Show I want to be a medical assistant... but where do I start? If you’re looking for a new direction, you may be wondering about a career as a medical assistant. You already know that by joining the fast-paced medical field, you’ll play a crucial role in helping patients and providing a great healthcare experience. A medical assistant career could be the perfect entry point into the healthcare field you have your sights set on. But what medical assistant skills and education requirements are needed to land a position? We’ve got the answers to all your questions. But first, let’s take a quick look at some basic medical assistant career information you may be curious about. Medical assistant career info you want to knowIt’s no wonder you’re intrigued at the idea of pursuing this position, especially considering the optimistic career outlook. Medical assistant jobs are projected to grow more than four times the average for all occupations, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).1 What’s more is that the medical assistant education requirements aren’t nearly as extensive as other careers in the healthcare field. You can earn a Medical Assisting Diploma from Rasmussen University in as few as 12 months in a traditional format or as few as 6-9 months in a subscription-based competency-based education format.2 This means you could be just one year away from making an impact in the lives of patients. Once you land a position, you can expect to earn a median annual salary of $33,610, according to the BLS.1 The knowledge and skills gained during this training will help you meet the medical assistant qualifications needed to carry out the daily job duties. But what are those duties, exactly? Let’s take a closer look. Common medical assistant job dutiesIn order to understand the medical assistant skills needed, you’ll first want to take a look at the duties they’re responsible for in a typical shift. Medical assistants work in healthcare facilities; typically in medical clinics, with patients, doctors and nurses all vying for their time. They perform both administrative and clinical duties under the direction of a physician or registered nurse. A medical assistant career is patient-facing, with days spent interacting with individuals of all different backgrounds. The BLS outlines a few of the duties medical assistants can expect to do, including the following1:
If you plan on becoming a medical assistant, you can anticipate spending your shifts doing these types of activities. With a combination of behind-the-scenes and front office duties to juggle, medical assistant careers require a wide range of skills. But some are more sought after than others. Keep reading to see which ones employers value most. Medical assistant skills you’ll need to succeedMedical assistant job requirements include a mix of clinical skills and administrative skills. Check out this video for a high-level look at what is expected of these healthcare pros. If you’re looking for more detail about what employers are looking for in a medical assistant resume, here’s some more information for you. We used real-time job analysis software to examine more than 122,000 medical assistant job postings from the past year.3 The data helped us determine the exact medical assistant skills employers are seeking. As we mentioned before, medical assistant skills can be broken up into clinical and administrative categories. Here’s what we found in our analysis: Top clinical skills for medical assistants3
Top administrative skills for medical assistants3
Start honing your medical assistant skillsAfter reviewing the medical assistant job requirements, you’ve likely identified some qualities and skills you already possess that make you a great fit for the field. If you’re a great communicator who enjoys multitasking and interacting with others, all you’re missing are the technical skills needed to carry out the job duties. That’s where the medical assistant education comes into play. Completing a post-secondary program will help equip you with the technical knowledge and training you’ll need to succeed. Learn more about how the Rasmussen University Medical Assisting program can help you get started. 1 Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [accessed April 2019]. Information represents national, averaged data for the occupations listed and include workers at all levels of education and experience. Employment conditions in your area may vary. [Intro paragraph] The best medical assistant job descriptions provide two to three sentences that will introduce the prospective employees to your company, culture, and working environment. This is where you can sell your hospital or medical facility to job seekers and set yourself apart from competing job listings. Be detailed in your description of the role, as medical assistant duties in primary care will differ from those for surgical care. Medical Assistant Duties and Responsibilities:
[Work Hours & Benefits] It’s always a good idea to highlight the work hours and benefits specific to your medical facility. Potential medical assistants want to learn things like team size, nurse-to-patient ratios, and shift rotations. You can also highlight any of the benefits that set you apart, like childcare reimbursements, commuter benefits, and tuition or continuing education credits. Medical Assistant Qualifications/Skills:
Education, Experience, and Licensing Requirements:
[Call to Action] The best job descriptions not only entice potential medical assistant applicants to apply but also teach them how to do so by including a call to action. For instance, you can let prospective employees know whether you’d like them to submit an application by clicking on the apply button at the top of the job listing, or if you’d rather they email an application, resume, and supporting documents to a specific person at your facility. Crafting a detailed, targeted job description is only the beginning of your search for the perfect medical assistant. Next, you’ll need to get it in front of a wide range of qualified candidates before you make your decision. Monster can help you find plenty of top candidates in a short amount of time, and you can get started by posting your job ad for free. |