certified medical assistant

I graduated as a medical assistance back in aug. 05. Well, no one told me it wouldn't be easy to get a job as a medical assistance. All I heard was that a medical assistance was in high demand. Yeah, but they all want a years experience! My externship was only for 175hours, but hey, at least I have that under my belt? whatever! Yes, it's 2007 and all I did was a "trial job" for 5 hours,...I am waiting for them to call me back.

I am a recruiter with a national medical staffing firm and unfortunately the problem I'm hearing overwhelmingly in here is very a common one. So many schools have sprung up in search of money that there are tons of graduates out there, and now the entry level spots are actually the most competitive; getting your first year of experience will literally be the hardest part of your whole career, believe me. 95% of facilities will not even look at resumes without a year of experience.

It is very frustrating, but you must be patient, and make sure you try your absolute hardest on your externship; do anything to get the job, even if the pay is low at first. You have to look at it as an investment in yourself and your career.

You can also try registering with every medical staffing agency in the phone book. Some might not call you back; don't take this as an insult, they are very busy too, and if they don't have a job that will hire new grads there is nothing they can do. Rather than telling 20 dissapointed people that a day, they are better off using that time to make sales calls to try and find some jobs! Remember on some level it's a numbers game, so if you register with every one you can you widen your net and hopefully one will be able to pull a string and help you get your foot in the door.

You should also consider applying at the American Red Cross. They have been known to train Phlebotomists and Medical Assistants to be Donor Collection Assistants.

Look up Medical Labs online or in the phone book; even if you don't see an ad, send your resume to Quest, LabCorp, etc. Maybe you can get started in Phlebotomy or Medical Lab Assisting as a parallel position.

Good luck, I hope some of this might have helped.

Hello, if you are a medical staffing form do you have any staffing in Columbus, Georgia.

I went to Hunter Business school in Levitown, NY. My tuition was $11,000 & it included Phlebotomy & Ekg & taking my certification test. The school also finds you a job no matter how long it takes.

Did they help you get a job,and your classmates?

Most of you have a crappy attitude and bad grammar, and that is probably why you didn't get hired. I'm not surprised... I had a well-paying job for 8 months BEFORE I EVEN GRADUATED! It wasn't that hard! I've had the same job ever since and am very happy with it!

Better luck in your next interviews!

Kelly in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma said: Most of you have a crappy attitude and bad grammar, and that is probably why you didn't get hired. I'm not surprised... I had a well-paying job for 8 months BEFORE I EVEN GRADUATED! It wasn't that hard! I've had the same job ever since and am very happy with it!

Better luck in your next interviews!

I've thought about looking for work in the Oklahoma area. Can you compare it to any other cities in which you have lived?

Would you happen to know of any companies in your area that have any electrical engineering openings? Currently I am laid off but I have a Bachelor's degree in electrical engineering (entry-level).

Thank you for any insight on living in Oklahoma and any job leads/networking.

Kelly in Oklahoma, you sound like you are a little too stuck on yourself. On this sight, they would like to read words of encouragement, not putting people down!

rose in Gainesville, GA said: i got certified and no one wants to hire you because you don't have a year's experience. This is very disappointing to find out I went to school for nothing! i have faxed, hand delivered, called, replied to ads and nothing keep getting the same story everywhere

I am a recent graduate of medical assisting. I am not yet certified, but plan on soon. Was the test easy for you. What school did you attend?

I can definitely relate to most of the posts on here. I went to school for a Pharmacy Technician program. I graduated at the top of my class, passed the national PTCB exam on the first try (not an easy feat), have excellent references inluding the class instructor, great work history, etc and couldn't get even a callback from the countless resumes I sent out after graduation.

I spoke to a few people at hospitals and they said it's the classic catch 22 situation....we won't hire you without experience yet we won't give you that experience to start with.

And still people wonder why our health care system is so messed up, and can't keep up with patiend loads.

FYI...for anyone thinking of becoming a pharmacy tech, be advised that you don't even need to go to school and waste money on tuition, you can get hired for $7 an hour at Walgreens or other community pharmacy and they will train you for free and work you like a fast food employee. I didn't learn this until after the withdrawal cut off point for the program I enrolled in.

And don't waste your time on temp agencies or recruiters. To them you are like cattle and they only care about filling assignments. I know because I worked for a few agencies doing office work and they're all the same.

Jeff-
Wasn't there a report on "20/20" some months back that revealed how some pharmacies will hire in and train some as young as 16 to be a tech? The report was about the deadly accidents that have happened because of such stupidity. I want the person who is assisting with the dispensing of my medications to be one as trained as you are. But of course another stupid fact is how there are so many capable people with extensive training who cannot find a position for what they were trained for.

Hello, jeff that good you finish school to be a pharmacy tech and cant find a job WoW that not good but do not give up you will and the Technical college i am trying to get in you have to take a compass test just to get in college here in Columbus, ga and i do not think that is right in order to better your self in getting the job you want.

