Are you looking for a new healthcare career? Consider starting your career as a medical assistant. There are many wonderful aspects to this career choice.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 104,400 job openings annually. The cause of these openings is due to the projected growth rate of 18 percent.
Are you uncertain where to start as you begin your career as a medical assistant in Georgia? Don’t worry because this article will break down how to start your journey. Continue reading to learn about getting a medical assistant certification in Georgia.
What Is a Medical Assistant?
Medical assistants work in a variety of health care facilities. Medical assistants work anywhere from care centers to private practices. They help nurses, physicians, and others in their department.
Due to the number of departments cross-training is a common occurrence. This requires medical assistants to have a variety of skills. They range from administrative to clinical.
Most clinical responsibilities will need further education or certifications. Their responsibilities impact the patients’ health and treatments. Here are some of the clinical duties that a medical assistant may have:
- Record patients’ medical history
- Explain treatment plans
- Perform lab tests
- Administer wound care
- Assist physicians
- Draw blood
- Perform electrocardiograms
Medical Assistant in Georgia
In Georgia, there are hardly any education requirements for medical assistants. The minimal requirements are a high school diploma to work as a medical assistant.
Most workplaces will require their medical assistants to seek some higher education. They want an individual who has completed a training program or earned a degree. Some workplaces will hire those who have certifications from an agency.
Why do employers want you to have certifications? They want to know that you have the right skills for a medical assistant. Some job positions need specialty skills such as phlebotomy.
Additionally, medical assistant certifications help you. Those will a niche skillset receive higher pay on average. The higher your skillset is the more desirable you are to employers, which gives you more options.
Medical Assistant Certification Online
If you’re uncertain where to begin your education as a certified medical assistant, look no further. Phlebotomy Career Training has plenty of courses you can take.
Phlebotomy Career Training understands that everyone’s education journey is unique. That’s why they offer medical assistant certification online. You set the pace for your education.
Here are a few classes that Phlebotomy Career Training offers:
Tier I Medical Assistant Classes
Completing the Tier I class takes a minimum of six weeks. The curriculum consists of 996 hours of course instructions. Also, it requires 204 hours of a clinical internship.
After passing the exam, students will receive a Medical Assistant Certification. Perfect for those wanting to start their careers soon.
Tier II Medical Assistant Classes
Students complete this course in as little as 14 weeks. The curriculum consists of 1200 hours of a clinical externship. Also, it requires 40 hours of job shadowing and a blood drawing quota.
Students will receive six certifications upon passing the exams. The certifications include EKG and phlebotomy.
Tier III Medical Assistant Classes
Tier III curriculum requires several different externships. Students need 204 hours of medical assistant training and observations. Students also need to complete a blood drawing and EKG quota.
Students must complete all of the curriculum in six months. They will receive eight certificates after their completion.
More About Medical Assistant Training
No matter what training program you sign up for, you will have to take an exam. The Certified Medical Assistant exam will consist of various formats. These formats will go over all the curricula throughout your courses.
The Certified Medical Assistant exam contains 200 questions. Only 180 questions will be graded out of the 200. The 20 ungraded questions are selected randomly.
You will have 40 minutes to complete each section. There are four sections of the exam. The question will progressively get harder as the exam goes on.
To pass the exam, you will need to score at least a 425. The score is out of 800. Once you pass the exam, you will receive your certified medical assistant certificate.
You can apply online to take the Certified Medical Assistant exam. The test areas include, but are not limited to:
- Communication
- Medical ethics
- Psychology
- Nutrition
- Scheduling appointments
- Medical business practices
- Professionalism
- Medical law
- Infection control
- Diagnostic testing
Learn More About Medical Assistant Certification in Georgia
The demand for medical assistants is rapidly increasing in the United States. A medical assistant job is the perfect gateway career to healthcare.
We hope you learned something about the medical assistant certification in Georgia. We are happy we could help you learn more about this potential career.
Here at Phlebotomy Career Training, we want our students to succeed in their careers. We offer a variety of classes for those pursuing a career as a medical assistant. Give us a call today if you want to learn more about our courses.
Nancy L. Kimmel obtained her PhD in Environmental Engineering in 2002, then went on to teach Physics and Mechanical Engineering at Lawrence Technological University, Henry Ford College and Oakland University. She obtained her Associate in Nursing from Henry Ford College and then went on to earn her Master Degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner and became Board Certified working as a licensed FNP in the State of Michigan. She then went on to Medical School where she is now in her 3rd year, and is also in the process of obtaining her Doctorate in Nursing Practice through Chamberlin University. She has authored the NET Study Guide, as well a several books on subjects of Math, ECG/EKG and Phlebotomy. She holds a patent on an Air Filter through the U.S. Patent Office.