Have you been thinking of becoming a clinical medical assistant? This career is in high demand at the moment all throughout the country, and it doesn’t take long to train for it. The clinical medical assistant job description below should give you a general idea of what goes on with this line of work so you can decide if it is right for you.
Job Duties for Clinical Medical Assistants
Most clinical medical assistants handle the administrative work for a doctor’s office or health clinic. This may include scheduling appointments, directing phone calls, filing documents, and getting patients where they need to be. Clinical medical assistants who have nursing training may take vital signs or write down patient information before someone sees a doctor, but for the most part, people in this career work in an office or at a front desk.
Career Prospects for Clinical Medical Assistants
Most clinical medical assistants work in AM/PM clinics or doctor’s offices. According to data from 2012 with the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average clinical medical assistant earned $14.69 an hour, which equates to $30,550 a year. The job outlook for this profession is 29% between 2012 and 2022, which is much faster than the national average. If you get the right education for this career, you should have no trouble finding a job once you get out of school.
How to Become a Clinical Medical Assistant
If you want to become a clinical medical assistant, you could start by earning a certificate or associate’s degree in medical assisting. Most students spend one or two years in school before they are able to find work. Technically, you can work as a medical assistant without going to school, but you will have a much harder time finding a job that way. You might as well spend a year in school to maximize your chances.
If you want to become a nurse after getting your medical assisting degree, you could transfer many of your credits to a bachelor of science in nursing. Some nursing students work as clinical medical assistants while attending school because they can make money and gain field experience at the same time. Keep this in mind if you’re planning out a long term career.
Look for a medical assisting school near you today, and you’ll have a great job in no time.
