10 Reasons to Become a Medical Assistant
| Update: September 03, 2024
When you consider careers in the medical field, the first positions that likely come to mind are doctors and nurses. These careers, after all, require the most schooling and often take center stage when patients visit clinics, hospitals, outpatient facilities, and private practices.
What you may not realize, though, is that medical assistants often also play a critical role in these environments, and it’s not just because they help patients (which they do). Medical assistants are trained to perform both front and back-office tasks that help ensure these operations run smoothly, and patients receive top-notch services, treatments, assistance, and information.
And, since becoming a medical assistant requires less training than those who seek physician or nursing positions, it’s often more within reach for those who aspire to earn a career helping people within the healthcare realm. It’s a great place to start what can become a long-term and successful career in the medical field.
To help you better understand why, below is a list of 10 reasons you, as someone who enjoys helping people live better and more comfortable lives, should consider a career as a medical assistant. But, before we get into all 10, we should first clarify what exactly a medical assistant is and what they do on a day-to-day basis.
That said, if you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, consider enrolling in UEI’s Medical Assistant Program. The program can be completed, and you can earn your diploma in as few as 10 months.
What is a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants work alongside physicians in private practices, outpatient clinics, hospitals, and other medical facilities for the benefit of patient services and care. As such, medical assistants are cross-trained to perform duties that are both administrative and clinical in nature.
The typical medical assistant’s day may include front-office work like answering phones, scheduling patient appointments, updating medical records, completing insurance forms, arranging labs and referrals, and general bookkeeping tasks within a clinical setting. Clinically, medical assistants may also escort patients to exam rooms, take vitals, assist during examinations, perform basic lab tests, and educate patients about treatments, medications, and other physician-directed recommendations.
In other words, medical assistants wear a lot of hats, and they work closely with nearly everyone on staff within a medical clinic or hospital unit: physicians, nurses, office managers, billing professionals, lab staff, and of course, patients.
1. The Need for Medical Assistants is Growing
The healthcare world needs medical assistants, and that need appears to be continually growing even (or perhaps especially) during the current pandemic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 18% by the year 2030, which is a much faster growth rate than most other occupations.
What does this mean? Well, the BLS projects the country will have an average of 104,400 job openings for medical assistants each year between now and 2030. They attribute this growth to the aging Baby Boomer population and the increased demand this will have for preventative medical services. This bodes well for those looking to enter the healthcare workforce as medical assistants.
3. Medical Assistant Education & Training Takes Months, Not Years
Unlike doctors and nurses, who take years to become fully trained and job-ready in their fields, those interested in medical assistant careers can be trained and job-ready in a matter of months. For example, students who enroll in the Medical Assistant program at UEI College have the opportunity to complete their education, earn a diploma and receive hands-on training while also earning real-world experience in the field in as few as 10 months. Visit our program page for more information.
It should be noted that in a number of states, a formal education isn’t even required in order to become a medical assistant. However, few employers are likely to hire medical assistants with no prior education, training and/or experience on their resumes. Programs like the one offered at UEI have worked with prospective employers to establish a curriculum that provides students with the education, skills, and hands-on experience these employers are looking for.
5. Medical Assisting Can Lead to Numerous Advancement Opportunities
While medical assistants are not required to be licensed and/or certified in most states, some employers may prefer to hire those who are. And, even if they don’t require such certifications, the opportunity to become certified – there are several certification options available (see below) – and help you stand out in a competitive job market while showing future employers that you’re serious about being an effective and successful medical assistant.
As for your certification options, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies has accredited five certifications for medical assistants. They are:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants
- Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) through American Medical Technologists
- National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) through the National Center for Competency Testing
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), both through the National Health Career Association
7. Medical Assistants Can Work Almost Anywhere
Cities, rural areas, by the mountains, along the coast, back home where you grew up, near your favorite sports team … if people live there, there’s a need for healthcare services. And, where there are hospitals, medical clinics, private practices, and care facilities, you’ll usually find a need for medical assistants.
9. Medical Assisting Makes a Difference in People’s Lives
We’ve established that medical assistants wear a lot of hats, but one of their most important roles is helping patients. Medical assistants serve as true patient advocates, from scheduling appointments and greeting them as they come for their appointments to explaining treatments and educating them about how to manage and improve their lives.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Medical Assistant?
At UEI College, students in our Medical Assistant program can go from no experience to job-ready in the medical assisting field in as few as 10 months. Even those currently without high school diplomas have educational options. To learn more, contact the UEI College admissions department or stop by one of our campus locations!
Consider Enrolling in UEI’s Medical Assistant Training Program
If you can relate to any (or all) of the 10 reasons we gave above to become a medical assistant, and you’re ready to make your first step toward establishing a new and potentially rewarding career in the field of healthcare, then reach out to our admissions team at UEI College.
Give us a call, reach out to us through our online form, or simply stop in one of our 19 campus locations for a tour. A representative from the school will be happy to answer your questions about the program, get you started on the application and enrollment process, and, if you qualify, begin looking into financial aid options!
