If you are looking for a career in the health care industry that will allow you to provide patient care services and handle various administrative duties, becoming a medical assistant is a great opportunity for you. As with many health care professions, there is currently a huge demand for more medical assistants in the work force. This demand is also expected to continue to increase for at least the next several years.
Medical assistants in Oklahoma play a vital role in health care facilities across the state. While they must work under the direct supervision of a nurse or physician, medical assistants can still perform a range of duties, such as greeting patients, scheduling appointments, taking and recording vital signs, assisting with patient examinations, and administering some shots.
While the state does not require any type of specialized training to work as a medical assistant, you will likely have a hard time getting a job without at least some training. Many of the higher paying employers also require you to obtain your certification as a medical assistant. There are several organization that offer medical assistant certification programs, but the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) is one of the most recognize programs in the country.
The AAMA first requires you to complete an accredited medical assistant program in Oklahoma before going on to earn your certification. There are several Oklahoma medical assistant schools available that offer this type of accredited program. When looking through the medical assistant programs in Oklahoma, you should always check with the AAMA to make sure it is accredited. The last thing you would want to do is find out after you have completed a training program that you cannot earn your certification.
Some of these schools also offer online medical assistant programs that are more convenient for many students. These online schools allow you to complete the necessary work from home at any time during the day or night. You may be required to complete some clinical training at a medical facility in your location, but your school will help you plan this.
After graduating from your medical assistant program, you can take the certification exam. Passing the exam will make you a Certified Medical Assistant. According to a 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics Report, medical assistant earn an average yearly salary of $25,880. However, with your certification, you will be eligible for many of the higher paying medical assistant positions.
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