Medical Assistant

To be a successful Medical Assistant you should…

• like working with people
• be interested in health sciences
• be flexible and adaptable to change

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What will my job be like?

Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly.

Preparing patients for examinations, they take vital signs such as temperature, pulse, and respiration. They assist with first aid, collect and process specimens, and perform ordered tests. As the physician’s right hand, these professionals schedule appointments, prepare and maintain patient records, and arrange hospital admissions. A medical assistant serves as a liaison between the physician and others, such as pharmaceutical sales people.

Where could I work?

Most medical assistants work in physician offices. Medical assistants often find employment either in full-time or part-time positions.

Other workplace settings:

• Chiropractor Offices
• Medical Clinics
• Optometrist Offices
• Ophthalmologist Offices
• Podiatrist Offices
• Sales
• Insurance Companies

What is the average annual salary?

$31,000

What is the future of this career?

Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the BLS.

About 104,400 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

What type of education and/or training do I need?

There are both 1-year and 2-year medical assisting programs.

Two-year programs result in associate degrees while 1-year programs grant certificates or diplomas.

Formal training in medical assisting is most widely preferred but is not always required. Some medical assistants are trained on the job, although this is less common than it was in the past.

Where can I get the education and/or training?

• American Institute, West Hartford
• Asnuntuck Community College, Enfield
• Capital Community College, Hartford
• Goodwin College, East Hartford
• Housatonic Community College, Bridgeport
• Lincoln Technical Institute, New Britain/Shelton
• Northwestern Connecticut Community College, Winsted
• Norwalk Community College, Norwalk
• Porter and Chester Institute, Stratford
• Quinebaug Valley Community College, Danielson
• Three Rivers Community College, Norwich
• Tunxis Community College, Farmington

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is not required in the state of Connecticut.

Where can I get more information?

American Association of Medical Assistants
20 N. Wacker Drive, Suite 1575
Chicago, IL   60606
(312) 899-1500
www.aama-ntl.org