With careers in the medical industry on a rapid increase, pursuing an education in any one of the many medical technical career fields is a way to provide job security, excellent pay and an exciting career. As of 2008 medical assistance held over 480,000 jobs, and most of these were employed in doctors or physician offices. There is a large market for medical assistants in public and private hospitals which also include inpatient and outpatient facilities. While doctors offices and hospitals make up a majority of job opportunities for medical assistants, there are still other opportunities in areas of health such as chiropractors, optometrist, outpatient care centers and residential care facilities. Employment for medical assisting technicians is projected to grow faster than average and by an expected 35% by the year 2016.

Pursuing a health career as a medical assistant offers a wide variety of educational and training options. It is not completely necessary to become certified or earn a degree before becoming a medical assistant. There are still many medical assistants today that are still trained while on the job, all that is required in most cases is a high school diploma or the equivalent. If you are seeking a career as a medical assistant with out a certification or degree, some of the high school courses that employers are looking for are that of mathematics, health, keyboarding, biology, computers, bookkeeping as well as having office skills. On-the-job training for medical assistants usually entails several months of training sessions, as well as working closely with more experienced workers while being supervised by either a physician or nurse. Yes you can find employment with out an extended education, however job placement will be much easier if one is at least certified. Expected salary will be much greater with an accredited education, whether you simply have a certification or degree.

If one is looking to become certified they can enroll in a one-year course that can be found at vocational and technical medical assisting schools as well as community and junior colleges. There are several associations that award certification credentials to medical assistants. These associations include The American Association of Medical Assistance and Association of Medical Technologists. Once certified as a medical assistant, (CMA) one may choose to become certified in a special area of medical assistance such as podiatry, optometry or ophthalmology. Medical assistant courses are available at these following medical assistant training schools and some offer online medical assistant classes or do a search of medical assistant schools by state:

1. Ashworth College
430 Technology Pkwy.
Norcross, GA 30092
Ph# 1-800-957-5412

2. Herzing University
5700 W. Broadway
Minneapolis, MN 55428
PH# 763-535-3000
Herzing University also offers an online medical assisting program. Herzing University has several locations besides their branch in Minneapolis Minnesota. If you are interested in attending one of their universities, check out their website at www.Herzing.edu to get specifics on their locations in Kenosha Wisconsin, Acheron Ohio, Omaha Nebraska, Atlanta Georgia, Madison Wisconsin, Orlando Florida, New Orleans Louisiana, Toledo Ohio and Brookfield Wisconsin. Herzing University offers a wide variety of courses in technology, business, health care, design and public safety. They are career focused hands on learning school that provides the perfect balance for students to develop and practice the skills that they will need for their career.

3. San Joaquin Valley Junior College
295 E. s Ave.
Fresno, CA 93710
Ph# 559-448-8282
San Joaquin Valley Junior College has several locations to serve you in the California area. Along with their medical courses they also offer technical and business courses as well. Choose from one of their campuses in Bakersfield, Hanford, Hesparia, Modesto, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Cucamonga, Visalia as well as study medical assisting courses they offer online as well.

4. Penn Foster Career School
925 Oak St.
Scranton, PA 18515
Ph# 1-800-275-4410
Pin and Foster Career School is accredited by the accrediting commission of the distance education and training Council and is licensed by the Pennsylvania state board of private license schools.

5. Virginia College
6301 E. Hwy. 290
Austin, TX 78723
Ph# 512-371-3500
Austin Texas is one of the many locations of Virginia colleges. Virginia College provides the education and training that is demanded today by such a competitive job market. If you’re looking for a medical assistant school that offers career placement and job assistance consider Virginia College in one of its many locations in: Augusta Georgia, Baton Rouge Louisiana, Biloxi Mississippi, Birmingham Alabama, Charleston South Carolina, Chattanooga Tennessee, Pensacola Florida as well as medical assisting programs online.

Medical Assistant Job Description

Becoming a medical assistant means that you will need to be a team player on a health care team. Depending on your particular employer will determine what tasks and job duties you may be given. Some of the daily tasks that you will have to perform include asking patients about medical history, recording their vital signs, preparing patients for the physicians exam or x-rays, preparing rooms for medical procedures as well as sterilizing any equipment, you may also be a asked to help doctors or physicians during exams and x-rays, you may have to give medications, remove stitches, fill out insurance forms, handle medical files, and keep track of bookkeeping matters.

In many cases you will be employed at either hospitals, health care clinics, minor emergency clinic’s and outpatient centers. It is important that you all are good with people and are properly groomed as you will be dealing face-to-face with many people on a daily basis. Not only will you be dealing with patients, but you will be dealing with the medical staff who will be working beside you. Medical assisting jobs usually consist of a regular 40 hour work week, however some medical assistants will be required to work shift work, nights or be on call.

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