA).
Certified by the American Medical Technologists (AMT), here’s what you need for RMA credentials: 720 clinical training hours, five years of work experience, and passing a 2-hour exam with 200-230 questions.
The exam covers topics like anatomy, medical coding, medical terminology, and practice guidelines. It’s time to level up your career – become an RMA today!
3. Embrace the Role: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
The CCMA certification lets medical assistants perform clinical duties in addition to administrative tasks.
To get this certification from the National Healthcareer Association, you need a high school diploma, an accredited medical assistant program, or at least one year of supervised work experience.
Plus, you’ll have to pass the CCMA exam. This exam is three hours long and has 150 scored questions.
4. Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) Credential
Thinking about becoming a medical assistant? One way to show you have the right skills is to get certified. There’s a nationally certified medical assistant (NCMA) credential issued by the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT).
To qualify you must have either a high school diploma or GED, completed an accredited training program or have at least two years of full-time experience working with a licensed physician.
The exam covers 150 questions and takes three hours to complete. Getting certified will help you show employers you have the knowledge and skills they seek in a medical assistant.
Conclusion
Thus, becoming a new medical assistant requires certain steps and qualifications. First and foremost, aspiring medical assistants must complete the required education and training.
This typically includes completing a program at an accrediting Bureau of health education school or a commission on accreditation of allied health education programs.
These programs provide the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the duties of a medical assistant effectively.
Additionally, individuals may also need to obtain certification or licensure to work as a medical assistant, depending on the state or job requirements.
It is important for medical assistants to be knowledgeable and proficient in various medical procedures and tasks such as administering medication or assisting in anesthesia.
Overall, becoming a medical assistant is a rewarding career choice for individuals who are passionate about healthcare and desire to make a positive impact in the lives of patients.
Good Luck!
