Medical Assistant Certification Online: Medical assistants are a vital part of the healthcare team. They perform a wide range of tasks and procedures, including taking vital signs and assisting with patient exams. If you’re considering becoming a medical assistant, it’s important to understand the role they play in the health care system as well as their salary potential. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about becoming certified as a medical assistant (or not).
What is the role of the medical assistant?
Medical assistants perform a wide range of tasks that are essential to patient care. They help doctors and nurses by performing routine tasks, such as taking vital signs and preparing patients for procedures. Medical assistants also perform more complex duties, such as collecting samples for laboratory tests, monitoring patients’ conditions during hospitalization, preparing patients for radiological procedures (X-rays), assisting during surgery and diagnosing some medical problems through lab work or physical exams.
Medical assistants have the skills to work with many different types of patients in a variety of settings:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics/physician offices
- Long-term care facilities
What are the responsibilities of a medical assistant?
As a medical assistant, you will be required to perform a wide variety of tasks. You may be called upon to take blood pressure and temperature readings, assist with injections, administer medications or prepare patients for surgery. In some cases, medical assistants can even perform some simple surgical procedures on their own.
However, it’s important to note that in many states only licensed practitioners are allowed to perform certain advanced procedures – such as administering anesthesia – so it’s often best not to attempt these unless explicitly told otherwise by your employer or supervisor.
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What does a medical assistant do in a doctor’s office?
Medical assistants work with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide basic patient care. A medical assistant is trained in a variety of skills, including:
- Organizing patient files
- Taking history of chief complaint or reason for visit
- Performing basic tests, such as blood pressure measurement and temperature readings
- Preparing patients for examination by the physician, including administering medications (when instructed)
Medical assistants also perform routine laboratory tests and x-rays when directed by a physician or other healthcare professional.
How much does a medical assistant make?
According to Payscale, the average salary for a medical assistant is $32,000 per year. The range of salaries extends from $25,000 to $40,000 annually. Medical assistants can expect to earn anywhere between $30,000 and $40,000 per year based on experience and location in the United States.
In addition to base pay for medical assistants reported by Payscale, PayScale also reports that medical assistants typically work 40 hours per week with two weeks of paid vacation time annually as well as health insurance benefits through their employer.
What does a medical assistant do in a hospital?
As a medical assistant, you will be responsible for providing support to the doctor. Your duties may include preparing patients for examination and assisting during examination. You may also prepare lab specimens, gather information from patients, and perform administrative tasks such as filing medical records and communicating with patients regarding their care. In addition to these duties, you will also be responsible for providing patient education on topics such as proper diet, home remedies and exercise.
Can you work for a doctor without certification as a medical assistant?
You can work as a medical assistant without certification, but it’s not always easy. Many hospitals and clinics are looking for certified assistants, so if you do not have certification, you will be competing with other assistants who do have certification.
Certification is also helpful because it shows employers that you understand the basics of being a medical assistant. This makes them more likely to trust your ability to handle tasks given by doctors or nurses and could lead to an increase in responsibilities and pay over time.
In addition, certification is proof that you have met the standards set by national organizations such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). In some cases, state licensing boards require applicants pass exams based on AAMA standards in order to get licensed as a medical assistant in that state.
Medical assistants have an important job, but they might not always be required to have certification.
As a medical assistant, you will be able to make a difference in the lives of your patients and have an important job. You’ll help doctors perform tasks that they can’t do themselves, such as taking blood pressure and temperature measurements, filling out paperwork and taking notes during visits, or performing simple lab tests.
Medical assistants are in high demand because they provide so much value to the healthcare system—they save doctors time by handling all the routine work that comes into their practice. And for people who don’t have insurance or don’t want their co-pays covered by insurance (or just plain don’t like dealing with health insurance companies), being able to pay for these services out of pocket could be incredibly helpful!
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Top Schools Offering Medical Assistant Certification Online
Rasmussen
Rasmussen College
Rasmussen College offers a medical assistant program that can be completed in as little as 16 weeks. The college is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), which is an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition, Rasmussen College has been approved for veterans benefits for veterans who qualify for training at its campuses throughout the country.
Herzing
Herzing University offers a medical assistant certificate program, accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). The program is offered at the following campuses:
- Kenosha, Wisconsin
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
- Atlanta, Georgia
Keiser
- Keiser University is located in Fort Florida, Florida
- The university has been accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) since 1969
Penn Foster Career School
Penn Foster is another school that offers a variety of medical assistant programs. The school is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) and has been in business since 1848.
Penn Foster’s Pennsylvania Campus is located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania; however, students can take their classes online or through one of Penn Foster’s more than 100 different campus locations nationwide.
Bryant & Stratton
Bryant & Stratton is one of the most popular colleges in the world, with three campuses located across Connecticut. The school offers the Bryant & Stratton College Medical Assistant Career Diploma, which is accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). In addition, it is also approved by the Connecticut Board of Examiners for Allied Health Professionals.
The medical assistant program includes core classes such as anatomy/physiology, medical terminology and communications skills. In addition to learning about general topics related to healthcare administration and patient care procedures such as CPR training, students take elective courses like business management or public speaking. Students can complete their diploma in as little as 26 months if they attend full-time; however part-time students may take up to six years before completing their degree requirements due to scheduling conflicts with other commitments such as work or family responsibilities
Carrington College
Carrington College offers a medical assistant certificate program online, which consists of 24 credits. Students will learn how to operate office equipment, how to perform clinical duties and how to assist physicians with their patients. Students may also choose from several electives offered through the program, including Phlebotomy, Anatomy and Physiology I & II, or Medical Office Management Skills. The Carrington College is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS).
Students who complete this program are eligible for certification through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), which requires that students complete an internship at a healthcare facility during their final semester as part of their coursework.
Online learning has expanded medical assistant training, making it possible for more people to get their certification.
Online learning has expanded medical assistant training, making it possible for more people to get their certification.
Online learning is often a more flexible option than traditional on-campus programs. For example, many colleges and universities offer online courses during the evenings or on weekends so that students can study while holding down full-time jobs.
Online learning may also come with a lower price tag than face-to-face courses at traditional schools. That’s because there are no classroom or lab fees associated with online classes and labs are not required, although some online schools do require students to visit campus for exams or other assessment activities. Another potential cost savings? The fact that you can take classes from home rather than commuting daily to campus will save you money on gas and parking expenses!
Conclusion
Medical assistant certification is the fastest-growing professional certification in the U.S., and it’s a field that’s expected to grow even more over the next 10 years. The job market for medical assistants is expected to grow by 23 percent between now and 2026, which means there will be plenty of jobs available for new graduates with this degree. Plus, you’ll have an edge on other applicants who don’t have any formal training or education behind them when it comes time for an interview!
