Medical Assistant School

Your online resource for Medical Assistant School and Career Information. Medical assistant degrees are popular among many students who want to find a quick career in the medical fields. This course of study generally requires no more than 2 years of education in most cases. Medical assistants are trained in specific educational programs, allowing them to become certified with a diploma or certificate to work in the medical assistant position. These people are responsible for light clinical work and major office functions to keep the medical office running the way that it should be. In most cases, medical assistants will do much less clinical work than office work. The career is expected to see substantial growth over the next 20 years, creating more jobs and opportunities for students who choose the career now and into the future. Medical assistant positions are available in many different facilities including doctor offices, clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities around the nation. For people who want to work in the medical field but don't want to get too hands-on or go through extensive education, the medical assistant school option is a good choice.

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Medical Assisting Education

Medical Assisting School: Your Prescription for a Healthy New Career
Have you ever been to a doctor's office that ran like clockwork? That was probably thanks to the medical assistant. Medical assistants take care of administrative tasks (answering telephones, greeting patients, scheduling appointments) and clinical tasks (preparing patients for examination, recording vital signs, and explaining treatment procedures).

In small practices, medical assistants may do both administrative and clinical tasks, while in large practices they generally specialize in one or the other. This job will have you constantly interacting with others, and you may be asked to handle many responsibilities at once. Opportunities to work part time, evenings, and weekends are often available.

Out of the Classroom, Into the Office
Some medical assistants are trained on the job, but most (including many of the most competitive job candidates) attend medical assisting school. Programs at medial assisting schools typically last either 1 year for a certificate or diploma, or 2 years for an associate degree. Coursework generally includes:

• Anatomy and physiology
• Clinical and diagnostic procedures
• First aid and administering medicine
• Record keeping, accounting, and insurance processing
• Office practices and recordkeeping

In addition to classroom training, medical assisting programs often include internships where you can gain practical experience in a physician's office, hospital, or other health care facility. Applicants usually need a high school diploma or GED for admission to medical assisting school.

Get the Pulse on this Fast-Growing Career
Medical assistants rank among the fastest growing occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Job opportunities should be excellent, particularly for those with formal training or experience. At medical assisting school, you can learn to keep people healthy while keeping your career on track.

Related Medical Assistant Degree & School News

  • Medical Assistant Schools Atlanta - Medical assistants perform administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners running smoothly. There were about 483,600 medical assistant jobs in 2008. Average rate of pay,...
  • Medical Assistant Job Description - A medical assistant learns to handle virtually any type of support work in a doctor's office or in a medical environment.  The Department of Labor lists several medical assistant specialties: an overview of those possibilities...

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