If you are talking about Columbus Technical College that is one of the best technical college in the world. Go take your compass test and go to school because you will get a job in columbus the day you graduate

Thanks so much for your advice Claudette in enrolling in columbus Technical College

dis just aint right do you know they make medical assistants do all dis work to get paid nothing that is just crazy i was better off just working in retail

Rhonda in Atlanta, Georgia said: Kelly in Oklahoma, you sound like you are a little too stuck on yourself. On this sight, they would like to read words of encouragement, not putting people down!

Hi Rhonda:
I live in "CA" I graduated in 2007 and since I have had 3 interviews and one thing I know is you have to smile alot and be fake! Kelly from Okiiee is wrong saying that we have a bad attitude. It's jolly good for her that she has a job but exactly what attributes did she have to offer! No one enters a medical field to put up with some of the patients moods and nosense unless you really enjoy helping people. So all you "Phlebotomists" keep trying cuz I know since I get called in for interviews that I'm getting closer the only obstacle is lack of experience. I am not giving up YET! Chin Up!

I HAVE WORKED AT THE BLOOD BANK FOR 6 YRS AND AS A MOBILE EXAMINER FOR 2 YRS. BUSINESS IS SLOW AND I CANNOT FIND A JOB. I DO NOT WANT TO FLIP BURGERS, BUT YOU HAVE TO DO THAT TO SURVIVE. I SEE "NOW hiring" BUT NO ONE IS CALLING. I EVEN CALLED PLACES THAT I EMAIL MY APPLICATION TO, NO RESPONSE. I WILL DO JUST ABOUT ANYTHING TO GET MY FOOT IN THE DOOR. ANY SUGGESTIONS.

Go to indeed.com and check out jobs there. It is hard but keep trying till your license runs out then it is up to you if you want to continue! Make up your resume with fancy words to catch human resources eye, also consider going out of state who are willing to hire you with little experience. I still haven't gotten a break I think health care hospitals and labs are scared to hire people fresh out of school. But, the people out of school tend to be more carefull cuz we know we are new at it and we are will to learn it properly! It's a shame that these employers can't see this, they are truely missing out on some good people. Phlebotomy is a high risk jobs so no amount of money they pay us can prevent the chance of us getting a disease! I mean you really have to love this career to be in it. I really feel that if it is in my future to be in this career then it will take place! So, try to keep positive and remember the phlebotomist who have jobs now and the experience didn't start of always by going to school they were just hired and were given the needle. How scary is that, they only have certificate cuz, the law requires them to have it now and the employers are forced to look for it. Otherwise, how many of them do you really think would go back to school they would just continue to work with no care. You could tell this to employers and they know this but they just pretend to not know. So, chin up and make the most of it!

Go to indeed.com and check out jobs there. It is hard but keep trying till your license runs out then it is up to you if you want to continue! Make up your resume with fancy words to catch human resources eye, also consider going out of state who are willing to hire you with little experience. I still haven't gotten a break I think health care hospitals and labs are scared to hire people fresh out of school. But, the people out of school tend to be more carefull cuz we know we are new at it and we are will to learn it properly! It's a shame that these employers can't see this, they are truely missing out on some good people. Phlebotomy is a high risk jobs so no amount of money they pay us can prevent the chance of us getting a disease! I mean you really have to love this career to be in it. I really feel that if it is in my future to be in this career then it will take place! So, try to keep positive and remember the phlebotomist who have jobs now and the experience didn't start of always by going to school they were just hired and were given the needle. How scary is that, they only have certificate cuz, the law requires them to have it now and the employers are forced to look for it. Otherwise, how many of them do you really think would go back to school they would just continue to work with no care. You could tell this to employers and they know this but they just pretend to not know. So, chin up and make the most of it!

i think all these ladies are right that posted their comments about not finding a medical assistant job. i have been out of school since september and currently do not have my certification yet but there are alot of jos hiring with out certification. but these companies are not hiring if you do not have experience. i also think going to school for medical assistant is a waste of money and time. i should have went to school to be a RN. if anybody know of any jobs please email them to me please. i'm looking in the philadelphia and nj area. my email is ashyahmonee@yahoo.com thank you!

for you to come out your face like that is wrong #1 financial aid helped me too and i have let down alot of jobs because of the pay my school helps me but i am making much more then what they what to give me because i have rent to pay i can not settle for less than.

rose in Gainesville, GA said: i got certified and no one wants to hire you because you don't have a year's experience. This is very disappointing to find out I went to school for nothing! i have faxed, hand delivered, called, replied to ads and nothing keep getting the same story everywhere

