Medical Assisting

Employment opportunities
Medical assistant duties vary from office to office, depending on office location, size, and specialty. In small clinics, medical assistants may handle both front and back office duties, while those in larger practices tend to specialize in a particular area, such as podiatric or ophthalmic medical assisting. Medical assistants held about 387,000 jobs nationally in 2004, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Sixty percent were in physicians’ offices and 14 percent were in hospitals. About 11 percent worked in offices of other health practitioners, such as chiropractors, optometrists, and podiatrists. Others worked in outpatient care centers, educational services, ambulatory healthcare services,  government agencies, nursing care facilities, and employment services. 

Job outlook
Technological advances and a growing and aging population will cause further expansion of the health services industry. Medical assisting, already a fast-growing occupation, is thus expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014, particularly where certification is included. 

Earning potential
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants earned a median annual salary of $26,160 in 2005. Salaries ranged from $18,330 to $35,270 a year. Earnings depend on experience, skill level, and location. 


 

Career advancement
The medical assistant may advance to office manager, may qualify for other supervisory positions, or may teach medical assisting. With further education, many medical assistants go on to become nurses, respiratory therapists, and occupational therapy assistants.

Career choices with your certificate:
• Dental clinic front office assistant
• Physician's office/clinic assistant
• Medical assistant
• Medical laboratory assistant
• Specialty practice assistant