Reasons to Be a Medical Assistant

If you’re looking to start your career in the healthcare sector, why not consider getting your medical assistant certification? With quick training, lucrative salaries, and excellent job growth, this allied health profession is an excellent route for people who are new to healthcare or who already have experience.

1. This Is a Quick Certification That Pays Well

While there are no formal requirements to work as a medical assistant, most employers prefer applicants to be certified medical assistants. Completing a medical assisting program or associate degree is often a necessity to get hired.

But instead of, say, a surgeon going to school for more than 15 years, medical assistant classes usually take less than a year..

2. This Career Makes a Difference

Well-trained and professional medical assistants make a massive difference in a patient’s hospital or clinic experience. On any given day, a medical assistant might administer medicine, help patients navigate complex insurance policies, and prep patients for examinations.

MAs often cite this wide range of responsibilities for why they’re proud to be part of this field.

4. Won’t Break the Bank

Unlike university programs, medical assistant students aren’t required to take out tens of thousands of dollars in student loans.

Whether you opt for an MA certificate program (which takes 7.5 months at Sumner College) or a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree, you’ll be paying substantially less than what a 4-year (or medical) degree would cost.

5. Learn with Exciting and Applicable Classes

MAs are unique in that they straddle the line between administration and treatment. During medical assistant classes, students will study physiology, patient care, sterilization techniques, and basic pharmacology. Classroom lessons on administrative tasks like insurance, HIPAA compliance, and medical billing and coding are equally important.

6. Continue Your Education Later on

Students who pursue a two-year associate degree program will be required to complete general education courses. While they may seem unnecessary for a quick entry into the medical industry, it’s a practical option for anyone contemplating on continuing their education in the future.

After several years of working, you may end up enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program. Some of these associate degree credits can be transferred instead of starting from scratch.

7. There Isn’t One Standard Working Day

The medical assistant job description is so varied that it’s impossible to be bored during your shifts. On any given day, you could be speaking with an insurance agency, drawing blood, managing the front desk, or helping take patient’s vital signs.

Medical assistants are trained to carry out a wide range of duties and are expected to step in where they’re needed the most.

8. Varied Working Environments

Some people like the fast pace of a surgical ward, general medical hospital, or trauma center. Others may prefer the quieter vibe of a private physician’s office. Smaller practices tend to rely on their medical assistants to handle both administrative and clinical duties, while MAs at larger practices and hospitals tend to focus on one set.

Whichever location you choose, you’ll be able to find one that fits your personality.

9. A Great Launchpad into the Medical Industry

In the medical world, experimenting with different career paths is a high-stakes game. Training as a nurse or a doctor takes incredible time and effort, and it’s not unheard of for medical professionals to dislike the field they’ve chosen.

Why not start with a job that allows you to experience the widest range of duties possible? Medical assistants can decide whether patient care or medical administration is more their speed, and many go back to school to gain their nursing degree or become a certified medical biller.

If you’re ready for more responsibility, many medical assistants move onto careers like sonography, nursing, and hospital management.

10. How Much Do Medical Assistants Make? You’d Be Surprised!

For a career that doesn’t require a 4-year degree, these healthcare professionals have great income opportunities. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a medical assistant was $33,610 in 2018.

Some states (like Alaska, Washington DC, and Minnesota) pay far more than $40,000 per year. Just like any other career, your income comes down to credentials and location. No matter how you slice it, medical assistants are some of the best paid healthcare professionals out there.

Learn more:

What is a Medical Assistant