| Medical assistants, by law, are not required to be | | | | attend. |
| licensed or certified. However, a whopping 90% of | | | | Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) are awarded their |
| these hardworking professionals choose to obtain | | | | credentials by the American Association of Medical |
| certification. And, with good reason. Most employers | | | | Assistants. CMAs must renew their certification every |
| like to hire those with these credentials. Some states | | | | five years. Reputable programs in this profession |
| even require that they be certified to perform | | | | offer a well-rounded curriculum, which includes but is |
| certain duties like drawing blood or taking x-rays. | | | | not limited to, the following: |
| Outside of employment opportunities, getting | | | | Scientific Classes: As medical assistants (MAs) are |
| certified gives you a professional edge. It also signals | | | | highly skilled members of the healthcare profession, |
| to employers that you take you profession seriously | | | | they take classes in biology, physiology, anatomy and |
| - seriously enough to take it to the next lever. It | | | | pharmacology. |
| means better job security and greater career | | | | Administrative Classes: MAs are an integral part of |
| advancement opportunities. | | | | the overall operation of a practitioner's office. They |
| The final advantage of being a certified medical | | | | can be responsible for overseeing everything from |
| assistant is that it is an accreditation that is | | | | client payments to patient records. Hence, they may |
| recognized by potential employers all over the | | | | also receive training in record keeping and office |
| country. You can't beat that for job security. | | | | administration, for example. |
| Certified Medical Assistants: Education Required | | | | Skills Employers Seek in a Certified Medical Assistant |
| To become a certified medical assistant, you must | | | | Over and beyond the necessary medical and |
| get your degree from an accredited medical assistant | | | | administrative training, employers seek certified MAs |
| program. The official bodies that a school receives its | | | | who can multitask, have excellent communication |
| accreditation from is either the Accrediting Bureau of | | | | skills and conduct themselves in a professional |
| Health Education Schools (ABHES), or the Commission | | | | manner. |
| on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP). | | | | These traits, along with the training gained from an |
| This is important to keep in mind when you are | | | | excellent Certified Medical Assistant program ensures |
| considering which medical assistant program to | | | | success for those interested in this rewarding career. |