You want to pursue a career offering medical assistance to patients in need. A career where you can not only offer medical assistance but also work side by side with doctors and other healthcare providers. Sound familiar? If so, the career you may be seeking is that of a medical assistant. These healthcare professionals are found working on the frontlines in doctors’ offices and clinics. They work closely with providers to offer assistance to patients in need.
If pursuing a career as a medical assistant sounds like the path that may be right for you, continue reading our Medical Assistance Training Guide below. We’ve included helpful information on how you can train to become a medical assistant and pursue a career helping others!
Learn more about our medical assistant training program
What is Medical Assistant Training Like?
One of the first things you may be wondering about, is “what is medical assistant training like?” Schooling for medical assistant students may take place in a classroom setting, as well as a hands-on environment.
During classroom instruction, the medical assistant school will expose students to a variety of topics. This information helps students build a strong foundation. In addition, the topics covered in class can help prepare students for more advanced knowledge and skills they can learn later in the program. This information can also help set up medical assistant students for success once they have graduated and they are in the field working.
The hands-on environment could be labs at the medical assistant school where they can practice the skills they are learning. Hands-on training and experience may also be obtained through an externship. This is where the medical assistant school assigns a student to an actual occupational setting where they can benefit from unpaid experience and exposure. This gives students the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned throughout their medical assistant training. Since medical assistants work closely with patients, it is important to select a program with a strong hands-on component.
What Courses Will You Take in Your Medical Assistant Training?
In addition to wondering what medical assistant training may be like, you may also be wondering about the courses you will take in your medical assistant training. Schooling for medical assistant students may include a variety of courses. This will vary depending on what medical assistant program you select, and how the training is structured.
Examples of courses you may take in your medical assistant training may include:
- Introduction to Medical Terminology, Anatomy, and Physiology
- Interpersonal Skills
- Medical Insurance and Electronic Health Records
- Health History and Physical Measurements
- Urinalysis, Venipuncture and Hematology
- Electrocardiography, Radiology, First Aid and CPR
- Medical Office Administration
- …and more!
These medical assistant courses can help students develop both the clinical and administrative skills needed for success on the job. Medical assistants, depending upon where they work, may perform both clinical and/or administrative duties. As you evaluate different options when it comes to your medical assistant education, be sure to select a program that is comprehensive and prepares its students for success once they have graduated.
How Long is Medical Assistant Training?
Now that you have a better understanding of what a medical assistant training program is like and what courses you might take, you may be wondering ‘how long is medical assistant training?’ Medical assistant training length will vary based on a number of factors. Typically, medical assistant programs can be completed in a year or less.
When you are doing your research and evaluating different medical assistant programs, make sure you ask questions. We have given you some good information here on what to look for in a program. Don’t just choose a program based on the length. You also don’t want to make any assumptions based on the medical assistant training length alone.
Are You Ready to Enroll in a Medical Assistant School?
If you have gotten to this point in our medical assistance guide, that’s great, congratulations! It seems like pursuing a career as a medical assistant could be right for you. So, what do you have to do in order to enroll at a medical assistant school?
First things first, as you are researching schools, be sure to check out their admissions requirements. Many medical assistant schools require students to have a high school diploma or GED. They may also have other requirements as well – either set forth by the school, or perhaps even the externship site(s) where students may be placed. It’s not a bad idea to ask these questions and cover this information when you meet with an admissions representative.
You will also want to make sure you are in the right mindset before attending medical assistant school. Beginning a medical assistant program is a commitment. In addition, you are investing both time and money in your education, so you want to make sure you make the most of it. Attending a medical assistant school is a commitment for one year of your life, but it can also make a difference for the rest of your life. Make sure you are prepared to be a dedicated student.
How You Can Make a Career Change
After reviewing this guide, if you find yourself excited and ready to take the next step, great! Our team here at Dorsey College would love to talk to you about our Medical Assistant training program and how you can get started. You could be on your way to a new career as a medical assistant in just a year.
If you are interested in learning more about other potential career paths for healthcare professionals that offer medical assistance, we’d still invite you to check out the various career training programs we offer at Dorsey College. Perhaps there is another program that is a better fit for you and your career goals.
Getting Started at Dorsey College
If you are ready to begin your medical assistant training in Michigan, Dorsey College can help you get on your way. The Medical Assistant program at Dorsey College includes training on both clinical and administrative skills. In addition, the Medical Assistant program at Dorsey College is delivered in a hybrid format. That means students will have some of the classes delivered online via distance education, and they will come to campus for others to benefit from hands-on training. It’s the best of both worlds!
Dorsey College aims to partner with students as they pursue their newly chosen career. Students in the Medical Assistant program will take part in an externship during their final module of training where they can benefit from experience and exposure in an occupational setting. In addition, Dorsey College offers career services assistance to all program completers, however, job placement is not guaranteed by Dorsey College.
Take the first step towards a career helping others. Contact Dorsey College today to learn how you can begin your medical assistant training!
