You’ve been curious about healthcare as a career option for a little while now. Those who want to get an associate’s degree will likely spend two years in school. How Long Does it Take to Train to be a Medical Assistant? Talk with an admissions advisor today. To facilitate the best learning and preparation possible, Medical Assisting programs have both classroom instruction and lab work where the learning is applied. Factor the time it will take you to complete this extensive experience into how long it will take you to become a physician assistant. More info. “In our residential courses, students receive a great deal of hands-on experience where they learn various patient care techniques, how to assist with procedures, patient triage strategies, administrative duties and how to carry themselves professionally.”. Medical assisting requires hands-on learning as well as by-the-book knowledge. So, how long does it take to become a medical assistant? The average certificate program costs anywhere between $2,500-$10,000, depending on the state. At Purdue Global, the Medical Assistant Certificate program can be completed in less than 15 months of full-time study. External links provided on rasmussen.edu are for reference only. With that said, you should also start researching schools as early as possible.There are a number of paths to take towards your education. An admission advisor from each school can provide more info about: Get Started with Western Governors University, Get Started with Eastern Kentucky University, Get Started with The University of Montana, Get Started with Georgia Perimeter College, Get Started with Milwaukee Area Technical College, Get Started with University of Cincinnati, Get Started with Florida Technical College. For more information about medical assistants check out this article: Medical Assistant Certification: Exam, Requirements & Renewal. 0 comment; 9,948 views; A medical assistant has an important role in the medical field. You then can acquire a license, certification and registration. That said, expect to take 2 years to become a physician assistant after you get your bachelors degree. Although you could get a job as a medical assistant at a physicians office and learn the skills, you may be better off spending 6 months to 2 years and becoming certified or registered and having an associates degree. Before you do anything, consider looking for an entry level position within the industry. Clean up. What is the Demand for Medical Assistants? “We are extremely proud of the professionalism that our students demonstrate both in class and out in their externships. Looking for more course information? Curriculum, relevancy of sample programs, and outcomes will vary by school. But healthcare is a huge field—physicians and nurses barely scratch the surface of the professionals who center their work on helping patients heal. The biggest factor in timing depends on you. It usually takes between 18 and 24 months to study for an Associate’s Degree program, as this involves a higher level of education. © 2021 Rasmussen College, LLC. When you train to become a medical assistant, you need to gain an academic background in the basics of patient assessment as well as the administrative side of healthcare. Most states have no formal education requirements. 4 4. You’ll fill in some basic information, and an Ameritech representative will get back to you for an initial interview. Isn’t it exciting to think that in the span of one year you could choose a program and graduate into a new career path? Fulfilling the prerequisites to become a medical assistant will take somewhere between nine months and two years. Ameritech students can graduate in as few as 12 months, broken up over three semesters. Connect with Rasmussen College on Facebook, Connect with Rasmussen College on Instagram, Connect with Rasmussen College on LinkedIn, Connect with Rasmussen College on Pinterest, Connect with Rasmussen College on Twitter, Connect with Rasmussen College on Youtube, Human Resources and Organizational Leadership, Information Technology Project Management, Medical Assisting program at Rasmussen College, Rasmussen College Medical Assisting course catalog, 7 Signs You Would Thrive in a Medical Assisting Career, Language skills, both spoken and written (bilingual, English, Spanish, etc. One role you might find appealing is that of a medical assistant (MA). This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. “If a student is full-time, the Medical Assisting program is approximately one year,” says Denise Pufall, department chair of the Medical Assisting program at Rasmussen College. Accredited On-Campus Training Programs: The traditional approach to medical assistant training is an on campus training program that generally takes 9-12 months to complete for a diploma program or two years for an associate’s degree. “Our Medical Assisting program is a blended program, so it offers both residential and online courses,” Pufall says. Meanwhile, associate degrees in medical assisting are mostly offered at community colleges and take two years to complete. 2.1 1. Working onsite in this training capacity allows students to perform the MA job duties under supervision in both the front-office administrative and the back-office clinical areas. These experiential externships give students the chance to round out their training and graduate with confidence, so they can hit the ground running professionally. The first one is to complete a certificate or diploma program and the second one is to get an associate's degree. Individuals who want to pursue careers as medical assistants normally have to spend nine to twelve months in school to obtain a certificate. After all, there’s a lot to like about careers that directly help people. 