Professions in the healthcare field are expected to grow by leaps and bounds over the next ten years as the population gets older and more people enter the health care system as a result of new legislation. There has never been a better time to get certified as a medical assistant. Salary information reveals that the average starting wage for a new graduate is anywhere from 25k to 30k per year, or about $12-17 dollars an hour.
While this is not as high as other areas in the medical field, the training is relatively brief, the benefits are usually very good, and the work environment is safe and controlled. Most employees enjoy working ‘doctors hours’ and there is a wide range of tracks and career options to choose from, ranging from working in large physician group offices to small private practices.
Certification and experience command higher pay, and there are many continuing education programs to choose from that will qualify students to concentrate on certain areas. Additionally, the more experience in specific areas can make the employee’s marketability more attractive. Due to the broad range of options in the field, medical assistants enjoy tremendous flexibility and control over the direction of their careers.
Because the field is expected to grow at a higher than average rate, the need for trained medical assistants will continue to increase. This puts those in the profession in a better position to negotiate their preferences and find a niche that appeals to their career goals.
The majority of medical assistants work full time in doctors offices where they do numerous different tasks throughout the day. From taking the temperature of patients to setting up EKGs, medical assistants play an important and integral role in the operation of a doctor’s office. They can also work in administrative capacities, organizing medical records as well as ordering and stocking supplies.
Most training programs take less than a year to complete, however many community colleges offer degree programs, which prepares students to continue their studies in other areas while they are working in the field. Either one is a requirement for state certification, and the salaries are pretty much the same for graduates with a degree or just a certificate.
There has never been a better time to pursue a career in the healthcare field, and the medical assistant is fast becoming an integral part of the industry, and they are in high demand. Good hours, comfortable salaries and excellent flexibility make it one of the more exciting and versatile careers available.
