In these tough economic times, many people are on pins and needles wondering if they are secure in their jobs. Wouldn’t it be nice not to have these worries? Why not look for a profession that is stable despite this bad climate? Now is a great time to get medical assistant training and join a profession that according the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics is expected to be one of the fastest growing professions in the 2008-2018 decade.

A medical assistant is someone who works in a doctor’s office or clinic and is responsible for performing a number of clinical and administrative duties that keep these offices running smoothly. Medical assistants can be responsible for taking vital signs and patient histories. They can draw blood or perform electrocardiograms (EKGs). They can also be responsible for the medical billing and coding necessary for insurance companies as well as managing the front desk operations of a clinic. Duties can be rather dependent upon individual offices. Often, medical assistant training is divided up to cover the administrative and clinical aspects separately, and students can choose to take just one or both tracks.

Medical assistants are employed in a wide variety of settings and situations. While most work 40-hour a week positions, part-time positions are also available. Shifts as a medical assistant can include days, evenings and weekends. Most medical assistants work in the offices of doctors, physicians or other health practitioners such as optometrists or chiropractors. Some medical assistants can be employed in hospitals or nursing homes and long-term care facilities. In addition, medical assistant positions can be found across the country.

The job outlook looks good for medical assistants due to the aging population. More and more health care professionals will be needed, especially those in medical office support positions. People will always need health care. The varying needs we have help to contribute to the growth in the industry. The medical assistant field is expected to grow by 34 percent through 2018 which is much faster than average for most occupations. Now is a great time to prepare to begin a new career.

While most states do not require medical assistants to be certified or even formally trained, most employers are looking for people who have medical assistant training. Many post-secondary educational institutions offer this training including community colleges and vocational and career training institutions. These programs are not overly time consuming. Programs usually take nine months to one year to complete. At the very least, this career path is an excellent way check out the medical profession and decide which other aspects of the field are worth pursuing.

All in all, becoming a medical assistant is a good idea at this point in time. The job outlook is not only stable but growing, the work environment is clean and the working hours are generally good. Medical assistant training is the best way to ensure marketability when looking for a position as a medical assistant, so look at some schools in the vicinity that offer this type of program.

Author Bio: SOLEX College, located in Wheeling, Illinois, has an excellent medical assistant training program. This program is equipped to provide students with a solid foundation to begin their careers.

Category: Education
Keywords: medical assistant training