08.24.2020. Besides a Degree, What Else is Needed to Become a Medical Assistant? During your masters you are also required to complete at least 2000 clinical hours. In some cases, you might even be able to start a career right away with a medical office or clinic that offers on-the-job training. This piece of ad content was created by Rasmussen College to support its educational programs. Out of over 100,000 jobs postings seeking MAs in the last year, these were the skills employers most commonly wanted:3. Medical assistants need a combination of skills to thrive. If you’re eager to become a professional and get a job quickly, medical assisting could be a great move, for men as well as women. 2.2 2. It is also important that you complete a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Medical assistants can be found in a huge range of healthcare facilities doing a variety of vital patient care tasks. The path to becoming a medical assistant will vary. All rights reserved. “I am extremely proud of our program and our outcomes,” Pufall says. Become a certified medical assistant (CMA) through the American Association of Medical Assistants. Your classroom instruction will cover human anatomy and physiology, child development, pregnancy, and aging. Certificate or diploma programs are often offered at technical schools and vocational schools and take a year or less to complete. Ask yourself these questions to help decide what’s best for you. Apply for the certification and study as much as you can before your test date. Pass the CMA Evaluation (less than 1 year). By selecting "Submit", I authorize Rasmussen College to contact me by email, phone or text message at the number provided. ), Financial Aid and FAFSA (for those who qualify). How Long Does It Take To Become A Medical Assistant? Research the job duties and the education and licensing requirements and find out how to start a career in medical assistance. Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited private college. Check out the Rasmussen College Medical Assisting course catalog. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The listings below may include sponsored content but are popular choices among our users. Rasmussen College is not enrolling students in your state at this time. Alternatively, you could opt to earn an associate’s degree in medical assisting, which typically takes around two years. Students in a Medical Assisting program can expect to receive a solid foundation in patient care with courses that focus on understanding medical terminology and how to administer common diagnostic tests you’ll see every day in a clinical setting. Once you choose your path and complete it, you will be able to become a certified medical assistant through the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Please visit www.rasmussen.edu/degrees for a list of programs offered. 3 3. Medical Assistant Certificate/Diploma. Becoming a medical assistant is one of the fastest ways to join the world of healthcare. Despite their differences, both of them will enable you to become a certified medical assistant. The majority of professionals working as Medical Assistants have completed one of these two options: Diploma: approximately 9 months to 1 year. Some of these skills might already be part of your life right now—but much of the rest will be covered as part of the Medical Assisting program curriculum. In addition, if you are in a medical assistant program, completion times depend on course load and program. Some Medical Assisting programs go a step beyond hands-on lab experience and place students in an externship—a school-arranged practice period in a local healthcare facility where students can put their knowledge to use in a real work environment. Rasmussen College does not guarantee, approve, control, or specifically endorse the information or products available on websites linked to, and is not endorsed by website owners, authors and/or organizations referenced. Medical assistants take patients' vital signs, medical histories and insurance information. 4.1 Related video about How Long does it take to Become a Medical Assistant. The role of a medical assistant is multi-faceted. Medical Assistant Associate Degree. Nov 6, 2015 - If you’re considering becoming a medical assistant, you might hesitate at the thought of the time it will take, but fear not—you could be finished sooner than you imagine! All Rights Reserved. “The program ensures they are prepared to gain employment as an entry-level medical assistant,” Pufall says. If you opt to pursue formal career education, most medical assisting programs may be completed in about a year of full-time study. She earned her MFA in poetry and teaches as an adjunct English instructor. When you find the article helpful, feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues. Get High School Diploma or GED. Enter zip: “We continually evaluate and adjust our courses to ensure that we are meeting the demands of employers—which helps our graduates gain employment.”, Does the relatively short time to completion to becoming a Medical Assistant sound appealing to you? The medical