Medical Administrative Assisting Programs in Montana
A career as an administrative medical assistant may offer fulfillment on many levels. Such medical assistants often enjoy above-average job security while they work in a professional environment. It is often gratifying to work with doctors, nurses, physicians’ assistants and other healthcare professionals on a regular basis. At the same time, administrative medical assistants frequently have an opportunity to help patients in a caring and supportive way.
Job duties may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, maintaining and updating medical files and checking on patient insurance coverage. If you are a detail-oriented individual that enjoys helping others, this might be an ideal type of work for you. Accredited schools can help you to further develop the skills that are necessary to succeed as an administrative medical assistant. Contact those schools you see below that offer Medical Office Assistant programs in Montana to learn more.
Healthcare employers may want administrative medical asssitant candidates for available positions to have a diploma from an accredited certificate program. Other employers in the medical community will focus on those that have Associate’s Degrees. Some prospective employers will value candidates that have met certification requirements, as set for by national certification bodies.
When O*Net reported the results of a survey of active administrative medical assistants, 65 stated that they had diplomas from certificate programs. This may be the fastest way to enter the profession, and you can reach out to schools that offer med assisting certificates in Montana to learn more.
Schools that have certificate programs in medical office assisting will want you to have a high school diploma or its equivalent in order to apply. Colleges and universities that have Associates Degree programs may have minimum high school GPA requirements for admission. Regardless of which route you choose, you will likely have to successfully pass a background check and take CPR courses prior to beginning.
Anticipate approximately 12-18 months of coursework prior to getting a diploma in a certificate program. Specific classes will prepare you for the tasks that are commonly a part of a medical assisting job. Expect coursework in areas like medical terminology, patient coding, customer service in a healthcare setting and medical office procedures. Associate’s Degree programs will often also include more general classes in areas like math, English and the physical sciences.
Once you have your Montana medical assistant diploma, you’ll be eligible to take the CMAA exam. Pass this exam, and you’ll become a certified administrative medical assistant. Certification requires renewal every two years. It is necessary to take 10 hours of continuing education classes prior to each certification renewal.
Working as An Administrative Medical Assistant in Montana
According to O*Net, the 2013 median wage for medical assistants in Montana stood at $30,700. This figure was higher than the U.S. median wage of $29,600. O*Net has asserted that the job outlook is “bright” in this profession. It states that 22 percent job growth is anticipated from 2012 to 2022. As the elderly portion of the population grows, and as more people get insured under the Affordable Health Care Act, the demand for medical assistants may grow even more.
A career in this type of medical assisting potentially offers a high degree of job satisfaction. The empathy and concern that you show toward patients will be appreciated in many instances. If you are ready to enter a career that is both rewarding and challenging, contact the Montana medical office assistant training programs listed below to learn more.