How to become a Certified Medical Assistant? Here we will learn how medical assistants play a very crucial role in the health industry. They assist doctors in delivering timely medical services. There are certain medical assistant skills; one must possess to go towards this path in their career and for this pursuing their education in a best medical school is important.

There must be a lot of questions on your mind about this profession like how to become a certified medical assistant online or what are the skills of medical assistant. We are here to answer all your queries. So, lets explore more about medical assistants.

How to become a certified medical assistant
How to become a certified medical assistant

How to become a Certified Medical Assistant : Job requirements.

In this job, duties are of various types. It ranges from clinical procedures to administrative work. They are known as allied health professionals because they do the office work along with giving support to doctors in taking care of patients.

This is a fast-paced medical field that requires a lot of skills. If you are joining this, then you must work very hard to provide the best healthcare experience to your patients. It is not compulsory to acquire a formal degree to take this job but most people prefer taking a training course. It is recommended to get a certification to perform this job. Lets know more on how to become a Certified Medical Assistant.

Why should you become a certified medical assistant?

Before we go ahead and discuss how to become a certified medical assistant, we must first understand why should you get a certification. Medical assistants form the foundation of a medical office by offering therapeutic and logistical assistance, and many medical offices understand the importance of these highly qualified staff.

Tremendous growth opportunity ahead

The requirement for medical assistants will rise by 23 percent from 2014 to 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). It is recommended that medical assistants become certified to take full advantage of this expected development.

  • State medical assistance qualification criteria might differ. But broadly speaking, an applicant would need to graduate from an approved medical assistant program and pass an examination to become qualified.
  • Certain certifications will waive the prerequisite for completion, but only if the degree is replaced by real-world training in medical assistance. 

The accompanying guide will help clarify the qualification process for medical assistance and why it is so necessary. There are many advantages of being a licensed medical assistant, including improved marketability and increased pay.

So, before we disclose how to become a certified medical assistant, here are five positive reasons why earning the credential pays for it.

Beat your competition

Employers want to hire medical assistants who have received qualifications, according to the BLS.

  • Certification may provide an edge in order to stand out in a difficult work market; it shows signs of enthusiasm and dedication among the candidates. A required standard of expertise is proved by qualification. 
  • Most employers do not have the patience or resources to train an absolute beginner will zero industry knowledge. This is where a certification program comes into action.
  • Certification will help convince employees that a particular range of knowledge and information was gained by the medical assistant and was able to show that to an independent third-party agency. 

Usually, being licensed leads to better compensation

For licensed medical assistants, the median pay is marginally higher than that of those who have not selected qualifications. Simple supply and demand are one leading factor to higher wages. There are more medical assistants who are non-certified than certified medical assistants. Therefore, you have a lot of opportunities for career growth.

After all, you searched for “how to become a certified medical assistant” because of an underlying financial goal. So, get certified and raise your bar.

For employers, trained medical assistants are a safer bet

By employing only licensed medical assistants, healthcare professionals can reduce their chances of a successful malpractice lawsuit, according to the American Association of Medical Assistants. In addition, the use of licensed medical assistants may assist employees to comply with such statutes and regulations.

That’s because the use of a licensed medical assistant over a non-certified one will conform with certain regulatory components of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Clinical Laboratory Improvements Act.

MCPs favor health care providers who are certified. 

More and more patient coverage is being delivered by managed care providers (MCP) because of the changing medical care landscape in the United States of America. MCPs claim qualified medical practitioners offer more cost-effective medical services. Because of this, to maximize the odds of being recruited and retained, medical assistants would need to be certified.

Now, let us switch our focus on how to become a certified medical assistant.

How long does it take to become a Certified Medical Assistant?

It takes between nine months and 2 years to become a medical subordinate. Sometimes, you can directly start in a clinic with on-job training. But generally speaking, it is not preferred. Vocational training is a part of prerequisites for most of the employers. 

The period of the vocational training is between nine months and 2 years depending upon which program you opt for. Various institutes have their own programs. There are associate degrees, assistant focused programs, short term vocational courses, etc. You can also look around on how to become a medical assistant in 6 weeks.

