Did you know that the number of medical assistants needed in the U.S. is expected to rise by 23% by the year 2024?
This means that there will be amazing job opportunities waiting for those who are willing to study and obtain certification as a medical assistant.
If you’re ready to make a career change, or transition into a new role, becoming a medical assistant could be your new career path.
Is becoming a medical assistant the right thing for you? Let’s find out!
Why You Should Choose to be a Medical Assistant
There are plenty of reasons to choose medical assisting as a career, but for a lot of people, the main reason is the interest to work within a hospital/medical environment.
Becoming a nurse or a doctor takes years of studying, but becoming a medical assistant doesn’t have to take very long.
That is what makes the program so convenient for people who don’t have a lot of time, like single mothers, or people who are working part-time.
You don’t have to spend several years of your life on studying. Becoming a medical assistant is a short process. In fact, it doesn’t have to take more than a single year.
Let’s have a look at the different programs you can choose from:
How to Become a Medical Assistant
There are two main programs that you can take to become a medical assistant, and both will allow you to obtain certification.
You are not legally required to pass the certification exam in order to practice medical assisting, however, employers prefer that you have it.
This shows the employer that you have undergone the necessary training so they don’t have to invest a lot of money in training you. That is why having the certification makes you a much more attractive candidate for a job as a medical assistant.
When you have decided to study medical assisting, there are different programs that you can take which we will now go over.
Medical Assistant Diploma
This course has a high focus on hands-on practical training, which will enable the student to perform all the required duties of a medical assistant.
Taking the diploma is the fastest way to become a medical assistant. This course takes just a single year to complete.
It will give you all the necessary knowledge that you need to prepare for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) certification exam.
Medical Assistant Degree Program
This program has the hands-on practical training of the diploma, but also contains a lot of theoretical practice like other degree programs.
Completing the medical assistant degree program is an option for those who have the necessary time to invest. The degree program takes 2 years to complete.
There are some benefits related to the degree program that students should consider:
- Graduates of this degree can take the CCMA certification, which is a more advanced certification than the RMA certification given to students who complete the diploma.
- Graduates typically earn higher salaries than those with a diploma.
- Graduates are more likely to be promoted than those with a diploma.
Start your Journey Today
Both programs will allow students to obtain medical assistant certification, which is in very high demand by clinics and hospitals all over the country at a growing rate.
In other words, becoming a medical assistant will give graduates a high level of job security for the foreseeable future.
Are you ready to start your journey, and become a medical assistant? Click here to apply now.