Considering a Career in Medical Assisting? Check out These Schools in NJ!
Contents
- Considering a Career in Medical Assisting?
- Why Check out These Schools in NJ?
- What are the Benefits of a Medical Assisting Career?
- What Does a medical assistant Do?
- What is the Job Outlook for Medical Assistants?
- What are the Education and Training Requirements for Medical Assistants?
- What are the Different Specialties for Medical Assistants?
- What are the Certification and Licensing Requirements for Medical Assistants?
- How Much do Medical Assistants Make?
- What are the Different Employment Settings for Medical Assistants?
Considering a Career in Medical Assisting? Check out These Schools in NJ!
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Considering a Career in Medical Assisting?
Medical assisting is a growing field with plenty of opportunity for career advancement. If you’re considering a career in medical assisting, you’ll want to make sure you choose a reputable school that can provide you with the training you need to be successful in the field.
There are many great schools in New Jersey that offer medical assisting programs, so it’s important to do your research to find the one that’s right for you. To get started, check out these schools in NJ that offer medical assisting programs:
-Bergen Community College
-Camden County College
-Essex County College
-Hudson County Community College
-Middlesex County College
-Ocean County College
-Passaic County Community College
-Salem Community College
Why Check out These Schools in NJ?
These schools in NJ offer a comprehensive education in medical assisting, preparing students for a successful career in the medical field. With small class sizes and experienced instructors, these schools provide an intimate learning environment conducive to academic success. Students at these schools also have the opportunity to gain practical experience through externships and clinical rotations, giving them the opportunity to apply their knowledge and skills in a real-world setting. If you are considering a career in medical assisting, be sure to check out these schools in NJ!
What are the Benefits of a Medical Assisting Career?
Medical assistants are an important part of any healthcare team. They perform many essential administrative and clinical tasks, such as taking and recording medical histories and vital signs, scheduling appointments, preparing patients for examinations, collecting lab specimens and handling correspondence. In addition, they also educate patients about their health conditions, medications and treatment options.
Medical Assisting is a great career choice for those who want to work in the medical field but do not want to pursue a more intensive medical degree. It is also a good option for those who want to change careers or are looking for a career with good job security and growth potential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of Medical Assistants is expected to grow 29 percent from 2019 to 2029 – much faster than the average for all occupations.
If you’re considering a career in Medical Assisting, check out these schools in New Jersey!
What Does a medical assistant Do?
medical assistants are critical members of any healthcare team. They are the ones who often times make the first and last impressions on patients and play a vital role in keeping medical practices running smoothly. If you are considering a career in medical assisting, it is important to know what exactly medical assistants do and what the job entails.
Medical assistants perform a variety of administrative and clinical tasks to support the work of healthcare professionals. Their duties may include scheduling appointments, taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and collecting and processing laboratory specimens. Medical assistants also may authorize prescription refills under the supervision of a physician or nurse, inject medications as directed, assist with minor office surgical procedures, perform basic laboratory tests, give patients instructions on taking medications or wound care, collect payment from patients, and code and file insurance forms.
What is the Job Outlook for Medical Assistants?
If you’re considering a career in medical assisting, you’re probably wondering about the job outlook for this growing field. Fortunately, the outlook is very positive! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 29 percent from 2019 to 2029—much faster than the average for all occupations.1
What’s driving this growth? One big factor is an aging population. As people live longer and stay healthier, they require more medical care. And as the Baby Boomer generation ages, they will need even more care.2
Another factor is the increasing number of medical procedures and treatments that are being performed on an outpatient basis. This means that patients are not staying in hospitals overnight, but are instead being seen in outpatient clinics and physician’s offices. And as these procedures become more common, there will be a greater need for medical assistants to help with patient care.3
In addition, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has helped to increase the demand for primary care services—and this, in turn, has increased the demand for medical assistants.4 The ACA has also spurred the development of new types of healthcare facilities, such as community health centers and retail clinics, which are also increasing the demand for medical assistants.5
So if you’re considering a career in medical assisting, you can be confident that there will be plenty of job opportunities available!
