In-Demand Careers Are Closer Than You Think
So you’ve traveled across Southeast Asia.
Eaten at every non-chain chicken wing stop in the contiguous United States.
Tried out a music career.
Gone on a few unsavory Tinder dates.
In short, you’ve soaked up a lot of your twenties.
Now what?
It’s not uncommon to be hounded by that familiar, creeping feeling of holy-crap-what-am-I-doing-next when you’re under the age of 30 and haven’t figured the rest of your life out yet. How are you going to make money doing something fulfilling? How are you going to make money period?
The possibilities seem endless and not always in a good way.
Take, heart, though–there are in-demand career options out there for those uncertain about the trajectory of their career path. One of these options is a medical assistant. What do medical assistants do precisely?
Medical assistants primarily work with doctors in outpatient care facilities, such as clinics or medical offices. Their duties break down into two kinds: administrative and clinical. Administrative responsibilities include without limitations answering telephones, scheduling appointments, and greeting patients, while clerical duties involve drawing blood, taking EKGs, and performing necessary lab tests, among others.
It’s possible to obtain a medical assistant job with just a high school diploma or GED, but most companies seek out trained and/or certified applicants. Luckily there are plenty of accredited online and on-site programs from which you can choose.
Most programs include academic and clinical training about human anatomy, physiology, medical terminology, and pharmacology, to name a few. You’ll likely also cover medical ethics, office practices, and patient relations.
Most programs also require you to work a practicum, or an “unpaid, supervised on-site work experience in an ambulatory health care setting,” according to the official AAMA website.
However, if you already have the credits and practicum experience and are merely looking to get certified, then take the Certified Medical Assistants exam. Employers are much more likely to hire certified medical assistants, and higher pay is certainly nothing to sneeze at, either. You must complete an accredited medical assistant training program to sit for the exam. The American Association of Medical Assistants offers an exam outline, course prep, and a mock exam to help you prepare.
Medical assistant test prep isn’t tough to come by. Verify that questions come from curricula approved by AAMA and other medical certifying boards.
So now you know what you need to become a medical assistant. Anything else we’re missing?
Ah, yes. The cost and whatnot.
Of course, it is imperative to make sure you figure out the financial logistics of whatever program you choose, here meaning the tuition, financial aid options, length of schooling, etc. Programs range from six weeks to two years, depending on your finances and schedule. Thankfully, online programs are typically a bit more flexible in this sense.
Figuring out your future can be a scary process. Still, in an age where information and new career possibilities are quite literally at your fingertips, there’s never been a better time to take the first step.