How to Become a Medical Assistant
- What Is a CMA?
- Steps to Become
- Education Options
- Certification Options
- CMA Salary and Job Outlook
- Medical Assistant FAQ
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Credit: Charday Penn / E+ / Getty ImagesMedical assistants are often among the first to help patients in medical clinics and offices. They ensure that healthcare offices run smoothly by assisting patients, nurse practitioners (NP), nurses, and physicians.
Individuals looking for careers that blend patient care and administrative duties can use this guide to learn how to become a medical assistant.
1-2 Years
2-4 Years
Degree Required
Medical assistant certificate or associate degree
Job Outlook
15% growth, 2023-2033
What Is a Medical Assistant?
Certified medical assistants (CMAs) are key members of the healthcare team. These multi-skilled professionals often work in outpatient settings, such as clinics, medical offices, and surgical centers.
The key responsibilities of medical assistants include both administrative and clinical tasks. This can mean updating medical records, coordinating admissions, monitoring patient conditions, and assisting nurse practitioners or physicians during exams.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants handle clinical and administrative duties that are crucial to providing quality patient care. Their tasks vary depending on the care setting and location.
Administrative Duties
- Greeting and checking in patients for appointments
- Updating patients’ electronic health records (EHR)
- Scheduling appointments
- Arranging hospital admissions and lab tests
- Filling out insurance paperwork
Clinical Duties
- Measuring vital signs and recording medical histories
- Drawing blood for lab tests
- Explaining treatment procedures
- Assisting providers with examinations, procedures, and minor surgery
- Removing stitches and dressing wounds
What Skills Do You Need to Become a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants need clinical and technical knowledge to perform patient care and administrative duties. Students learn medical assisting skills during their programs. They also need people skills to succeed.
Hard Skills
- Medical billing and coding
- Medical terminology
- Keyboarding and computer applications
- Clinical assessment and diagnostic skills
- First aid and wound care
Soft Skills
- Written communication
- Interpersonal skills
- Empathy
- Attention to detail
- Analytical skills
Popular Online Medical Assisting Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Steps to Becoming a Certified Medical Assistant
To become a medical assistant, you need to graduate from an accredited program and apply for certification. You may also advance your career through specialization and further education.
Education and certification requirements vary by state and employer. Even if your state doesn’t require certification, most organizations prefer to hire certified medical assistants, which demonstrates your knowledge and skills to employers.
- 1
Earn a high school diploma or equivalent.
A high school diploma is the minimum education requirement to work as a medical assistant. High school classes in math and science can help you succeed in your medical assistant certification.
- 2
Attend an accredited medical assistant program.
During an accredited medical assistant program, you develop administrative and clinical skills. Coursework covers the basics of anatomy and physiology, along with CPR certification. You also receive coursework on the cardiovascular system and learn how to perform an electrocardiogram (EKG).
Students learn in-class skills in medical record handling, appointment setting, scheduling, and the basics of medical billing. This includes the various types of insurance plans and companies, how to prepare a superbill, and how to use diagnosis and procedure codes.
Medical assistants may also handle business management for private practices, and most programs include a basic education in management. This includes hiring practices, disciplinary issues, managing people with different personalities, and medical risk management.
- 3
Apply for medical assistant certification.
The National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) accredits medical assistant certification organizations. There are five certification options for medical assistants based on eligibility and clinical care vs. administrative focus. Aspiring professionals can pursue a certification credential through the American Association of Medical Assistants or earn certification through another organization.
- 4
Pass the CMA exam.
The CMA exam includes 200 multiple-choice questions over four 40-minute test periods. Consider taking a review course and practice exams to improve your chances of passing the CMA exam.
- 5
Find the right position for you
Medical assistants typically work in outpatient settings, but can often find employment in clinics, schools, hospitals, nursing homes, and laboratories. Some medical assistant programs work with local employers to help place students in roles within the facilities.
Consider enrolling in an externship program or volunteering to get additional experience, which can boost your chances of finding a job. Medical assistants may also search online job boards for positions within private clinics, laboratories, and research centers. Many hospitals maintain lists of open positions on their websites.
- 6
Explore continued education
Medical assistants work in entry-level positions within healthcare but can specialize their work and advance their careers. Certification as a clinical or administrative medical assistant demonstrates your advanced knowledge and skills in these areas.
Within clinical practice, medical assistants can specialize in cardiology, family practice, geriatrics, and ophthalmology, among other areas. They may also consider continuing their education in other healthcare subjects.
