Preparing for Your Medical Assistant Career
Posted On December 27,2024
If you are looking for your first career direction, unhappy in your current career, feel like you’re struggling to get a stable job, or are just ready for a change, becoming a medical assistant is a great way to break that negative cycle and start a career where you will not only be highly in demand but will feel as though you are making a real difference in the lives of your patients every day. Preparing for a career as a medical assistant is a fast process that can get you into your new role quickly.
Is Medical Assisting a Good Career Choice?
The healthcare field is showing no signs of slowing. With an aging population and more people needing healthcare, the need for quality medical professionals across all disciplines grows exponentially. Medical assistants are in high demand, as nearly every medical facility relies on medical assistants to keep the facility running smoothly. With a career as a medical assistant, you will have excellent career prospects, a stable paycheck, and the opportunity to grow and advance throughout your career. With the training to become a medical assistant taking as little as a year, you can quickly begin your new career. Many adults looking to make a career change are drawn toward the stability of the healthcare field, and medical assisting is an excellent way to start that career transition, whether you are looking at it as a stepping stone to a more specialized career or a place you’d like to stay.
Am I a Good Fit for a Career in Medical Assisting?
With the right training, anyone can develop the skills they need to be a medical assistant. However, some qualities lend themselves to a successful career as a medical assistant. Some of the top attributes that good medical assistants have are:
- Excellent attention to detail
- Strong organizational skills
- Time management skills
- Communication skills
- The ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple tasks
- Problem-solving skills and adaptability
- Interpersonal skills
While some interested in a career in medical assisting may feel they possess all these skills naturally, others may worry that they are lacking in one way or another. While a medical assisting training program aims to build clinical skills and medical knowledge, these other qualities will also be honed during the training program. The best way to know if you’ll be a good fit for a career in medical assisting is the desire to get started. If you are interested in the field, you will be able to develop both the hard and soft skills you need.
What Can I Expect from My Medical Assistant Training Program?
When you are ready to make a career change, the last thing you want is a long program where you invest time and money for years before beginning your new role. When you start training as a medical assistant, the training moves quickly. Most medical assistant training programs are completed in as little as a year. They will offer flexibility in class schedules to allow you to choose day or evening classes that fit with your other responsibilities. You will have a mix of classwork and clinical hours during your training. You will learn medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, medical coding and billing, and more in your comprehensive coursework, and then spend time in a clinical setting learning how to take vitals, do basic procedures, and other hands-on tasks. Many medical assistant training programs also include an externship where you can work with patients during your training.
Certifications Show that You are Ready for Your Career
When choosing a medical assisting program, you need to look at a few things to make sure the program is a good fit. First, you must make sure that your medical assistant training program is accredited. An accredited program will allow you to become a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), opening many more doors for you. While certifications are often not an “official” requirement to work as a medical assistant, as many states only require you to get a license to begin working, many medical facilities prefer or even require certification as it demonstrates your competence, knowledge, and commitment to the profession. Having a CMA credential sets you apart from other candidates and can increase your job opportunities, salary potential, and career growth.
Job Placement Assistance Will Help Get You Started
Training for a new job is one thing, but beginning your new career can be an overwhelming thought. Applying for your first job as a medical assistant can be intimidating. This is why choosing a career academy or training center that offers job placement assistance is so important. In many medical assisting training programs, you will have clinical hours where you can begin to network and make connections that can later help you land your first medical assisting job. When you are ready to start applying for jobs, the job placement department can help you seek out openings, build your resume, and help you prepare for interviews.
Succeeding in Your First Role as a Medical Assistant
One of the best things you can do to succeed as a medical assistant is to be willing to work hard and learn. You will have new tasks and duties nearly every day during your first weeks and months as a medical assistant. While being thrown into a fast-paced environment may feel intimidating, your medical assisting training program will prepare you to learn quickly and perform tasks with confidence. With a strong work ethic and professionalism, you can succeed quickly and settle into your role.
Preparing for your new career as a medical assistant starts with finding the right program. Look for a training program that sets you up for success. An accredited program with a strong and comprehensive curriculum, time for hands-on learning, and a quality job placement assistance team can prepare you to start making a difference in the lives of your patients.
Ready to start your medical assisting career? Contact Athena Career Academy today to learn more about their accredited CMA program and get on the path to success.