medical assistant jobs in Virginia

Medical Assistant Jobs in Virginia

It is difficult to overestimate how much we depend on the services of skilled medical assistants around the country. Statistics show that there are more than 700,000 people working as medical assistants in the United States. On top of that, signs seem to show that this number will continue to go up year after year.

Many people are interested in medical assistant jobs in Virginia. However, many people have a lot of questions about medical assistants. Some people want to know what kind of medical assistant job outlook Virginia has to offer. Taking the time to learn about medical assistant jobs is an investment. Read on to learn all about medical assistant jobs in Virginia so you can decide if they are the right choice for you!

What Do Medical Assistants Do?

Before you decide to become a medical assistant, it can help to know about the different kinds of medical assistants. In general, you will want to track the difference between administrative and clinical medical assistants.

These two jobs provide very different job experiences. One of them might be great for your interests, while the other may not.

Administrative medical assistants help with office and organizational work. For example, they might make phone calls or help people to schedule their appointments.

Administrative medical assistants do not participate in providing medical treatment. As a result, they do not need to know as much about medicine to do their job.

In contrast, a clinical medical assistant helps take care of the health of patients. They may take measurements from patients or provide them with their medication. They can also help any doctors on staff with tasks they need help with.

Requirements for a Medical Assistant Education

Now that you have some understanding of what medical assistants do, let’s talk about educational requirements. Before you can become a medical assistant, you will need the equivalent of a high school degree. You will also need a medical assistant certification.

Some people wonder whether or not they need to go to college before they can become a medical assistant. In general, having a college degree helps people to be chosen during the medical assistant interview process. However, it is not a strict necessity that a medical assistant has this level of education.

If you decide not to get a bachelor’s degree, then it might take you somewhere between 1 and 2 years to get the education necessary to become a medical assistant. Of course, this is assuming you have the equivalent of a high school degree. If you do not, you will need it to get that before proceeding to receive your medical assistant education and certification.

During your medical assistant training, you may learn about subjects like anatomy and the standard procedures that a hospital or clinic uses to take care of patients.

Typical Compensation for Medical Assistants

Many people like what they understand about the experience of being a medical assistant and the education required to become one. However, what is the salary for medical assistants?

There is a fair amount of variety in how much people make as medical assistants in Virginia. In general, people who are entering the industry make around $30,000 each year. As medical assistants gain more experience and find great jobs, they can end up making as much as $45,000 each year or even more.

At the same time, you should keep in mind that working as a medical assistant can mean that your scheduled moves around a lot. Medical assistants are necessary even during holidays. If you become a medical assistant, you may end up working on some holidays or even at night.

Medical assistants often work long shifts and sometimes cover for their coworkers. Some people prefer a more routine kind of employment. However, this kind of variety can be ideal for some people.

Enjoy Medical Assistant Benefits

One of the great things about medical assistant careers is that they are secure. There is a shortage of medical assistants, so there are plenty of job opportunities for people with the appropriate certification and training.

On top of that, signs indicate that there will continue to be plenty of demand for medical assistants in the years to come. For example, the average age of the population is increasing as the baby boomer generation gets older. That means that there will be even more demand for medical assistant services over the next few decades.

Find the Right Medical Assistant Pathway for You

Many people are attracted to the medical assistant pathway because it is so clear. You can find many companies that help train people to receive their medical assistant certifications. Some of these companies even offer online classes.

If you decide that you want to become a medical assistant, then all you have to do is sign up for one of these educational programs. Depending on how fast you study, you could be ready to work as a medical assistant in only about 1 year.

Of course, you will want to consider your options carefully before choosing one of these companies. As you consider your options, it may help you to look at ratings and reviews for each company. You will have a better chance of enjoying your experience if you work with a company that has many satisfied customer reviews.

Understand Medical Assistant Jobs in Virginia

We hope that learning about medical assistant jobs in Virginia has been helpful. Many people decide to start pursuing a career without having a clear understanding of what that career entails. The more you understand about medical assistant work, the better you can assess if it is the right choice for your unique situation.

To learn more about how to become a medical assistant, reach out and get in touch with us here!