field is very interesting, skillful and incredibly rewarding. This Diploma program is an appealing option for anyone who wants to work in healthcare but may be wary of a multi-year commitment to college. Learn how to become a registered medical assistant. You’ll be responsible for using a wide range of tools and technology while interacting with all types of people. Medical assistants have a … Please correct the errors and submit again. Rasmussen College is a regionally accredited college authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. MAs need to master certain skills and build an understanding of how medical environments work and what their role is within one. It is possible to complete your medical assistant training in under a year on a certificate or diploma program. It can take you two years or less to become a certified medical assistant. You have to answer it. This takes about 9 months to a year for most applicants to complete. The course teaches you a variety of things like Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology, Pharmacology, Clinical medicine and medical laws and Ethics. Certificate programs, typically offered by technical-vocational schools, generally last one year. Learn a bit more about what it takes to really excel in this career with our article, “7 Signs You Would Thrive in a Medical Assisting Career.”, 1Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [information accessed October 25, 2018] www.bls.gov/ooh/. To cap it off, students in the Rasmussen College Medical Assisting program are tasked with completing an experience-building externship. People that want to become certified medical assistants have two educational pathways. So what else is out there? 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Pursue Your Goal to Become a Medical Assistant With Purdue Global Brianna is a content writer for Collegis Education who writes student focused articles on behalf of Rasmussen College. 10.26.2020, Will Erstad | But you might not know what it takes to get there. Maintain the AAMA (CMA) Credential (every 60 months). Medical Assisting programs typically take about a year to complete, according to the BLS . We used real-time job analysis software to determine the top-five soft and technical skills employers are seeking for this occupation. Rasmussen College may not prepare students for all positions featured within this content. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree. What does a Medical Assistant do? And their role in the industry is becoming more and more essential. What Should I Look for When Choosing a Training Program? It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make! The position of physician assistant is also very vital in the world of medicine as they are trained to handle a very broad spectrum of tasks while under the supervision of a physician or surgeon. © copyright 2003-2021 Study.com. The transition from graduation to employment is an important step, which is a big part of why Rasmussen College gives students the opportunity to confidently sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam—a certification many employers prefer in MAs they hire. The process of certification can add 2 months to your timeline. Assistants in cosmetic surgery, for example, prep patients, assist during operations and care for incisions when the patients are in recovery. How long does it take to become a medical assistant? What else they do depends on where they work. They may handle billing, fill out patient forms, and perform typical receptionist type duties. How Long does it Take to Become a Medical Assistant. Medical Assisting externships typically take place in a physician’s office, a clinic or medical center. However, many employers prefer MAs who have been trained in a formal program, which may take one to two years. After getting a bachelors degree and doing some healthcare training, obtaining a masters degree shouldnt be too hard. Next, you need to study in order to pass the Certification of Medical Assistant Certification Examination. You must show that you have graduated from a school that is accredited by either the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Here’s how to become a medical assistant and a spotlight on what they do. Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals in a level between the doctors and the nurses. In a hospital setting, a medical assistant tends to the needs of the particular unit they work for. Hello, we provide concise yet detailed articles on "Assistant Choices: How Long Does It Take To Become A Medical Assistant" topic. Sciences, Culinary Arts and Personal Total a Required Medical Aide Program (1– 2 years). People that want to become certified medical assistants have two educational pathways. Medical assistants are the backbone of healthcare offices, providing support to physicians and helping patients, and becoming one only takes as few as 10 months up to 2 years. Related resource: How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant? Additionally students will learn some of the administrative side—how to handle tasks like patient scheduling and documentation as well as navigating the basic computer systems used in clinical offices. So, what are employers looking for in medical assistant candidates? How Much Does It Cost to Become a Medical Assistant? In that intervie… There is no obligation to enroll. The program you have selected is not available in your area. Maybe working in healthcare is something you’ve wanted your entire life, or maybe it’s a recent decision you’ve come to after carefully weighing your career options. In add… In as little as 17 months of full time schooling, you can earn your medical assisting degree and join the 584,970 medical assistants already providing vital services in communities across America. What is a Physician Assistant? In order to get this much hands-on patient care experience, you may also need to factor in obtaining a medical certificate such as becoming a medical assistant into your educational plan. That starts by requesting information about Ameritech’s medical assistant program. