Certified Medical Assistant.  Is this a career path for you?  In today’s economy, many are concerned about their job security and whether their line of work is something that will last for a long period of time.  There are few fields that are growing faster than the medical field, and you can quickly get into the door of this lucrative career with just a minimal amount of training!

Because of technological advances in medicine, and continued growth among the elderly, the medical industry continues to grow.  The number of employed Certified Medical Assistants (CMA’s) is expected to grow 35% from 2006 to 2016.  This growth far exceeds the average growth of other occupational fields, demonstrating the long-term benefits of becoming a CMA.

As the health care industry continues to grow, health care facilities, clinics, and group practices will continue to increase in number. This in turn will necessitate more doctors, nurses, and of course, CMA’s!

What are the responsibilities of a CMA?

A Certified Medical Assistant has many duties in a office or clinic.  Among these are clerical and clinical duties, and the distribution of these responsibilities will vary from office to office.  There are many administrative duties, such as greeting patients, updating and filing medical records, billing and bookkeeping, and handling hospital admissions.

However there are also a number of clinical duties that might be asked of a CMA as well.  These involve prepping a patient for an examination, discussing procedures or treatments with patients, and assisting the doctors during an exam.  They also will at times collect specimens, record vital signs, sterilize medical instruments and properly get rid of contaminated supplies.  The actual duties will greatly vary from office to office and at times can even involve drawing blood, taking ECG’s, removing stitches and changing dressings.

Because a medical assistant will work with the public so much, it is of obvious benefit to be well dressed, clean, and have a positive attitude when dealing with patients.

How much can you  hope to earn as a CMA?

Your earning potential definitely depends on your experience in the field, your responsibilities, the area you live, and the size of the facility in which you are employed.  As of January 2011, the median expected salary for a CMA is 29,631.  However, again, much depends on your location, as well as your education and experience. 

What type of schooling do I need to become a CMA?

Certified Medical Assistants technically don’t need any schooling at all.  It is possible to get hired with nothing more than a high school degree.  However, as time goes on, more and more physicians and practices are requiring that their CMA’s get certificates or degrees. 

A certificate can be acquired usually with a 9-12 month course at vocational schools, junior and community colleges, and some universities. 

Even better is a 2-year associate degree, which can not only get the applicant an initial higher salary, but can lay the ground work for continued schooling. You may be able to apply your credits towards a bachelor degree in the future, so be sure and discuss this with any counselors before you begin any training.

Certified Medical Assistant—Is this a career for you?  Hopefully the information provided on this website can help you to make this important decision.  The medical field is growing each year, and a career as a CMA can help you to lay the foundation for a very lucrative and successful career in the medical industry.