How to Become a Medical Assistant:
Find Medical Assisting Training That Works for You
Learn how to become a medical assistant, and start a career where you'll make a difference in people's lives. With the wide variety of medical assisting training programs available, you can get a career-focused education that fits into your schedule and your budget.
To get your career started on the right track, follow these steps to ensure that you make the most of your time at medical assisting school and reach the best opportunities in the job market.
Step 1: Determine Where You Want to Take Your Medical Assisting Career
Before you choose a medical assisting training program, you need to answer two important questions:
- How soon do you want to enter the workforce?
- Do you plan to pursue an advanced medical assisting degree later in your career?
Medical assisting training programs give you the option of earning either a one-year certificate or a two-year associate's degree. Both paths have unique benefits. Getting into the workforce faster with a diploma or certificate in medical assisting means you'll start earning a paycheck sooner. Earning an associate's degree, on the other hand, gives you academic credits that you can apply toward a bachelor's or master's degree later in your career.
Step 2: Decide Between an Online or On-Campus Medical Assisting Program
You will find high-quality medical assistant training programs offered through both online and traditional classroom formats. Obviously, the educational route you choose depends on your personal learning style and the number of hours per week that you can dedicate to your training.
Online medical assisting programs typically offer these advantages:
- More flexible class scheduling
- Self-paced study
- Wider selection of medical assisting schools and no out-of-state tuition
- Time and cost savings associated with not commuting to and from school
- Increased access to instructors and peers through online chat rooms, bulletin boards and email
Traditional classroom programs provide these benefits:
- Face-to-face contact with instructors and fellow students
- A high amount of structure and strict class scheduling
Generally speaking, students who demonstrate strong self-discipline will have an easier time with online medical assisting courses than those who need a more structured learning environment to keep them motivated. However, cost-savings and flexibility can also make a difference to your decision about which program is right for you.
Step 3: Match Your Medical Assisting Training to the Job Requirements
Your medical assisting training program should provide you with comprehensive education in the subjects necessary to the job—from office practices and recordkeeping to human anatomy and first aid.
Learning how to become a medical assistant involves one other key component—hands-on training. Gaining practical experience in the field can lead to job opportunities after you graduate. Typically, colleges offer clinical training through an externship at a hospital, physician's office or other health care facility, even if you enroll in an online program.
Step 4: Choose an Accredited Medical Assisting School and Prepare for Certification
Becoming a certified medical assistant will enhance your professional credentials. Over 90 percent of medical assistants opt to get certified even though the law does not require it. Graduates of an accredited medical assisting training program can pursue the following certifications:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
Both credentials have their own education, experience and exam requirements. Choosing a medical assisting college that meets the accreditation standards for certification will help you avoid repeating course work and spending extra tuition dollars in the future.
Choose the Medical Assisting Training That's Right for You
Earning your medical assisting degree from a program that matches your goals will make a significant difference to your career. Solid training, practical experience and a chance to make professional contacts should all be part of your educational experience, and a good medical assistant training program will help give you a strong foundation in this thriving and rewarding profession.
