Joyce Said:

I am thinking about a job as a medical assistant, should I go back to school?

We Answered:

medical assistants get to do all the dirty work in nursing hmes and hospitals. If you like cleaning bedpans and heavy lifting it is your dream job!! If not then you may want to consider a different road to travel. I wa a medical assistant for many years working with disabled kids. I loved my job but I am now 45 and need knee replacements and I have a bad back because of all the lifting so b carefull.

Marian Said:

Medical Assistant vs Phlebotomy Tech what pays more and what career would go further?

We Answered:

The MA should be paid more; but in many places jobs are nonexisitent. Both are end careers; in that you do not advance further with out starting over in another career training program. Phlebotomy is generally a "filler job" on the way to somewhere else. Both can be paid poorly; but the MA should make a bit more. (BTW/drug reps are no longer allowed to provide "free" lunches, LOL).

Tommy Said:

how much can RMA make by having a AAS in the medical assistant career. then just being a certify medical assis?

We Answered:

MAs are generally paid about the same whether they are registered or certified; if there is any difference it would be small. To become a nurse practitioner, you need to get a bachelors in nursing, work as a RN, then get a masters in NP school. To become a PA you need to get a bachelors in a medical science, work, then get a masters in a PA school.

Nancy Said:

Im fixin to start college and I want to know about Medical Assistant career. Did anyone just graduate?

We Answered:

I graduated in 1983. I have served over 20 years. I have been teaching for five years.

In CA one does not have to take any state board test as an RN would.

When you graduate college you will have a certificate of completion. This DOES NOT mean you are certified. If you want to become certified you have to take a certification test. I know the American Medical Assistants Association offers one. There are others I believe. Check with your local employers and find out which certification they prefer.

You will take a clinical procedures class. You will also most likely do an externship. This means you will go into a doctor's office or hospital and work to get experience. You will be supervised but usually don't get paid. If things work out well they may hire you when you complete your externship and graduate.

Nicholas Said:

What kind of lifestyle can you live off a medical assistant career?

We Answered:

The medical assistants I went to school with made $10 an hour in start in a family practice. You cannot live a comfortable life on $10 an hour. Why don't you go for a full blown nursing career? Now that is comfort! Hard work but great money!

Javier Said:

Does Anyone Know Anything About Medical Assistant Careers?? Can You Help Me?

We Answered:

I've been in medicine for over 15 years, crossing over to a MA in 1997 (certified in the state of California as well as Nationally). Whoever told you that MA's don't draw blood often is incorrect. It really depends on the office environment. If you're a back office MA, you'll more than likely do everything from triaging patients to taking different sorts of specimens (blood, urine, spital) to calling in medications to even assisting the doctor on minor, inhouse surgical procedures. You'll do tons of charting and filing. If you go for a front office MA position, you'll probably do everything from checking in patients, verifying insurance, scheduling, possibly triaging patients and getting authorizations for further treatment procedures. You'll probably also be responsible for collecting co-pays/deductibles and possibly some light book keeping. MAs can do injections, blood draws and a ton of other things. I highly advise that you certify in both front and back office as it will make you much more marketable. However, if you're not sure you can handle blood, I would ask a local clinic if you can observe one day and see if it's anything you like. Depending on the kind of facilty you work for, you can bet you'll be quite busy!

By the way, I own my own medical/legal service now and work from home. I've always worked for specialists since crossing over to a MA and I've learned everything I can from the doctors and attorneys I work with. There's a ton of options open in the medical field but it's definitely not for everyone.