Medical assistants are the people who show you into a doctor's office, ask you for some basic information and enter it into the computer while you wait for the doctor. They also perform many other jobs, which depend on where they are employed. There is actually no requirement for these people to be certified, but 90 percent opt to get a medical assistant certification. This provides access to many more jobs, and assures people of their professionalism.
In order to get a medical assistant certificate, the person must graduate from a recognized program of study in the field. These are usually either certificate programs, though the certificate they give is a certificate of completion for the program, not a certification in the field, or two year degrees. They both provide coursework and a practical component where the student works in the field, usually without pay.
Medical assisting programs can be appealing short, some as short as 6-8 weeks. This generally appeals to students who desire to start work as close to immediately as possible. These programs are also available online, so many people who attend them simultaneously work at some other job.
After graduation from the program, or sometimes immediately before graduation, the student is eligible to take one of several certification exams in medical assisting. There are multiple agencies that grant certification, and some are more recognized than others. Deciding which certification will best suit them is for the student to decide, though the agency that offers their program of study should be willing to help.
Certification may not be open to students with felony records, even if they have completed a recognized program of study. Usually, the certification agency will consider the crime, how long it has been, and the student's recent conduct within the community in deciding whether to allow them to complete the exam.
The exam itself may vary, but the exam from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is a 200-question multiple choice exam with breaks optional every 40 minutes of the 160 minute exam. The exam is computerized, and there is a tutorial option at the beginning for those who need it. The tutorial portion is not part of the time limit, and does not affect your score.
Assistants work in hospital, clinic and private settings. They perform a wide range of duties depending on what is needed from them, and the job markets for certified medical assistants is quite good. Growth is predicted within the industry in the next 10 years, so those with new medical assistant certification should have little trouble finding jobs.
Assistants may work long hours during the weekend or night if they work at a hospital or similar setting, but there are plenty of opportunities in doctors offices where the work may be 9 to 5 Monday through Friday. The job is not the best paid, but a living wage is made by most of those with certificates. It can be a very attractive job to those who want a steady paycheck and often, benefits, and who don't have a lot of other prospects, as well as a calling for people who feel drawn to the career.
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