Categories: Medical Assisting Careers

Working As A Medical Assistant Before Pursuing Further Medical Education

Becoming a medical professional is a rewarding yet challenging career, and before starting something like nursing, or medical school, gaining firsthand experience in healthcare can be highly beneficial. Working as a medical assistant allows aspiring medical professionals to develop indispensable skills, understand various procedures, and gain firsthand insight into patient care. If you’re considering a career in medicine, exploring this role can provide a strong foundation for your journey.

Benefits of Working as a Medical Assistant Before Further Medical Education

Working in this capacity before entering medical school provides a number of distinct advantages. Medical assistants have the opportunity to engage directly with patients, observe operations, and support physicians during treatments. This experience offers a unique perspective that is highly beneficial for anyone planning to attend medical school.

The following are some of the most notable benefits:

Hands-On Patient Care: You’ll interact directly with patients, building empathy and communication skills important for a medical career.
Familiarity with Medical Procedures: Collaboration with physicians and staff helps you understand numerous medical procedures, creating a strong foundation for medical school.
Developing Professional Relationships: Working alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals helps you form valuable connections for applications and internships.
Time Management and Organization: Juggling patient care, office administration, and tasks helps you develop strong organizational and time management skills.

How Medical Assisting Jobs Can Help You Prepare for Further Medical Education

Employment in the medical field presents several significant opportunities:

Real-World Experience: This role gives you insight into the daily operations of a healthcare facility, allowing you to observe the profession firsthand. The exposure to different aspects of patient care and medical operations can impart greater clarity about your future career in medicine.
Strengthening Your Medical School Application: Medical schools often look for applicants who have experience in the healthcare field. Working as a medical assistant demonstrates your commitment to medicine and gives you an edge over other candidates with limited hands-on experience.
Soft Skill Development: The work you do helps you develop communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, all of which are important as you continue your medical education.

How to Become a Medical Assistant through a Medical Assistant Program

If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, the first step can be to enroll in a formal medical assistant program. Programs typically cover both clinical and administrative skills, such as assisting with examinations, taking patient histories, and managing records. Programs like the one offered by PCI Health Training Center can be completed in as little as 9 months, providing a comprehensive mix of classroom instruction and hands-on training.

Some states require medical assistants to be certified, and obtaining certification can improve your job prospects. Certification is typically obtained through organizations like the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).

Ready to Get Started?

If you’re considering working as a medical assistant before furthering your medical training, PCI Health Training Center offers an excellent medical assistant program to help you gain the skills and experience needed to get started in the healthcare field. Our hybrid program provides flexibility, combining online coursework with hands-on training, so you can get started towards your healthcare career.

Enroll in the PCI medical assistant program today to begin your journey toward a career in medicine!