What are the best medical administrative assistant qualifications and training to get ahead?

What is the best training for becoming a medical administrative assistant? What types of ongoing training or certifications are necessary to be an effective medical administrative assistant?

What do non-traditional career paths look like?

I graduated from O.I.H.C. as a Medical Assistant and than took my Certification and passed so now I'm a Certified Medical Assistant and I am in search of a position in the Medical feild. I can do clerical as well as clinical and I'm really serious about finding a position I can apply my many skills to and be with for many years to come. I want to apply myself and use the skills I've learned from my schooling to better myself and help others whether it is in the clerical aspect but, I truely love the clinical aspect the best. I have excellant customer service skills as well computer knowledge and I know if I could get a chance I would make an excellant Medical Assistant for a Doctors Office or a Medical Facility. I know this is more than a comment but, I really want to further my education and work side by side with a Physician.

I would like to no more about becoming a Medical Administrative Assistant I am currently in school for a Certified Medical Assisant

would like to no more about becoming a medical administsrative assistant

I just graduated from a vocational school in Ontario California as an administrative asst. because i thought well Ive been a regular administrative asst. so many yrs. and i just always wanted to be in the medical field so i said why not give it a shot learn something new and work w/ patients everyday well no such tittle... any physician will hire for their front desk if its for receptionist or weather its to assist his medical biller and you dont need any school for that a lot ask for exp. but its not always required bc either they test you out and if your good they will train you to help out w/ billing and send you to a seminars here and there... I regret learning this the hard way now i have to pay back $16,000 in loans i feel so stupid because my plan this whole time was to get certified in this and keep going to school to become an RN but ive wasted time and money here its sad because Physician's will look at you like "whats an MAA? you dont know back office that's wierd?", because no matter what they will train their MA front office stuff and their already certified to draw blood and stuff when an MAA isnt certified to do jack but knowledge w/ billing and other bs that no matter what an MA will learn in the future.. or a dentist they want you to also know back office and then move you and train you to the front this is why i didnt get hired at my extern site because the dentist wanted to just train and move one of his dental asst. to the front... so girl please dont waste your money its stupid, pathetic... i feel like such an idiot i thought i had it all planned out yeah right.... I am back being a Executive asst. getting $13.00 hr.. and going back to a real med. school to start my BSN in nursing...9 months of my life gone to waste....

Jenn in Chino Hills, California said: I just graduated from a vocational school in Ontario California as an administrative asst. because i thought well Ive been a regular administrative asst. so many yrs. and i just always wanted to be in the medical field so i said why not give it a shot learn something new and work w/ patients everyday well no such tittle... any physician will hire for their front desk if its for receptionist or weather its to assist his medical biller and you dont need any school for that a lot ask for exp. but its not always required bc either they test you out and if your good they will train you to help out w/ billing and send you to a seminars here and there... I regret learning this the hard way now i have to pay back $16,000 in loans i feel so stupid because my plan this whole time was to get certified in this and keep going to school to become an RN but ive wasted time and money here its sad because Physician's will look at you like "whats an MAA? you dont know back office that's wierd?", because no matter what they will train their MA front office stuff and their already certified to draw blood and stuff when an MAA isnt certified to do jack but knowledge w/ billing and other bs that no matter what an MA will learn in the future.. or a dentist they want you to also know back office and then move you and train you to the front this is why i didnt get hired at my extern site because the dentist wanted to just train and move one of his dental asst. to the front... so girl please dont waste your money its stupid, pathetic... i feel like such an idiot i thought i had it all planned out yeah right.... I am back being a Executive asst. getting $13.00 hr.. and going back to a real med. school to start my BSN in nursing...9 months of my life gone to waste....

Don't give up Jenn. You can take some online classes at many of the California State Universities online or through ed2go.com which use to be gatlin education services.

Jenn, apply for financial aid online at fafsa.gov to see how much you qualify for. Hope this info helps.

Thank you, yea I am definitely not giving up... i appreciate the info.. :)

Wow I feel so confused as to what I want to pick for a medical career. I'm trying to find something that will pay me atleast 40,000 a year at entry level that I can go to a vocational school in Illinois to earn, but it seems nothing in those schools turn out the way they seem. Does anyone know a program thats a better choice?

Ang in Long Beach, California said: Don't give up Jenn. You can take some online classes at many of the California State Universities online or through ed2go.com which use to be gatlin education services.

I am currently enrolled in the ed2go.com class for MAA!
It was $139 for a six-week class. The c lass is going well so far. I am really learning exactly what it is that MAAs do. I have done research and so far; You will need to be proficient in basic computer software, have an excellent typing WPM, Certification (which averages about $110) is not required but it might put you above other candidates, medical terminology is a plus but not required (which will DEFINITELY put you above other candidates) so I went and purchased a $20 med term short course book from e-bay and will continue to give myself lessons in that while still taking the MAA course. Equipped with all of these, you should be able to land yourself a good entry-level position at physician's office, clinic, hospital. Salary is not as much as clinical medical assistants, but again, it does not require much education compared to the other medical positions. Good Luck!