How to Become a Medical Assistant

Medical assistants are the first to help patients in medical clinics and offices. They assist patients, nurse practitioners, nurses, and physicians by providing care and ensuring the facility runs smoothly. Individuals looking for careers that blend patient care and administrative duties can use this in-depth guide to learn how to become a medical assistant.

What Is a Certified Medical Assistant?

Certified medical assistants are key members of the healthcare team. They are multi-skilled healthcare professionals who typically work in outpatient settings, such as clinics, medical offices, and outpatient surgical centers.

After learning to become a medical assistant, you are expected to be adept at administrative and clinical responsibilities, such as 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 in outpatient settings. The following list includes some of the most commonly required tasks, but these activities may vary based on the care setting.

What Skills Do You Need to Become a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants learn hard skills during their programs, which they need to perform administrative and patient care duties. However, crucial soft skills are often acquired before enrolling in a medical assistant program. Consider the following:

Steps to Become a Certified Medical Assistant

To become a medical assistant, you must earn a high school diploma or its equivalent. Next, 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 assures your employer you have the ability and knowledge to perform the necessary duties.

Certified Medical Assistant Schooling

Candidates typically follow two paths to medical assistant certification: a CMA certificate or an associate degree in medical assisting. You may graduate from an accredited program for medical assistants or earn 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.

Medical Assistant 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 five certifying organizations listed below. Each of the certifications has a slightly different focus and requirements.

Generally, each organization requires you to have completed an accredited program and supervised work experience. Choose your certification carefully, as it demonstrates your medical assistant expertise. You can also pursue multiple certifications.

• 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 accredited programs or 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.

Working as a Certified Medical Assistant

After graduating and becoming certified to practice, a medical assistant may find employment in their local community through networking. They can also explore online job boards for outpatient clinics and physicians' offices.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual salary of $38,270 for medical assistants as of May 2022. Discover more about medical assistant salaries and how they vary based on location and setting.

Finding a Job as a Certified Medical Assistant

The medical assistant field continues to grow quickly. BLS projections indicate a 16% job growth rate from 2022-2032, far outpacing the projected growth rate for all occupations.

Medical assistants can highlight the skills they learned in their programs, externships, and employment to stand out in the job market. If you desire a job focusing on clinical care, consider taking a short volunteer position or externship to develop experience and request a professional letter of recommendation.

Common Work Settings for Medical Assistants

The role of the medical assistant may also vary depending on the setting. According to the BLS, three of the most common workplace settings are:

• Outpatient Centers: Medical assistants may measure vital signs, take medical histories and personal information, help providers with examinations, and schedule appointments in this setting.
• Physicians' Offices: In physicians' offices, the professionals may give patients injections as permitted by state law, draw blood, take throat swabs, and enter EHRs.
• Hospitals: Medical assistants in hospitals may schedule appointments, update treatments, assist physicians with minor procedures, and track accurate medical information.

Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Medical Assistant

What is the difference between a CMA and a certified nursing assistant (CNA)?

A CNA is sometimes called a nurse's aide and works directly under the supervision of a nurse, performing duties such as taking vital signs, changing bed linens, or helping patients to the bathroom. Certified medical aides (CMAs) perform administrative and clinical duties, including billing, scheduling, and operating computer software.

How long does it take to become a medical assistant?

You can become a medical assistant in nine months by completing a certificate program or two years by completing an associate degree. A certificate program allows you to start work more quickly, but an associate degree offers a stronger foundation for advancing your education.

What skills are important for medical assistants?

Medical assistants must have good clinical, communication, and organizational skills. They must possess empathy for their patients and attention to detail in clinical care and administrative duties.

What types of questions are included on the CMA exam?

The exam's 200 multiple-choice questions cover psychology, communication, professionalism, and medical terminology, along with medical ethics, medical law, and risk management. Administrative questions address medical reception, patient advocacy, business practices, finances, and medical records. Clinical topics include anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, patient procedures, nutrition, and first aid.

Page last reviewed September 8, 2023