Seems to me everyone needs to stop complaining and get off the computer and GO FIND A JOB.
How much money did you think you were going to make when you first stepped foot in a doctors office, fresh out of school????
Come on! Be for real.
In my opinion, as it seems everyone on here has one..... the ones here complaining about the $7 to $8 an hour or even $10 to $12 hour need to just take the stinkin' job. It beats sitting at home with NO MONEY coming in.
You have to start somewhere. It may not be the specialty office or the exact thing you want to be doing but it is experience. And like someone said on here in regards to experience being needed......GO VOLUNTEER somewhere, the possibilites are endless in what you can do.
Stop boxing yourselves into a "certain job" and just apply anywhere medical services are needed....hospitals, nursing homes, walk-in clinics, blood mobiles, some pharmacies are starting up small medical clinics inside their stores...like CVS.
One girl said she is working as a front office receptionist for an opthamologist. THAT'S EXPERIENCE! Use it, put it on your resume, same as your externship...THAT'S EXPERIENCE....put it on your resume.

CAN'T NEVER DID NUTIIN'......remember that.

Best wishes to you all.
MA in Tampa, FL

mechelle in Center Moriches, New York said: dis just aint right do you know they make medical assistants do all dis work to get paid nothing that is just crazy i was better off just working in retail

Just a thought.........
What did you think, this was going to be a skate job "like" retail?
You are dealing with peoples' health not selling clothes AND you use extreme slang in your typing. That will NEVER be accepted in a doctors office. Home is home, talk anyway you like but in a medical setting you are expected to conduct yourself professionally.

I have to reply to that comment that you made miss ma in Tampa FL. I do agree that any experience in the medical field will help on a resume. but what i dont agree on is telling ma's to take a job paying 7.00 and 8.00 an hour. we do have certifications and diplomas so no i wont take a job paying that. what did i go to school for if i settle for that? it's ma's like you that would take those kind of jobs and companies feel its right to offer that kind of pay. no it is not right so stop taking jobs like that and they would have no choice but to raise the pay. I think if you cant find a job as a ma making what you want then go find another job doing something else intil that job comes available you want. please dont settle for the 7.00 an hour. i am a grown woman with bills. $7.00 wont do nothing for me but put some gas in my tank!

You are after my own heart on that one. The problem is that there are many who will take the work at whatever pay because they have to. Principal is a hard thing to stick to when you are starving and the rent/utilities are behind. Until
we can all stand in solidarity none of us will recieve FAIR compensation.

And until medical assisting is a licensed field then it will continue to be a low paying job. Many who passed up on those initial job offers that paid less than $10 hourly are sorry later because they end up never finding work in the field.

aleah in Wenonah, New Jersey said: I have to reply to that comment that you made miss ma in Tampa FL. I do agree that any experience in the medical field will help on a resume. but what i dont agree on is telling ma's to take a job paying 7.00 and 8.00 an hour. we do have certifications and diplomas so no i wont take a job paying that. what did i go to school for if i settle for that? it's ma's like you that would take those kind of jobs and companies feel its right to offer that kind of pay. no it is not right so stop taking jobs like that and they would have no choice but to raise the pay. I think if you cant find a job as a ma making what you want then go find another job doing something else intil that job comes available you want. please dont settle for the 7.00 an hour. i am a grown woman with bills. $7.00 wont do nothing for me but put some gas in my tank!

Well sit home and whine and have no money.
Not taking a job because you THINK you are TOO educated is your problem and you will probably never get into the field with that attitude.
FYI....I am a grown 43 yr old divorced, single mother with bills who went BACK to school with a bunch of 18 and 19 year olds, my daughter included to get my MA.
I worked FULL time AND went to school at night. I got up at 5AM and went to work and to school everyday. I didn't stop until 12 or 1AM every night due to homework and housework.
I started out making 10.00 an hour with NO BENEFITS in a one doctor child/adult psychiatrist office 3 1/2 years ago.
I now am happy to say my struggling paid off and I make 35,000 a year with benefits!
Furthermore I am not certified either, So DON'T TELL ME Miss New Jersey.
That being said, ANYONE on here can do it. If you have a dream do not stop until you achieve it!!
You have to do what you have to do to get there. Don't stop. Keep going.
That's all I have to say.

