How to Become a Medical Administrative Assistant

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When you walk into a medical office, often the first person you meet is a medical office assistant. This person makes you feel welcome, collects your information, updates your medical records, and helps you understand a little about your visit. When it’s time to schedule your next appointment, it’s the medical administrative assistant who sets it up. If you have an interest in healthcare and want a job where you get to help people, you might want to consider working in a medical office.

Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma

Before you can be qualified as a Medical Administrative Assistant, you’ll need a high school diploma or equivalent. This will provide you with the basic math, science, and English skills necessary for the job. It will also help you qualify for a formal training program.

Step 2: Train to Become a Medical Office Administrative Assistant 

To learn the skills you will need to be an effective Medical Office Administrative Assistant, consider a formal training program. This will provide you with knowledge about healthcare delivery systems, compliance procedures, regulatory issues in health information, and how a medical office is run. You’ll also be introduced to technical skills such as:

  • Medical Billing and Coding
  • Medical Records Management
  • Medical Insurance Processing

And you’ll learn important medical terminology so you can speak the language of the doctors, nurses, and medical assistants that you may work with.

Step 3: Earn Your Certification as a Medical Office Administrative Assistant

Certification as a Medical Office Administrative Assistant can provide additional credentials and benefits to your career. With certification, you can gain an edge over the competition in job searches. It boosts your resume and shows employers that you are serious about your profession. Some career training schools will provide for a proctored certification test as part of your program.

Step 4: Gain Knowledge and Experience

Before your first job, look for opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a medical setting. You might volunteer or find job shadowing opportunities with a local doctor’s office or group practice. Listen to news about the medical industry and talk to people in the field. The next time you go to your own doctor’s, pay attention to the roles people play. Are you ready to be one of them?

Step 5: Look for Medical Administrative Assistant Jobs

Upon completion of your program, be sure to check in with your school’s Career Services. The team there can assist you with your job search, resume, cover letters, LinkedIn profile, and interview practice. But also get online to look for job openings in your area. You can use sites like Indeed, Monster, and ZipRecruiter to find job listings. You can also explore the job boards of local healthcare facilities. Choose where you want to work and apply to open positions. Attend job fairs to network and look for open positions.

Step 6: Interview to Become a Medical Administrative Assistant

Once you get the interview, you’ll need to put your best foot forward to land the job. Whether it’s a virtual interview or in-person, you need to be prepared and professional. Come ready with knowledge, enthusiasm, questions about the position, and the ability to highlight your skills. How does what you know fit with what the job needs?

If you want to become an Administrative Assistant in a medical office, now might be the time. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for these positions is expected to grow more than 10 percent over the next decade. Ready to take the first steps toward your new career? At Charter College, we offer a Certificate in Medical Office Administrative Assistant that will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to obtain an entry-level job in the field. Call 888-200-9942 or download our eBook to learn more.