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 Preparation
Some medical
assistants are trained on the job, but many complete 1-year or 2-year
programs. Postsecondary medical assisting programs are offered in
vocational-technical high schools, postsecondary vocational schools, and
community and junior colleges. Programs usually last either 1 year and
result in a certificate or diploma, or 2 years and result in an
associate degree. Courses cover anatomy, physiology, and medical
terminology, as well as typing, transcription, recordkeeping,
accounting, and insurance processing. Students learn laboratory
techniques, clinical and diagnostic procedures, pharmaceutical
principles, the administration of medications, and first aid. They study
office practices, patient relations, medical law, and ethics. There are
various organizations that accredit medical assisting programs.
Programs are accredited by the
Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools.
Accredited programs often include an internship that provides practical
experience in physicians' offices, hospitals, or other health care
facilities.
 Formal training in medical assisting, while generally preferred, is not
always required. Some medical assistants are trained on the job,
although this practice is less common than in the past. Applicants
usually need a high school diploma or the equivalent. Recommended high
school courses include mathematics, health, biology, typing,
bookkeeping, computers, and office skills. Volunteer experience in the
health care field also is helpful. Medical assistants who are trained on
the job usually spend their first few months attending training sessions
and working closely with more experienced workers.
Some states allow
medical assistants to perform more advanced procedures, such as giving
injections, after passing a test or taking a course.
 Employers prefer to
hire experienced workers or those who are certified. Although not
required, certification indicates that a medical assistant meets certain
standards of competence. There are various associations that award
certification credentials to medical assistants, and the certification
process varies. It also is possible to become certified in a specialty,
such as podiatry, optometry, or ophthalmology.
Medical assistants
deal with the public; therefore, they must be neat and well groomed and
have a courteous, pleasant manner and they must be able to put patients
at ease and explain physicians' instructions. They must respect the
confidential nature of medical information. Clinical duties require a
reasonable level of manual dexterity and visual acuity.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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