A Stepping Stone to a Career in Healthcare
Posted On August 4,2020
If you’re considering a career change, or are just starting out, and interested in the healthcare field, you aren’t alone. Jobs in the healthcare industry are booming, and for good reason as they make stable and fulfilling careers. One major benefit to deciding to become a medical assistant (MA) is that many MA’s view the experience and knowledge they learn on the job as excellent stepping stones towards obtaining other healthcare careers, but medical assisting is also a rewarding and fulfilling stand-alone career as well.
Why is becoming a medical assistant worth considering?
Network with Physicians and Nurses
Medical assistants work closely with physicians and other healthcare professionals on a daily basis, giving them a vast knowledge and intimate view of how healthcare facilities operate, giving them an advantage over other medical professionals who come into the healthcare field without any prior experience.
Certification Programs are Relatively Short
One major positive to becoming a medical assistant is that the process or path to obtaining certification is relatively short compared to other healthcare careers, with many programs taking less than two years, or even one year or less to complete. This allows medical assistants to get a jumpstart into their new career quickly after their training.
Learn More About Specialties
Medical assistants have the unique ability to work with physicians from a vast multitude of specialties, giving them an advantage over other healthcare professionals. As a medical assistant, you can choose to specialize in areas of healthcare that interest you, such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopedics, cardiology, oncology, just to name a few.
Learn on the Job Skills
In some healthcare jobs, you’re only allowed to perform specific duties or tasks, but medical assistants work under the direction and supervision of a physician, so they get the opportunity to learn skills that cannot be taught in a classroom. MA’s perform a vast multitude of administrative and clinical duties, which means they’re always learning something new and getting to perform a variety of tasks, versus doing the same routine every day.
Sharpen Skills Important to Your Career Path
In addition to learning new skills, MA’s perform so many different administrative and clinical duties and tasks on a daily basis, that they become experts at being able to switch from one thing to another, making them a valuable member to any healthcare team. As a medical assistant you get to sharpen the skills important to your career path in the healthcare field.
What are some common healthcare jobs that former medical assistants choose to pursue?
Registered or Licensed Practical Nurse
Many medical assistants decide to go back to school to become a Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). The experience and skills they learn as an MA, greatly help their transition into a nursing career much smoother than someone without prior experience as an MA.
Administrative Assistant or Office Manager
Since many medical assistants already have administrative experience, transitioning into a full-time administrative assistant or office manager isn’t much of a stretch for an experienced MA.
Phlebotomy Technician
Since many MA’s have some phlebotomy training and experience, they decide to transition into careers as a Phlebotomy Technician. Phlebotomy technicians are responsible for safely drawing blood samples from patients or blood donors.
Learn More about our CMA ProgramReady to Get Started?
If you’re ready to get started on your own journey towards becoming a medical assistant, contact Athena Career Academy today. We offer an accredited program that will prepare you for an exciting career in healthcare.