Medical assistants are responsible for a wide variety of tasks in physician's offices and other healthcare settings. Depending upon whom they work for and the size of the practices, medical assistants might do anything from scheduling appointments to taking medical histories to preparing laboratory specimens. The purpose of a medical assistant certificate, which is awarded by an accrediting body, is to confirm that a person has completed training and gained a certain level of expertise in the field of medical assisting. People who receive medical assistant certificates often gain their expertise in the profession by attending accredited vocational or technical schools or by learning on the job.
Earning a medical assistant certificate through an accredited school generally involves first completing a one- or two-year training program. The length of time depends on what kind of school they attend; a two-year junior college program normally will result in an associate’s degree. Following completion of the training program, a prospective medical assistant would apply for certification with an accrediting organization and then take the organization's exam. One example of an accrediting organization is The American Association of Medical Assistants, which awards a certified medical assistant (CMA) credential.
Accredited training programs for medical assistants provide a broad spectrum of administrative and clinical courses. Some examples of administrative courses that a prospective medical assistant might take include billing and medical coding, insurance processing and general office practices. Clinical courses can include learning about laboratory techniques, pharmaceuticals and various procedures. Classes on anatomy, physiology, first aid, medical terminology and more also are part of formal studies leading up to a medical assistant certificate.
Not all medical assistants who receive certification have completed programs at vocational or other types of schools. Some certified medical assistants gain their training on the job before applying for certifications and taking exams. Generally, certifying organizations look for at least on eyear of on-the-job training before letting these working medical assistants take their exams.
In the United States, there are no laws stating that medical assistants must be certified. Many employers do require it, though, so finding employment can be easier with a medical assistant certificate. Also, some states require certifications to perform specific duties such as drawing blood or giving vaccinations. Not all employers of medical assistants require them to perform the types of duties that would require specific state certifications.
