Medical Assistant
Chart Your Course
to This Career
Medical assistants have the opportunity to work closely with patients, assisting with their care and providing compassionate support during medical procedures. The diversity of responsibilities and advancement opportunities keeps the job interesting and dynamic.
Impact on Patient Lives
Medical assistants directly contribute to patient care, making it a rewarding and fulfilling career.
Clinical Care
From taking vital signs to administering medications, medical assistants lead a variety of clinical tasks.
Administrative Roles
From maintaining medical records to scheduling appointments, medical assistants bridge the gap between clinical and administrative functions.
Teamwork and Camaraderie
They collaborate with a wide variety of healthcare professionals — both clinical and administrative — to ensure patients receive the highest quality of care.
Predictable Schedule
They enjoy a fairly predictable schedule during the traditional work week, enabling time for career advancement through continuous education.
Specialization Opportunities
They can explore a variety of medical specialties and clinical settings from OB/GYN to urgent care to outpatient centers.
Medical Assistant Educational Standards
Education
Program | Certificate or Degree Program Accreditation | Program Terminal Testing Authority |
|---|---|---|
Registered Medical Assistant | CAAHEP or ABHES | AMT |
Certified Clinical
Medical Assistant | NHA | |
Certified Medical Assistant | CAAHEP or ABHES | AAMA |
Medical Assistant Pay
Pay for a medical assistant is determined based on both skills and experience. This occupation shows advertised hourly pay trends increasing 21% from June 2021 to May 2024.
Typical compensation by percentile (Pct) for medical assistants in the Columbus, OH Metro Statistical Area based on skills and experience include:
Region | Entry Level 10th Pct | 25th Pct | Median Salary 50th Pct | 75th Pct | 90th Pct |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Columbus, OH | $16.30/hr | $17.99/hr | $19.01/hr | $21.34/hr | $22.61/hr |
May 2024
Current Career Opportunities
Frequently Asked Questions
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Medical assistants perform a variety of clinical and administrative tasks to support healthcare providers in medical settings.
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Tasks include taking patient vital signs, preparing exam rooms, assisting with minor medical procedures, administering medications (under the direction of a provider), scheduling appointments and maintaining medical records.
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Medical assistants work in various healthcare settings, including physicians' offices, clinics, hospitals, outpatient care centers and specialty practices (such as dermatology or cardiology offices).
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They may also work in long-term care facilities, urgent care centers and ambulatory surgery centers.
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As shown in the education database (link), medical assistants typically complete a certificate, apprenticeship or diploma program, which can range from several months to a year in length.
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To prepare, high school students can study medical assisting at local career technical centers during their junior and senior years of high school. Employers typically prefer to hire and better compensate medical assistants who have both
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completed an accredited program, and
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become certified or registered by passing an exam.
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While both medical assistants and nurses provide patient care in medical settings, there are some key differences in their roles and responsibilities.
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Training is typically only one year to become a medical assistant, and they work under the direction of healthcare providers by providing clinical and administrative support.
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Registered nurses are licensed and registered by the state, requiring more advanced education and training by earning an associates degree (two-year program), allowing them to perform a broader range of clinical tasks and make independent nursing assessments and decisions.
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The demand for medical assistants is expected to grow as the healthcare industry expands to meet the needs of an aging population, especially as the Central Ohio region experiences ongoing population growth.
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Medical assistants have opportunities for career advancement, such as pursuing specialized certifications (e.g., in phlebotomy or EKG) or furthering their education to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs).
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Important skills for medical assistants include communication skills (both verbal and written), attention to detail, organizational skills, empathy and the ability to multitask effectively.
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Technical skills such as taking patient vital signs, performing basic laboratory tests and using electronic health records (EHRs) are also essential.
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