Medical Assistant – Career and Education Profile

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Medical assistants work doing general nursing tasks, giving you a way to get started in this field even if you have little to no formal education.

Job Responsibilities

Working as a medical assistant doesn’t require much more than some on-the-job-training, so the tasks you’ll perform in this field are not as advanced as the tasks you’d perform as an RN or LPN. Some of the tasks you will be qualified to do include recording a patient’s medical history, checking height and weight, taking blood pressure, and assisting patients with changing into medical gowns. Some medical assistants deal purely with administrative tasks like filing paperwork, getting patients to sign release forms, calling patients to remind them about appointments, driving patients to appointments, showing patients to their examination rooms, and answering phone calls. Your specific tasks will depend on your employer.

Salary and Career Options

Since you have less education than nurses, you can expect to earn a lower salary. According to reports, medical assistants earn an average of $29,450 in the United States, but this is an extremely fast-growing field, with more and more workers needed every year. Working as a medical assistant allows you to get a taste for this industry, and with your training, you can go on to earn certification as an LPN or even get an associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree to become an RN.

Educational Requirements

Medical assistants legally only need a high school diploma or GED to work in the United States, but many employers require at least a short training program for your to work in a medical assistant position. Many colleges offer diploma or degree programs in medical assisting, and some employer have their own training programs for those who want to work in this field. Your classes will cover general nursing skills and anatomy classes so you’re prepare to provide basic patient care.

LPN to RN College Programs

With some additional schooling, a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) can become a registered nurse (RN), opening doors to more job opportunities and higher salaries. The following is a list of schools with the best online LPN to RN degree programs offered by accredited colleges. You can request information by clicking the college's logo.

LPN to RN (BSN)	Indiana State University—ISU’s LPN to BSN degree program is the only online LPN to RN training program in the United States. LPNs and LVNs who complete this program can earn their NLNAC-approved Bachelor of Science degree in nursing entirely online. Upon completion, graduates should meet all of the prerequisites for becoming an RN. Read an in-depth review of Indiana State University.
LPN to RN LPN to ADN LPN to BSN	The College Network—Earn your LPN to RN (ADN) degree completely online with no campus attendance and no wait list. Learn from the convenience of home at your own pace, and earn an NLNAC-accredited associate’s degree in less time and for less money than traditional campus programs. Read an in-depth review of The College Network.
	Select a subject and degree level, then click "Find My Degree" to browse 100+ online nursing schools offering relevant accredited programs.
BS in Nursing RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Education MSN in Nurse Informatics MSN in Nurse Management	Walden University—Founded in 1970, Walden University is dedicated to providing education for a higher purpose. The Nursing School confers degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s level, which provides further study in health informatics, nursing education, and nursing leadership/management. Walden is one of the biggest providers of online master and doctorate programs with over a hundred degrees offered at each level.
RN to BSN MS in Nursing (MSN) MSN in Adult Health RN to MSN in Nurse Education Accelerated RN to MSN	South University—South University’s College of Nursing offers numerous degree programs for aspiring nurses. Those looking for a BSN degree can enter into the RN to BSN and complete it within 18 months. South also offers the following master’s degree-level programs: MS in Nursing (MSN), MSN in adult health nurse practitioning, MSN in nurse education, and an accelerated RN to MSN.
RN to BSN RN to MSN MSN in Nurse Administration MSN in Nurse Education	Kaplan University—Kaplan University’s RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs feature curriculums that provide registered nurses with the tools to graduate with BSN and MSN degrees. The MSNs in Nurse Administration or Nurse Education feature curriculums that teach methods in management and education in order to prepare students for leadership and educator positions with in the nursing field.