Some medical assistants pursue nursing education with an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program. ADN-prepared nurses can advance to BSN degrees through RN-to-BSN bridge programs, which are often available entirely online. Other options include:
- Office management
- Physician assistant
- Program management
- Phlebotomy technician
- Surgical technician
- EKG technician
Certified Medical Assistant Schooling
Candidates typically follow two paths to medical assistant certification: a CMA certificate or an associate degree in medical assisting. Students should choose an accredited program for medical assistants or an accredited associate degree.
A medical assistant program takes 9-12 months to complete, while associate degrees take two years and offer a stepping stone to BSN programs.
Certificate Program
A certificate program is an entry-level education pathway on your journey to becoming a medical assistant. The program suits individuals who need to begin working quickly, with most coursework available online. Graduates from accredited programs meet all the necessary requirements to pursue entry-level positions.
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent, admission into the school if the certificate program is administered through a higher education institution
- Program Curriculum: Basic anatomy and physiology, clinical techniques, insurance coding, front office procedures, pharmacology, medical terminology
- Time to Complete: 9-12 months
- Credits Earned: 30-40
- Skills Learned: Medical terminology, patient preparation, CPR, and insurance processing
Associate Degree Program
Associate degrees are best suited for medical assistants looking to advance their careers and ultimately complete a bachelor’s degree. The program takes at least two years of full-time enrollment to cover general education classes and medical assistant program requirements.
- Admission Requirements: High school diploma or equivalent and an application
- Program Curriculum: Medical ethics, software application, composition, anatomy and physiology, math, applied communications, externship, and medical laboratory procedures
- Time to Complete: Two years
- Credits Earned: 60-75
- Skills Learned: Laboratory sample preparation, basic insurance and billing, composition and communication, and computer application
Medical Assistant Licensure and Certification
Medical assistant certification demonstrates your knowledge, skills, and career commitment to potential employers. Most healthcare companies prefer medical assistants who have graduated from accredited programs and hold certification from one of the following certifying organizations.
- Certified Medical Assistant (American Association of Medical Assistants): This is the most common certification for new medical assistants to earn before specializing in clinical care or administrative duties.
- Registered Medical Assistant (American Medical Technologists): Candidates must be employed for at least three of the last seven years to qualify. The general national certification is recognized by most states.
- National Certified Medical Assistant (National Center for Competency Testing): Candidates qualify for the exam if they have graduated from an accredited program, or if they possess two years of physician-supervised, full-time work experience.
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (National Healthcareer Association): This certification demonstrates a specialized focus on clinical care, including vital signs, medications, EKGs, and phlebotomy.
- Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (National Healthcareer Association): Certified medical assistants specialize in administrative duties, including operating computer systems, answering correspondence, coordinating operation reports, and scheduling appointments.
Certified Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook
Medical assistants benefit from a strong job outlook and median salaries similar to other healthcare support occupations. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual salary of $44,200 for medical assistants as of May 2024.
Earning potential depends on factors, such as location, work setting, and experience. For example, the states with the highest medical assistant salaries include Washington, Alaska, Oregon, and Minnesota.
Job Outlook for Certified Medical Assistants
The medical assistant field continues to grow quickly, with an aging population and an ongoing need for medical services driving demand for medical assistants.
BLS projections indicate a 15% job growth rate from 2023-2033, substantially outpacing the projected growth rate for all occupations. That translates into nearly 120,000 medical assistant job openings every year.
Medical Assistant Salary by Work Setting
The earning potential for medical assistants varies depending on the work setting, as do their responsibilities. According to the BLS, 56% of medical assistants work in physicians’ offices, while 16% work in hospitals and 9% work in outpatient care centers.
Outpatient Centers
Medical assistants may measure vital signs, take medical histories and personal information, help providers with examinations, and schedule appointments in this setting.
Median wage (May 2024): $47,560
Hospitals
Medical assistants in hospitals may schedule appointments, update treatments, assist physicians with minor procedures, and track accurate medical information.
Median wage (May 2024): $45,930
Physicians’ Offices
In physicians’ offices, the professionals may give patients injections as permitted by state law, draw blood, take throat swabs, and enter EHRs.
Median wage (May 2024): $43,880
Frequently Asked Questions About Becoming a Medical Assistant
Medical assistants are in high demand, and you can become a medical assistant in under one year. Medical assistant programs take 9-24 months and cover clinical and administrative skills. Students gain hands-on experience through a practicum or externship. After completing a medical assistant program, graduates can pursue certification and apply for entry-level positions.
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