How to Become a Registered Medical Assistant in 5 Steps
In 2018 the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released data saying that Americans average 860.4 million visits to their physicians1 and 130.0 million ER visits annually2. As the need for healthcare rises, so does the need for Medical Assistants (MA). If you are interested in the medical field, this may be the best time to start your RMA, Registered Medical Assistant journey.
There are also plenty of opportunities for variety in job responsibilities. With an increasing number of group practices, clinics, and other healthcare facilities, there is a need for support workers like Medical Assistants to handle both administrative and clinical duties. Becoming a Registered Medical Assistant is rewarding and can be completed in as little as 5 steps. Below, our experts at Lincoln Tech detail the Medical Assistant program with tips on how our classes prepare you for the RMA certification exam.
As we dive into the steps needed to acquire a certification to become a Registered Medical Assistant, let us first define, what is a Medical Assistant? Medical Assistants work alongside physicians, mainly in outpatient or ambulatory care facilities, such as medical offices and clinics.
Clinical duties may include taking medical histories, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examinations, and assisting the physician during examinations. Laboratory responsibilities might include collecting and preparing laboratory specimens and performing basic laboratory tests. Medical Assistants can be called upon to prepare and administer medications, often by intramuscular, intradermal, and subcutaneous methods. Additional responsibilities might also include phlebotomy, taking electrocardiograms, wound care, and changing dressings3. The training needed to become a Medical Assistant can be completed in as little as 9 months, allowing students to have the career of their dreams.
Choose the Right Career Path for You
If you want a successful career, you will want to choose a program that best fits your passion. There are many options to choose from in the healthcare field, like Medical Assistant, Medical Assistant Technology, Medical Coding & Billing, Practical Nursing, and Patient Care. The Medical Assistant program is a way to connect your passion for caring for patients and can be a stepping stone to other programs in the healthcare field.
Pick the School That Fits Your Needs
It is vital to pick the right institution, one that fits your needs and requirements. You want to find a school that cares about its students and wants to see them flourish after graduation by helping them obtain a career in the Medical Assistant Field. Choosing a technical school like Lincoln Tech over a university or undergraduate college is advantageous; you can complete your training in less time making you available to start your career. With a school like Lincoln Tech, you will obtain hands-on training in “Doctor Office” settings for your program training, without the unnecessary counteractive courses. A critical aspect of a Lincoln education is developing the professional skills that are required by employers today.
Excel in Your MA Training
When you select the training program on your path to becoming a Medical Assistant, you will learn and retain valuable knowledge and skills needed to graduate at Lincoln Tech. Staying motivated and on track is the key to completing this course in as little as 9 months. You should study often and ensure you attend all of your classes on time and as scheduled.
At Lincoln Tech, our Medical Assistant courses include:
- Introduction to Allied Health
- Cardiopulmonary Medical Procedures
- Musculoskeletal System and Medication Administration
- Clinical Lab Techniques
- Laboratory and Surgical Procedures
- Administrative Medical Office
- Medical Assisting Internship
You’ll receive hands-on training that includes clinical procedures, aseptic technique, minor surgical procedures, universal precautions, general skills in document formatting, basic accounting, and more. You can graduate faster with Lincoln Tech.
Get Certified as an RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)
After graduating from Lincoln Tech in as little as 9 months, you’ll have a head start to getting the career you want. After completing Lincoln Tech’s Medical Assistant program, you are qualified to take the RMA certification exam through the AMT (American Medical Technologists Association). You can take the exam at a Pearson VUE Testing Center near you4. Your results are available after the exam and are sent to the American Medical Technologists Association within 48 hours.
Start Your Career
Becoming a Medical Assistant in a clinical setting is your last and most rewarding step. Once you have passed the Registered Medical Assistant exam, you are now a member of a community with high standards and technical knowledge thus making you more marketable. With an 18% increase in healthcare job growth around the country, employment is expected to grow from 720,900 employees to 853,500 employees5. A shortage of healthcare workers means the need for you to become a MA is more significant than ever before. If you choose Lincoln Tech as your technical skills institution, you will have access to our Career Services team and our network of employers who are always looking for people with medical skills, and it could be you!
Advantages of Lincoln Tech and Its Medical Assistant Program
With 75 years and hundreds of thousands of graduates, Lincoln Tech is a member of the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC). We take pride in helping our students graduate from the Medical Assistant program. The MA program offered at Lincoln Tech provides hands-on and didactic training with the technical skills you will need to stand out in the medical field. Complete this program in 9 months* with Lincoln Tech, unlike community or university colleges that may take two years. If you choose Lincoln Tech, we will help you effectively jumpstart your Medical Assistant career by offering services like job fairs, resume building, interviewing skills, and more.
1 “FastStats - Physician Office Visits.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8 Oct. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/physician-visits.htm
2 “FastStats - Emergency Department Visits.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 Oct. 2021, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/emergency-department.htm
3 “What Is a Medical Assistant?” AAMA, https://www.aama-ntl.org/medical-assisting/what-is-a-medical-assistant
4 “Get Certified.” American Medical Technologists (AMT), 2020, https://americanmedtech.org/Certification/Get-Certified#exam/
5 “National Employment Trends: 31-9092.00 - Medical Assistants.” O*NET OnLine, https://www.onetonline.org/link/localtrends/31-9092.00?st=&g=Go
*Program may vary by campus and schedule. See the campus catalog for more information.