A Glimpse into Medical Assisting School

by: Russell Williams

Medical assistant schools can be found across the country. Most offer diploma or certification programs, associate’s degree programs or both.

Diploma programs are open to students with a high school diploma or GED. Generally a year in length, these programs teach the knowledge and skills common to any medical assistant job. These include basic medical terminology, clerical and computer skills , preparing patients for examinations, assisting in exams and recording patients’ vital signs.

Associate’s degree programs are also open to holders of high school diplomas or GEDs. Running 18 to 24 months, they too cover the essentials of a medical assisting career, but also include general studies courses such as psychology, sociology, critical thinking and problem solving.

Regardless of the type of program, students with a successful high school background will find medical assisting classes challenging, but not overwhelmingly technical or advanced. Classroom work ordinarily includes lectures and multimedia presentations. The other side of any medical assisting program is hands-on learning in a lab, a simulated health care clinic or in an office. Medical assistant programs are streamlined with knowledge and skills you’ll actually need to thrive on the job. For example, you can expect to take classes in anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, transcription, office practices, laboratory techniques, pharmaceutical principles, medical law and ethics. Most programs also include a period of externship, providing on-the-job experience in physicians’ offices, hospitals and similar facilities.

Most medical assisting school instructors are experienced medical assistants themselves and use their first-hand knowledge and experience to educate students. Tutoring is also normally available.

Many health care schools require their students to come to class dressed for their future profession – in clean scrubs, looking professional and neatly groomed. This prepares students to be professionals as well as provides them with the opportunity to experience real-world medical assistant culture first-hand.

Class hours vary, but most schools offer schedules that allow students to work while attending school. It’s not a breeze, between class work, home study, a job and the day-to-day business of living; it can be a real challenge. What makes it all worthwhile, though, is knowing you can look forward to the satisfaction and security of a meaningful job, in an in-demand, expanding field.