Medical Assistant Online Certification
- A medical assistant's job duties depend on where they work. Medical assistants perform a wide variety of tasks in small physician's offices, ranging from checking a patient's weight and height to filling out paperwork and making specialist appointments for patients. In a larger practice, medical assistants usually specialize in a particular area. For example, administrative medical assistants handle insurance paperwork, correspondence, bookkeeping and medical records while optometric medical assistants provide diagnostic tests, apply eye dressings and educate patients about contact lens wear and care.
- Most employers prefer medical assistants to have completed formal education through a community college or technology school. Training programs could be up to two years in length. Medical assistants take classes in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, clinical procedures, radiology procedures and medical office management. Part of the program usually includes some clinical hands-on training. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects look best for those candidates who become certified after graduation.
- Online courses for medical assistants are typically shorter in duration than in-person classes, sometimes lasting as little as six weeks. While the courses are a convenient option if you can't make it to traditional classes, they don't usually lead to increased job prospects due to the fact that employers prefer traditional programs. If you do decide to take a medical assistant program online, look for a program that's accredited with a recognized medical assistant organization.
- Certification for medical assistants can be obtained through the American Association of Medical Assistants or through American Medical Technologists. Accreditation procedures vary from organization to organization. For example, the American Association of Medical Assistants requires you to take a computer-based 200 question multiple choice exam in order to become certified. Your state may require you to become certified or pass an exam in order to work as a medical assistant; check with your state's medical licensing agency for your state's requirements.
