Medical assistant training is offered at a variety of colleges, as well as vocational and trade schools. One-year certificate programs are widely available at vocational schools, but two-year associate degrees from colleges and community colleges provide a competitive advantage in the workplace. Programs generally include clinical experience as well as classroom instruction. Degree programs provide a broader foundation of scientific courses, with the balance being specific to the profession. Some courses look at the administrative details of clinical care, like insurance forms and medical billing. Others focus more on the medical field with instruction in anatomy, physiology, and clinical and diagnostic procedures. Both the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs and the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools offer accreditation for medical assistant programs.
There is no legal requirement for medical assistants to be certified, but choosing to be credentialed demonstrates a commitment to excellence as well as adherence to recognized standards of knowledge and competence. Certified assistants will be at an advantage in any competitive job market, and often enjoy greater responsibility and higher income. Professional certification is available from the American Association of Medical Assistants, American Medical Technologists and the National Center for Competency Testing.
Career advancement for medical assistants is often aided by higher levels of education. Ambitious administrative assistants may choose to pursue higher degrees in business or management, for example. They might then become office managers, or pursue a responsible position within the administration of a university or HMO. Clinical medical assistants have the option of training in an advanced area of specialization, like podiatry or oncology. By upgrading their education, medical assistants may also become nurses, diagnostic technicians or other medical professionals. Some colleges offer accelerated programs for this.
A medical assistant's earning power varies widely, depending on factors such as credentials, professional experience, type of employer and region. In its 2009 survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported an annual income of $28,650 for the middle 50 percent of medical assistants. Entry-level positions averaged $20,750, while the highest earnings reported incomes of more than $46,000 per year.