When you are considering your post-graduation plans or want to change jobs, becoming a medical assistant should be on your list. There are many advantages to being a medical assistant, whether it becomes your lifelong career or the starting point on a different career path in medicine.

Preparation For Other Medical Fields

Becoming a medical assistant is a good way to help you determine if the medical field is the right fit for you. Unfortunately, many people spend significant time and money pursuing lengthier programs, such as nursing or medicine, only to realize it is not what they want. The job environment can help you determine if you prefer clinical or hospital settings, which differ dramatically, and possibly what patient populations you want to work with.

Since many different settings employ medical assistants, it is a job that is easier to keep if you decide to continue your education. Although most medical assistants work standard business hours in a clinical setting, many are employed in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other setting where they have the opportunity to work any number of shifts. The job flexibility is also ideal if you have a family.

Before Military Enlistment

If you are considering joining the military, you may want to pursue your education or find a career path before enlisting. Depending on your vocational or educational experience, you may be able to enlist with a higher rank than if you enlisted immediately out of high school. Additionally, medical training is highly prized in the military and can help you secure interesting jobs within the military. For example, enlisted personnel often work at military medical centers and may be deployed in combat zones to help treat and transport their colleagues.

To Avoid Lengthy Programs

Whether you are nearing high school graduation or are an adult looking for a different career path, you may find it is better to pursue a career with less classroom education and more focus on applied experiences. Many people are pursuing applied training, no matter the field, to reduce or avoid student loan debt. Depending on your locality and the school offering the program, you may be able to complete a medical assistant program in one or two years.

To increase your job opportunities after graduation, you should select programs that are accredited by a recognized agency, such as the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA). Additionally, you should also become certified or registered after finishing your program, even if it is not required by your locality.

The applied nature of medical assistant training makes the field ideal for various people with different goals. Whether you eventually want to pursue other careers in medicine or find employment without a lengthy college education, training as a medical assistant from an institution like ASA College might be the right move.