Is a CMA Program Right for You? Here’s What You Need to Know

Posted On January 21,2025

Big decisions often inspire doubt. You know you want to make a change and begin a career that is in-demand, stable, and fulfilling, but when it comes time to decide if a medical assisting program is right for you, it’s natural to ask questions. Is medical assisting a good career? Can you afford to go back to school? Can you balance school, work, and family? Will the program prepare you for your new job? If you are considering a career in healthcare, becoming a medical assistant is a great choice.

Is a Career as a Medical Assistant Right for Me?

Before settling on a CMA program, you need to determine if a career as a medical assistant is a good fit for you. You may be intimidated by the medical aspects of the job, but the soft skills can be even more important. Those who make the best medical assistants love helping others and interacting with patients, can multitask, adjust, stay calm under pressure, have strong interpersonal skills, and are organized. A medical assisting program can teach you all the practical knowledge you need, but these traits are often far better at predicting who will be successful as a medical assistant.

Healthcare  is one of the most stable industries to enter as the population continues to grow, age, and seek healthcare. As demand for the system increases, the demand for qualified healthcare professionals increases. While there are many different careers in healthcare, medical assisting is one of the most accessible ways to enter the field. You can begin a program to become a Certified Medical Assistant with only a high school diploma and complete a comprehensive program that will prepare you for a new career in under a year. Once you have started your career, medical assisting offers ample opportunities to grow and advance, whether that means going back to school for an advanced degree, pursuing specialized certifications, or moving into a role in administration or management. 

Does a CMA Program Give Me Everything I Need to Get Started?

When beginning a new career, it can be intimidating to think about everything you’ll need to know before you start, especially when looking for your first job with no experience. This is why choosing an accredited and comprehensive medical assisting training program is so important. 

• Accredited: If you choose an accredited program, you can take the certification test and become a certified medical assistant. While certification is not always necessary to get a job as a medical assistant, it will open many more doors. In addition, any potential employer will see your certification and know that you have gone through a quality program overseen by an organization committed to developing strong medical assistants. If you don’t choose an accredited program, you will not be eligible to take the certification test, which can limit your future options. Making the right decision early is essential.
• Comprehensive: There may be schools that promise to get you through the program quickly, but you need to make sure they aren’t cutting corners. A good medical assisting program should have a mix of classroom time and clinical hours to cover all the information and skills you need when you begin working as a medical assistant. 

Can I Work While Going Through a CMA Program? 

Whether working another job or raising a family, you may wonder if you can complete a certified medical assisting program while balancing the rest of your life. In nearly every case, the answer is yes. Medical assisting programs are designed for busy adults juggling a job, a family, or both. Look for a program that offers a mix of daytime, evening, and weekend classes that can be scheduled around your other obligations. There may be times when your life feels busy while working, caring for family, and going to school, but finding ways to prioritize different obligations while staying organized is good practice for your future career. 

Is a CMA Program Affordable?

It’s important to consider two factors when determining if going back to school is affordable: the total cost of the program and the value the program offers. You are investing in a new career, but you need to make sure you’re making an informed decision about what is affordable. First, consider all the costs that will go into a medical assisting program. Tuition, fees, books, and supplies will all factor into the overall costs. When you take your certification exam, those fees also need to be considered. While a CMA program is far more affordable than a four-year degree program, the total cost can still be intimidating. Fortunately, financial aid is available. Talk to a financial aid professional in the admissions department about payment plans, scholarships, grants, work-study programs, and student loans. When you look at all your options, you can find a way to afford a program, and when you consider the program’s value and the potential earnings in your new career, it will be well worth the investment.

Making a big career decision can be overwhelming, but once you’ve addressed all those potential worries and fears, you will likely find that a medical assisting program is a great fit. In just under a year, you can find yourself with a stable and fulfilling career in the healthcare field and plenty of opportunities to advance. As a Certified Medical Assistant, you will know you are making a difference every day, and with the right program to get you started, you will be well set for your future.

Ready to take the next step toward a stable and rewarding career? Athena Career Academy’s Clinical Medical Assistant program offers the training, flexibility, and support you need to succeed. Contact us today to learn more.