Some Institutes require you to complete an associate degree with a focus on medical assisting. This will take time but it will open more opportunities for you on how to become a certified medical assistant. So this is a program worth considering. Versatility is the need of the hour in today’s competitive market and that’s why many people are doing associate courses. 

Medical Assistant Certification Programs

A strong educational program can open a lot of opportunities for you in the medical line and fulfill your dreams and passion. It is not legally binding for you to do these courses before practice but employers do not want to spend extra money on on-job training. So it is best to get yourself ready.

Joining medical assistant schools can help a lot more to know that how long does it take to become a certified medical assistant. Here are some ways to get yourself trained through medical assistant certification programs and become fully prepared for this task. 

Vocational Training

Many schools offer vocational training programs that have a short duration. These courses usually take between 9 months to a year in completion. These courses cover important concepts such as medical terminology, transcription, ethics, and clinical procedures. In addition to these, there is a CMAA preparation course as well. CMAA exams are must if your looking on how to become a certified medical assistant.

While taking admission to one of these vocational schools, it is necessary to check their accreditation. The school must be accredited by AAMA otherwise your degree will hold no value for the employers. 

How to become a certified medical assistant online
How to become a certified medical assistant online

How to become a certified medical assistant online?

The number of colleges and universities that are offering online associate degree courses has increased significantly in the last few years. These programs take 2 years or less time for completion and include internship and practical training as a part of its curriculum. 

The biggest advantage of an associate degree is if you opt for them you will be mentally and practically ready to assist in the medical field. That too in a shortest time. This course will give you an on-field experience which is very important. Also check out medical assistant classes cost.

Even if your college is not offering a medical assistant program, then also an Associate Degree can land you a very good job. An Associative degree in Health Science, Health Administration is preferred by a lot of employers. Getting an Associate degree is very good for those who are keen to know how to become a certified medical assistant and want to get into a medical administration or management role.

These courses are not an alternative for CMA but it will boost your CV and give a good impression on the market. 

Medical Assistant Certification Cost

Most of the people have one question, how to get medical assistant certification?

It is not legally compulsory to obtain certification to practice but still it has a lot of value in the job market. The certification here is called CMA [Certified Medical Assistant]. The CMA is recommended as it makes you stand out from the rest of your competitors, 

The CMA certification is offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants. Now students who are looking on how much does a medical assistant certification cost should know that this certificate is a good way for the them to demonstrate their potential. To receive certification, you have to take the CMA exam and the application fee must be around $155. You are eligible to take that if only you have completed an accredited medical assistant training program. 

The CMA exam has 200 questions and covers a wide range of topics ranging from management to healthcare delivery. The subjects that you have to study for its preparation are:

  • Psychology
  • Communication
  • Professionalism
  • Medical Law
  • Medical Regulation
  • Medical Ethics
  • Risk Management and safety 
  • Medical Terminology 

This certification is recognized by all the states. It will open the doors for you in whichever state you go. This will make you very competitive in the market. If you have completed a training program in this field then it is highly advisable that you should take this examination. 

Skills of Medical Assistants
Skills of Medical Assistants

Skills of Medical Assistants

There are a set of skills that are very necessary to become a successful medical professional. The medical assistant requirements are-

  • Patient Care and Vital Signs Management
  • Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Patient preparation
  • Motivational approach for the patient 
  • Life Support
  • Phlebotomy 
  • Injection 
  • Good knowledge of Medical terminology 

If you want to know the way to become a certified medical assistant and want to join the medical administration department or hospital management then you must be well versed in the following skills of medical assistants. 

  • Customer Service
  • Scheduling 
  • Maintenance of electronic database
  • Computer Knowledge
  • Collaboration 
  • Multitasking
  • Psychological skills

So, we have provided a detailed summary of courses, options, and curriculum on how to become a certified medical assistant. Focus on preparing a set of skills and make sure that you fulfill all the requirements that are the backbone of being a successful assistant. Know yourself and your abilities well and then only decide which type, of course, is best suitable for you. 

Be a good assistant and understand the importance of this job. Any job in the medical field is an act of social service. For more information reach us out at onlineschoolsnearme.com. Thank You !