What are the Education and Training Requirements for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistants are unlicensed personnel who perform many routine tasks in a medical office or clinic, such as updating patient records, scheduling appointments and taking vital signs. They might also assist physicians with examinations and procedures, prepare patients for exams and help collect lab specimens. Some medical assistants specialize in areas such as ophthalmology, podiatry or obstetrics.
Education and training requirements for medical assistants vary by state, but most positions require at least a high school diploma or the equivalent. Employers might also prefer to hire candidates who have completed a formal medical assisting program offered by a community college, vocational school or technical institute. These programs typically last one year or less and lead to a certificate or diploma. Some medical assistants choose to earn an Associate’s degree in medical assisting, which takes about two years to complete.
What are the Different Specialties for Medical Assistants?
There are a number of different specialties for medical assistants, depending on their desired area of interest or focus. Here are some of the most common:
-Clinical medical assistants work in outpatient settings such as clinics and doctor’s offices. They may take medical histories, prepare patients for examination, assist during the exam, schedule appointments, and more.
-Laboratory medical assistants work in hospitals or clinical laboratories. They may collect and process specimens, perform basic lab tests, assist with patient preparation for x-rays or surgery, and more.
-Ophthalmic medical assistants work in ophthalmology offices or clinics. They may conduct vision tests, measure patients’ eye pressure, fit and adjust eyeglasses and contact lenses, teach patients how to use vision aids, and more.
-Podiatric medical assistants work in podiatry offices or clinics. They may take patient histories and measure vital signs, prepare patients for examination, assist during the exam, apply casts and dressings to feet, and more.
What are the Certification and Licensing Requirements for Medical Assistants?
Medical assistants play a vital role in the healthcare industry, providing support to doctors and other medical professionals. If you’re considering a career in medical assisting, it’s important to be aware of the certification and licensing requirements in your state.
In New Jersey, medical assistants must be licensed by the state Board of Medical Examiners. Licensure requires successful completion of an accredited medical assistant program and passing an examination. Once licensed, medical assistants must renew their license every two years.
While certification is not required for licensure in New Jersey, many employers prefer to hire certified medical assistants. Certification is available through several organizations, including the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), the National Healthcare Association (NHA), and the National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT). To be eligible for certification, candidates must graduate from an accredited medical assistant program and pass a national exam. Those who wish to maintain their certification must complete continuing education courses every few years.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in medical assisting, be sure to research the certification and licensing requirements in your state. With proper training and certification, you’ll be well on your way to a rewarding career in this growing field!
How Much do Medical Assistants Make?
Medical assistants play a vital role in the day-to-day operations of a medical office. They are responsible for a variety of tasks, including scheduling appointments, taking medical histories, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician with various procedures.
Medical assistants are in high demand and the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of medical assistants will grow by 29 percent from 2019 to 2029 — much faster than the average for all occupations. With such high demand, now is a great time to consider a career in medical assisting.
Wages for medical assistants vary depending on experience, education, and location. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical assistants was $34,800 in May 2019. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,280, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $49,540.
location is also a factor in how much medical assistants make. In general, metropolitan areas offer higher wages than nonmetropolitan areas. For example, the New York-Newark-Jersey City metro area has an hourly mean wage of $19.33 for medical assistants — much higher than the national average of $16.69.
If you’re considering a career in medical assisting, be sure to research schools that offer accredited programs. In New Jersey, there are several schools that offer accredited programs, including Bergen Community College, Brookdale Community College, Essex County College, Hudson County Community College, and Union County College.
What are the Different Employment Settings for Medical Assistants?
There are many different types of employment settings for medical assistants. The most common setting is a physician’s office, but medical assistants also work in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities. Some medical assistants even work from home!
The type of employment setting you choose will depend on your personal preferences and the needs of your employer. Here are some things to consider when choosing an employment setting:
-Do you want to work with a specific type of doctor or healthcare provider?
-Do you want to work in a large facility or a small office?
-Do you want to have a regular schedule or be on call?
-Do you want to be able to choose your own hours?
-Do you want to be able to work from home?