Maryland offers some of the best medical assistant job opportunities in the country. In 2013, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that medical assistants in Maryland earned an average of $32,380 per year. This is one of the highest paying salaries in the northeast and well above the national average of $30.780.
Not only are medical assistants in Maryland paid well, but there is also a high demand for this position. The same Bureau of Labor Statistics report, showed that there were nearly 10,000 medical assistants across the state in 2013. These numbers are also expected to increase in the upcoming years, as the demand for healthcare service rises.
Maryland is one of the few states that require medical assistants to either be trained or certified before working in the healthcare industry. Due to this fact, there are many great Maryland medical assistant schools for you to choose from. There is also a well-established Maryland Society of Medical Assistants that you can join after you complete your education and/or receive your certification.
Most people who strive to become a Certified Medical Assistant do so through the American Association of Medical Assistants. This association requires people to first obtain their training through one of the accredited medical assistant programs in Maryland and then successfully pass the certification examination.
When you are looking for the right medical assistant program in Maryland for you, make sure it has obtained is accreditation from the Department of Education, Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools, or Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs. Only these accredited courses will allow you to meet the requirement to take the certification examination.
If you want to continue working and obtain your medical assistant training, you will want to look into one of the online medical assistant programs available. This will allow you to complete a majority of your coursework from the comfort of your own home, at a time that is right for you. You may be required to complete some hands-on clinical training, but your school will work with you to set this up at a time that fits your schedule.
It is advised that you take the extra step to complete the certification exam once your training is completed. This certification will help you find better paying jobs and will improve your future career outlook. This certification is expected to become even more important over the next few years, because many liability insurance companies are now requiring employers to only hire certified medical assistants.
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