Medical Assistant

What a Medical Assistant Does

Medical assistants are experiencing some of the fastest job growth in the country, and though it is a technical field, it can be a great career opportunity for a liberal arts major, particularly those interested in concentrating in biology and the natural sciences in school. A medical assistant help with operations in all kinds of medical and health care environments, like doctor's offices, hospitals and clinics. They take care of both administrative and clinical tasks, ranging from scheduling appointments to updating and organizing patient records to working with insurance companies and filling out forms to taking vital signs and making patients feel comfortable during their procedures and office visits. They need to have good communication and patient care skills as well as an understanding of the medical technology, tools and procedures that are commonly used and carried out in their particular health care facility. Medical assistants also often choose to specialize in a particular health care area, working in different kinds of clinics or departments.

How to Become a Medical Assistant

To become a medical assistant, you don't necessarily need a four-year degree. Some medical assistants choose to complete one- or two-year vocational programs or associate's degrees. They take classes to train them in administrative tasks -- like typing or working with computers -- as well as health care courses in anatomy, physiology and related fields. Liberal arts majors who want to work in the medical field can tailor their major to include courses in the natural sciences like biology, anatomy and chemistry, as well as psychology or the social sciences to help them communicate better with patients. To earn a higher salary and increase your job prospects -- especially if you want to go back to school for nursing or medical school -- consider getting certified by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) and Association of Medical Technologists (AMT).

Career Outlook for Medical Assistants

The career outlook for medical assistants is excellent, as new health care facilities are being built and an aging population is resulting in more and more patients in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals and other health care facilities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects a 34% increase in the number of jobs added to the profession, which amounts to about 163,900 more positions opening through the year 2018. The median annual salary for medical assistants in 2008 was $28,300, with the middle 50% earning between $23,700 and $33,050. Medical assistants who worked at general medical and surgical hospitals earned the highest salary, at $29,720, followed by those who worked at colleges, universities and professional schools: they earned 28,820. Getting certified and going back to school to become a nurse or other health practitioner could result in a higher salary.