Did you know that the medical administrative assistant job market will grow by approximately 22.5% before 2026?
If you’re looking to become an assistant to a medical administrator, you’ll need to know where to begin. Getting the proper training and experience is essential to landing the job of your dreams.
Keep reading this guide to learn how to start your medical administrative assistant career!
What Does a Medical Administrative Assistant Do?
A medical administrative assistant performs various office and administrative tasks in a doctor’s office or clinic setting. Administrative assistant tasks include:
- Ordering medical supplies
- Scheduling appointments
- Updating medical records
- Filing medical records
- Billing insurance companies
- Coding medical records
- Processing invoices
- Answering phones
- Bookkeeping
How Much Does a Medical Administrative Assistant Make?
A medical administration assistant makes an average of $39,800 per year. You can make up to $53,000 a year with enough education and experience.
You can make even more if you gain specialized certifications in billing and coding.
How Do You Become a Medical Administrative Assistant?
There are multiple steps you’ll need to take before becoming a medical administrative assistant, which include:
Find a Training Program
Your first step is to find a medical administrative assistant program. You’ll need to have your high school diploma to enroll.
You can choose between earning a diploma or a degree. You can finish a diploma in 11 months, and a degree typically takes 18 months to complete.
Many medical administrative assistant programs are available online. You’ll have to take courses such as:
- Medical terminology
- Medical transcription
- Anatomy and physiology
- Medical law and ethics
- Diagnostic and procedural coding
- Healthcare billing and claim reimbursement
- Computer fundamentals
Start Gaining Experience
It’s a good idea to immerse yourself in the healthcare industry before starting a training program.
Many employers offer entry-level positions and will give you on-the-job training. You’ll typically only need to have basic computer and administrative skills. You can find jobs in many places like hospitals, doctor’s offices, or chiropractic offices.
You can also look into internships or volunteer programs. Many hospitals offer volunteer programs that allow you to gain experience in a healthcare environment.
Getting Certified
You can take the certification exam offered by The National Healthcare Association. This exam certifies you as having the necessary skills and education to be a medical administrative assistant.
To be eligible for the exam, you’ll need to complete a training program or have one year of experience working as an administrative assistant.
Although this certification isn’t a requirement, earning it will put you ahead of other job candidates. It can also help you advance your career.
Becoming an Assistant to a Medical Administrator
Now that you know more about becoming an assistant to a medical administrator, you can start looking for a training program that suits you.
Be sure to gain experience before enrolling in a training program or while in school. It’s also important to think about your future goals. Do some research to learn about advanced degrees and other medical careers you could transition to.
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