For individuals pursuing a career as a medical assistant, it is important to understand why certification for medical assistant jobs is so important. While not mandatory, it is highly recommended that upon graduation from an accredited school you take the medical assistant exam so you can market yourself to employers as a Certified Medical Assistant. You can even choose to take the exam later, after you have found a job. It may help you advance in your position.
The medical assistant certification test is something that is recommended by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). You have a choice of becoming a certified medical assistant or a registered medical assistant, talk to your school adviser about the difference between the two before preparing for your exam. The certification medical assistant exam is only given thrice yearly, in January, June and October. There are more than 200 official test taking sites in the United States, so there is likely to be one within reasonable driving distance from your location. If you need extra help, there are study guides for the exam you can purchase or rent from your library.
Before you even think about your certification, you must complete your education and training. This often includes an internship where you can see the work being done in a real world setting and may even be called upon to perform certain tasks. While classroom work is vital there is also a huge need for hands on training when it comes to medical assisting. Certification for medical assisting lets potential employers know that you are educated, trained and serious about your career. Think about it – who would you hire, a medical assistant without certification or one who has their certification?
Working as a medical assistant you will be supervised by a physician, physician’s assistant, nurse practitioner or registered nurse when handling duties that involve hands on care of a patient. Depending on your education and certification, you might take blood for testing, collect urine samples, take temperatures, give vaccinations and sometimes even perform testing procedures. There is also a big clerical portion of the job you should be aware of. Even if you’ve obtained your certification for medical assistant jobs you will still be doing your share of administrative duties like filing, scheduling and even answering phones when necessary. This job keeps you busy and your tasks are varied.