• Allied Health Professions
  • Allied Health Professions Overview
  • Anesthesiologist Assistants
  • Blood Bank Technology Specialist
  • Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
  • Cardiovascular Technologist/Technician
  • Clinical Laboratory Technologist/Technician
  • Community Health Worker
  • Cytotechnologist
  • Diagnostic Medical Sonographer
  • Dosimetrist
  • Electroneurodiagnostic Technologist
  • Emergency Medical Technician/Paramedic
  • General Aide
  • Genetic Counselor
  • Health Information Manager
  • Healthcare Interpreter
  • Home Care Assistant/Aide
  • Medical Assistant
  • Medical Coder
  • Medical Transcriptionist
  • Nuclear Medicine Technologist
  • Nurses Aide/Nursing Assistant
  • Ophthalmic Laboratory Technician
  • Optician (Dispensing)
  • Orientation & Mobility Specialist
  • Orthotist and Prosthetist
  • Pathologists' Assistant
  • Perfusionist
  • Phlebotomist
  • Radiologic Technologist
  • Respiratory Therapist
  • Surgical Technologist
• Arts & Humanities in Health
  • Arts & Humanities in Health Overview
  • Art Therapist
  • Medical Historian
  • Medical Illustrator
  • Medical Librarian
• Chiropractic Medicine
  • Chiropractic Medicine Overview
  • Chiropractor
• Complementary & Alternative Medicine
  • Complementary & Alternative Medicine Overview
  • Acupuncture/Oriental Medicine Practitioner
  • Massage Therapist
  • Naturopathic Doctor
• Dentistry
  • Dentistry Overview
  • Allied Dental Educator
  • Dental Assistant
  • Dental Hygienist
  • Dental Laboratory Technician
  • Dentist
• Environmental Health
  • Environmental Health Overview
  • Built Environment Specialist
  • Environmental Health Advocate
  • Environmental Health Practitioner
  • Food Safety Specialist
  • Occupational Health and Safety Expert
• Forensic Science
  • Forensic Science Overview
  • Crime Scene Investigator (CSI)
  • Forensic Biologist
  • Forensic Chemist
  • Forensic Odontology
  • Forensic Pathologist
  • Forensic Toxicologist
• Gerontology
  • Gerontology Overview
  • Geriatric Nurse
  • Geriatric Pharmacist
  • Geriatric Psychiatrist
  • Geriatrician
• Health Administration/Management
  • Health Administration/Management Overview
  • Health Administrator
• Informatics
  • Informatics Overview
  • Dental Informatics
  • Nursing Informatics
• Medicine
  • Medicine Overview
  • Biogerontologist
  • Clinical Ethicist
  • Disaster Medical Specialist
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Family Medicine
  • Palliative Care Doctor
  • Pathologist
  • Physician (D.O.)
  • Physician (M.D.)
  • Physician Assistant
  • Physician Scientist
• Mental Health
  • Mental Health Overview
  • Psychiatrist - DO/MD
  • Psychologist
  • Rehabilitation Counselor
  • Social Worker
• Nursing
  • Nursing Overview
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist
  • Nurse Anesthetist
  • Nurse Educator
  • Nurse Midwife
  • Nurse Practitioner
  • Nurse Researcher
  • Occupational Health Nurse
  • Pediatric Nurse
  • Public Health Nurse
  • Registered Nurse (RN)
  • Vocational/Licensed Practical Nurse
• Nutrition/Dietetics
  • Nutrition/Dietetics Overview
  • Dietetic Technician
  • Dietitian
• Occupational Therapy
  • Occupational Therapy Overview
  • Occupational Therapist
  • Occupational Therapy Aide
  • Occupational Therapy Assistant
• Optometry
  • Optometry Overview
  • Optometrist
• Pharmacy
  • Pharmacy Overview
  • Pharmaceutical Scientist
  • Pharmacist
  • Pharmacy Technician
• Physical Therapy
  • Physical Therapy Overview
  • Physical Therapist
  • Physical Therapist Assistant
• Podiatric Medicine
  • Podiatric Medicine Overview
  • Podiatrist (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine)
• Public Health
  • Public Health Overview
  • Behavioral Science/Health Education
  • Biomedical & Laboratory Practice
  • Biostatistics
  • Environmental Health Sciences
  • Epidemiology
  • Global Health
  • Health Services Administration
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Public Health Practice & Program Management
• Speech-Language-Hearing
  • Speech-Language-Hearing Overview
  • Audiologist (Doctor of Audiology)
  • Speech Language Pathologist
• Sports Medicine
  • Sports Medicine Overview
  • Athletic Trainer
  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Kinesiotherapist
  • Primary Care Sports Medicine
• Veterinary Medicine
  • Veterinary Medicine Overview
  • Animal Behaviorist
  • Veterinarian
  • Veterinary Technologist/Technician

HomeFieldsAllied Health ProfessionsMedical Assistant

Career Profile

Medical Assistant

Overview Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly. For more information on how to become a medical assistant, see the American Association of Medical Assistant's Website.  The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs website includes a database of accredited programs by state.  Select "Medical Assistant" from the Profession Name dropdown list. To learn more, watch the video profile of "Medical Assistants."   You can download, save and print a PDF of this career profile: Medical Assistant 14 May 2008 [pdf, 164 KB]

Sponsor American Medical Technol-ogists (AMT) is an inter-nationally recognized certification agency for allied health professionals, including Medical Assistants, Phlebotomists, Medical Technologists, Medical Laboratory Technicians, and Laboratory Assistants. In existence since 1939, AMT is also a membership association, providing continuing education and other services to over 43,000 members. Visit us: www.amt1.com Learn more... Salary: $21,620 - $24,460 [*] Years in school: 1 - 2 after high school graduation Job outlook: Excellent Related Careers Dental Assistant Health Information Manager Health Services Administration Healthcare Interpreter Medical Coder Nurses Aide/Nursing Assistant Occupational Therapy Assistant News & Articles Healthcare Reform 101   Job Corps lets you earn while you learn  Free career training program prepares low-income students for high-demand health careers Career ladders help health workers move up faster  There's no such thing as a "dead end" job in health care Student Profile Christopher Davis Medical Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Nineteen-year-old Christopher Davis never thought he would be pursuing a career as a Medical Assistant and Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) in high school.  Read more Student Profile Tiffanie Hicks Phlebotomist and Medical Assistant Tiffanie’s mother encouraged her to pursue a career as a Phlebotomist and Medical Assistant with the help of Job Corps.  Read more