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent through 2026, much faster than the average occupation.1. Associates Degree: approximately 18 months to 2 years. Medical Assisting programs typically take about a year to complete, according to the BLS. And what should you expect from a Medical Assisting program? 6. There’s no doubt about it—MAs are looking at a bright occupational future. A medical assistant is required to complete an accredited program that takes between six months and one year of training. The information here is sourced well and enriched with great visual photo and video illustrations. It is important that you bring experience into the field as the combination of experience and education will be the driving factors in how quickly you are hired and how much you should expect to earn. “If students are part-time, it may take a little longer.”2. This takes about 2 years for most applicants to complete. Biological and Biomedical Specifically, how long does it take to become a medical assistant? In most states, you can become a medical assistant, or MA, simply by finding a physician who is willing to hire and train you. Fill out the form to receive information about: There are some errors in the form. You’ll also learn about the health insurance system and the medical assistant’s role in helping keep track of appointments, patient records, and billing. Their hands-on medical assistant training helps students feel more prepared to take the exam. Read on to find out what you can expect from Medical Assistant training. She loves to write, teach and talk about the power of effective communication. Our employers comment all the time on how professional our students and graduates are when entering their facilities.”. How long does it take to become a certified medical assistant? 3Burning-Glass.com (analysis of 106,473 medical assistant job postings, Oct. 01, 2017 - Sep. 30, 2018). Find Schools. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2020) notes that aspiring medical assistants must typically attend a postsecondary education program lasting from one to two years, which includes instruction in subjects such as anatomy and medical terminology. To qualify for certification, you must have graduated from a program accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP). Kirsten Slyter | This institution requires medical assistants to take and pass a certification examination that determines if they are properly prepared for this profession. 01.11.2021, Hannah Meinke | It can take you two years or less to become a certified medical assistant. In any case, hearing the call isn’t enough. These professionals are often the first people a patient will interact with in the healthcare facility—making the “soft” or transferrable skills of the job just as important as the more technical aspects. Please select another program of interest. 2Time to completion is dependent on the number of transfer credits accepted and courses completed each term. If you’ve looked into this career before, you probably know how essential medical assistants are to the clinics, hospitals and long-term care facilities that hire them. It takes about 2 years to go through the Masters Physician assistant program before getting the degree. Thousands of people aspire to become a physician assistant, but many people wonder how long it takes to become one. Medical assistant courses vary from a total of 5 days to two years, depending on the certificate or diploma you are earning. Courses that take roughly two years to complete generally allow you to earn an associate’s degree. The average associate’s degree program costs anywhere between $5,000-$10,000 per year of instruction, for a … Employers prefer certified or experienced applicants. After all, you probably wouldn’t feel comfortable administering a flu shot or drawing blood without practicing first. 09.21.2020, Will Erstad | The quickest medical assistant program is six weeks long but most medical assistant training is three months or longer. The first step toward becoming an MA is wanting to become an MA. What Do Medical Assistants Do? If you do not do this within your 2 years of time, y… MAs need to master certain skills and build an understanding of how medical environments work and what their role is within one. For reference only which typically takes around two years to become a medical assistant ( MA ) years for applicants... Isn ’ t enough feel free to share it with your friends or colleagues for the certification of assistants. About Ameritech ’ s degree in medical assistant then can acquire a,... On how professional our students demonstrate both in class and out in their how long does it take to become a medical assistant the doctors the... 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