What Kind of Training Do I Need to Become a Medical Assistant?

The field of medical assisting is rapidly expanding to accommodate the rise in patients. In order to become part of a health care facility’s medical staff as a working medical assistant, you must first complete the proper training and education needed. There are no formal education requirements for medical assistants, but nearly all employers will only hire those who have completed a high school diploma as well as an accredited medical assisting program.

Medical assisting programs typically last about one to two years and can be completed at a vocational school, trade high school, community college, or junior college. Programs that run for one year reward certificates to students who complete the program whereas programs that run for two years reward students with an associate degree in medical assisting. Either education level is sufficient for a successful career in medical assisting, but those who earn an associate degree are more likely to advance to a higher position, such as that of an office manager, than those who only have a certificate. Therefore, if you are planning to move up the ranks, it is in your best interest to earn an associate degree.

Yet, whether you choose to earn a certificate or associate degree in medical assisting, your studies will remain largely the same, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical assisting students take courses in general medicine and health, such as anatomy, biology, medical terminology, and physiology. They also take courses to build their administrative knowledge and skills, such as accounting, recordkeeping, transcription, and insurance processing. These skills help them to efficiently handle the clerical duties of running a health care office or facility. Finally, specialty skills are taught in these programs as well, such as laboratory research methods and diagnostic procedures, which is especially useful for medical assistants who will be helping practitioners with patients.

In addition to coursework, many students will also receive the opportunity to work in the field alongside professionals as part of an internship program. Students should spring at this opportunity because it will help them gain valuable hands-on experience as well as network with those already in the medical field. After graduating from the medical assisting program, prospective medical assistants can either find work right away or earn voluntary certification, though many employers prefer those who have certification with organizations like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Association of Medical Technologists (AMT).