Are you interested in medical assisting but aren’t sure what the job requires? Learn what it takes to work as a medical assistant career professional.
Do you enjoy caring for people and want to make a difference in a meaningful way on the job? A medical assistant (RMA) is vital for patient care. They support different tasks in a doctor's office, and plays an important role in the healthcare team.
If you would like a role as liaison between the doctor and patient, the role of an RMA may be right for you! Read on to learn more about the role, how to become one, and the job outlook for for the profession.
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants (RMA) complete administrative and clinical tasks in offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and other health practitioners. The RMA is often a liaison between the doctor and the patient.
While duties vary depending on the specialty and the size of the practice, RMAs typically do the following:
- Record patient history and personal information
- Measure and record vital signs, such as blood pressure
- Help the physician with patient examinations
- Give patients injections or medications as ordered by the physician and as permitted by state law
- Scheduling appointments
- Draw blood samples for lab tests
- Enter patient information into medical records
RMAs must understand medical charts, diagnoses, and medical terminology. Whether on paper or in electronic health records.
Precision is crucial when taking vital signs or recording patient information. RMAs need to keep information confidential and only discussed with other medical personnel involved in the patient's care.
Additionally, RMAs interact with patients who may be in pain or distress. This requires a calm and professional demeanor.
The Path to Becoming a Medical Assistant
Becoming an RMA requires completion of courses that address the competencies of the role. Most employers usually require a high school diploma or GED. Formal training is not mandatory but recommended. Some can learn their skills through on-the-job training.
Choosing an Accredited Program
Most employers prefer to hire medical assistants who have graduated from an accredited medical assisting program. Post-secondary vocational schools, community colleges, and colleges and universities offer accredited medical assisting programs. Picking a program accredited by a group recognized by the U.S. Department of Education is wise.
You can finish a post-secondary program in one year or less for a certificate or diploma. For an associate degree, it typically takes two years. Most accredited programs include an internship that provides practical experience in a healthcare facility or physicians’ office.
Some high schools and career tech schools offer courses. Volunteer work in a health care setting can provide enough education to begin a career in medical assisting.
Getting Certified
Most states do not require certification to work. However, employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants. Choosing a certifying body is just as important as choosing a school or medical assisting training program. When you pick a tough and practical certification, you show employers and patients that they can trust your skills and knowledge.
To certify through American Medical Technologists (AMT), you need to meet certain requirements and pass an exam. This can include graduation from an accredited program or work experience or both. Those who meet the requirements have an excellent chance of passing the certification exam. Remaining certified requires a certain amount of continuing education hours as well.
Those who pass the exam are able to obtain AMT certification. This allows them to become members of the AMT association and use the title Registered Medical Assistant (RMA). Health care professionals nationally recognize certification through AMT, and it is not limited to specific states. Certification is available to working medical assistants through work experience as well as for graduates of medical assisting programs.
The examinations supporting the certification programs assess the knowledge needed to perform essential tasks required of healthcare practitioners when entering their occupation.
AMT’s RMA certification focuses on current students as well as those working in the field but not yet certified.
We focus on entry-level practitioners to identify those who qualify for certification by AMT.
Visit our Medical Assisting page to see if you are eligible for certification.
Need help choosing the application route that's right for you?
Medical Assistant Job Outlook
Medical assistants held about 783,900 jobs in 2023. These assistants can work in healthcare facilities and more than half hold jobs in physicians’ offices. Experts have determines the demand for MAs to grow by 15 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The need for medical assistants will grow because doctors are seeing more patients and need help with everyday tasks. As the baby boomer population ages, the need for preventive medical services will grow, which doctors often provide.
To keep up with this demand, doctors will hire more medical assistants to help with everyday tasks. This allows doctors to see more patients. Employers are likely to use medical assistants instead of more expensive workers, like nurses, to save money.
Medical Assistant Salary
The earnings of medical assistants vary depending on their experience, skill level, and location. In the United States the average salary medical assistants earned $42,000 in May 2023. Medical assistants that worked in outpatient care centers had higher salaries at $46,090 per year.
Want to Learn More About the Medical Assistant Role?
Check out our blog on the leadership opportunities for medical assistants.