Medical assistants are an integral part of the healthcare sector and have an essential role in any medical team. These Allied Health Professionals usually function directly under the supervision of a doctor, physician, or any other medical provider. They also provide complete administrative and clinical support to run the hospitals and medical offices smoothly.
To become a medical assistant, you do not require any specific certification in Pittsburgh, Langhorne, Philadelphia, or any other places in Pennsylvania. However, a certification via Online medical assisting classes in Pittsburgh, PA, or anywhere in Pennsylvania will help secure a better job and promotion.
On top of that, Pennsylvania is also a great place for medical assistants since the cost of living is less than the national average.
So, to look at a medical assistant’s various skill requirements and job descriptions in Pennsylvania.
Certification requirements in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has no governing body for overseeing the qualifications of medical assistants. Therefore, individual employers can set the standards during recruitment. However, certain authorities provide certification and help you become a certified medical assistant (CMA).
For instance, the Pennsylvania Society of Medical Assistants helps increase the standard of healthcare by providing a higher quality of medical education. It is a direct affiliate of the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA), which offers CMA certification and various educational opportunities.
There are other organizations, such as the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants.
The process of certification in Pennsylvania
Once you complete your high school graduation or pass the GED (General Equivalency Diploma), you can apply for a medical assistant education.
There are many ways to do this. For example, you can apply for various full-time or part-time programs in Pittsburgh or Philadelphia.
The courses are not long, and on average, you can finish them within 10 months. If you want to earn an associate degree in Pennsylvania, it might take two years.
The licensing exam in Pennsylvania
Once you finish the course, you will have to take a licensing exam. In Pennsylvania, there are various options for this. For instance, the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) certification exam, the medical assistant certification exam by AAMA, etc.
Even though the state of Pennsylvania does hire non-certified medical assistants, having passed these exams will improve your job outlook.
Note: According to the Pennsylvania medical code, physicians can only delegate clinical and administrative tasks to people with proper knowledge, training, and experience. This makes a nationally recognized certification all the more valuable.
Job Description of a medical assistant in Pennsylvania
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the medical assistant industry is growing at an almost 19% rate. In Pennsylvania, the growth rate is over 17% close to the national average. This means an opening for over 4000 jobs in Pennsylvania alone.
Given the low cost of living in Pennsylvania and the pay scale equivalent to the national average, this accounts for a great job opportunity.
Before you take the plunge of becoming a CMA, though, you should know a little bit about the various responsibilities you would have to fulfill.
- Assist patients in getting to the exam rooms
- Interview the patients and measure their vital signs, like blood pressure, weight, and pulse
- Instruct the patients and interact with them according to the healthcare provider
- Check authorization through the insurance companies covering the patients
- Respond to the calls via telephone
- Register the patients during check-in and check-out
- Schedule patients for consulting and follow-up sessions
- Collect payment
- Ensure adequate medical supply in the exam rooms
- Welcome the patients and the visitors etc.
Conclusion
The field of medical assistants is a growing industry that provides plenty of career opportunities. In a state like Pennsylvania, where there is no stringent regulation for becoming one, it is a wasted opportunity if you don’t take the initiative.
Even upgrading your skills and chances of getting hired is pretty easy in Pennsylvania. You need to get certified by part-time, full-time programs, or even via Online medical assisting classes in Pittsburgh, PA.
With that in mind, you can get started on your dream of becoming a successful medical assistant today.