Tampa MA

Angie in Reston, VA said: Yes!! i have the same problem!!! I have 7 years experience in customer service and just finished school for medical assisting and i just got certified -- i've had about 4 interviews in 4 months -- 2 of the jobs offered me $7 an hour!! that is ridiculous-- i have to start paying back my student loans- i am a hard worker and deserve more than that-- if i had known this i would have gone to school for something else!!
any comments please reply
thank you and good luck to you Rose

Wow reading this was crazy to me. I say this because I'm in my last semester and currently interning. They wanted to offer me 9 and sum change I said the same thing i owe thiry tho and u wanna pay me 9 im certified as a CNa and i make 12 or better i feel like this was the wrong choice for me. So since then what have you been doing and if any what advice do you have to offer to someone whos about the follow the same footsteps as you. e-mail me as al.grier.saleema@mail.bryantstratton.edu '
lata

Angie in Reston, VA said: Yes!! i have the same problem!!! I have 7 years experience in customer service and just finished school for medical assisting and i just got certified -- i've had about 4 interviews in 4 months -- 2 of the jobs offered me $7 an hour!! that is ridiculous-- i have to start paying back my student loans- i am a hard worker and deserve more than that-- if i had known this i would have gone to school for something else!!
any comments please reply
thank you and good luck to you Rose

Yes I have the same problem I went to school for a medical assistant and they don't want to pay me this is so ridiculous IS NO JOB FOR MEDICAL ASSISTANT DOn"T GO FOR THAT IS NOT GOOD

I'm a Certified/Registered Medical Assistant. I work in a large hospital that is part of a chain of hospitals. I had to start here as an Hospital Unit Coordinator (aka Unit Secretary) and NA-C. for a couple of years until I could get a job as a Medical Assistant (the pay is the same for those disciplines). But that amount of working experience was acknowledged and I finally got a position in Radiology working as a CMA. One bit of advice I can offer for MAs that want to work in a hospital (hospitals and acute care settings generally pay more) is that you may need to take a position as a Hospital Unit Coordinator or a Patient Care Rep or Patient Scheduler until you can get a job as an MA. Also, some hospitals require that their in-patient acute care MAs also hold CNA licenses (you can go to just about any nursing home and take their 4-8 week nursing assistant courses). An education in the Medical Assisting field is never, ever a wasted thing. Our education is very well-rounded and provides us w/both clinical and administrative knowledge. I admire A.A.S.-degreed MAs (I only have a diploma). There are so many opportunites in the hospital settings. You can get your foot in the door (one way or another) and work your way into a position. Some MAs are so proficient in their ADMINISTRATIVE roles that some move up into clinical information specialist roles. There are other roles like the ANESTHESIA TECH position that I have seen some MAs get into (plus the pay is more than the MA payscale). The MA position and credential is what you make of it. We should all be proud to be MAs. One last thing: get certified. It really gives you an extra edge over those that aren't. It's true that few medical offices or hospitals pay more for that credential, but some places do require it (they may post on the job description that it is only preferred, but I can assure you that they want you to have it).

Anna Livings in Lafayette, Louisiana said: I understand exactly what everyone is talking about. I've been out of school now since august of 06 and i'm also a medical assistant. It's very hard to find a job. I actually had a job before completing the course and i took the job only to have some experience not because i liked the job. I worked there for 5 months and called quits. I started prn and was making 8.21 and hour. In the state of Louisiana that's a pretty decent pay rate. After being hired on with the company full time they cut my pay down to 7 dollars. I have two kids and i cannot support my kids with that amount of pay. I have been unemployed for a week now. I've always wanted to work in an ob/gyn setting. I finally got my wish. I was offered a position as a clinical/administrative medical assistant. To make the long story short. Ladies don't stop looking for that right job. Good luck to you all.

Not all MAs are LADIES. Half of all the MAs that I work w/are male. The same for the RN and LPN staffing.

LATRICE in San Diego, California said: I COMPLETED MY MA PROGRAM IN 98 AND WORKED AS AN MA UNTIL 20OO I HAD TO STOP WORKING BECAUSE I WAS PREGNANT AND ALSO HAD 2 YOUNG CHILDREN AT HOME. I AM NOW READY TO PURSUE MY EDUCATION IN REGISTERED NURSING BUT WOULD LIKE TO WORK AS AN MA UNTIL I FINISH. MY QUESTION IS AM I STILL AN MA? OR DO I HAVE TO START ALL OVER? HOW DO I GO ABOUT THE PROCESS OF GETTING BACK OUT THERE?

As long as you have a certification of completion, you are still a qualified MA. I would suggest getting certified (that way you brush up on your skills for the test and prove to potential employers that you are still "skilled"). Also, in most nursing programs, you are eligible to take your test for nursing assistant-certified after the 1st semester/2nd quarter. So, there is also an option. I have actually worked w/several MAs who took an extended period of time off to raise family and got jobs even after being off for 10 years (they had certs of completion and got certified).

Rene' in Landing, New Jersey said: Hello all- I came across this site while searching for something else and I am glad I did. I'd like to offer some hope for those of you out there who seem to feel you wasted time obtaining your CMA. I have been certified since 1994 and yes I had to work my way up. I began by making only $12 an hour and working my butt off- BUT that's where I gained my experience and knowledge. I am now the Manager of a very large healthcare facility in NJ and making $75,000 a year. Here is my advice to all of you. Take the first job that is offered to you, learn all you can while there- the more you learn the more you can place on your resume. Also, be very catious and careful when creating your resume. Most employeers look for accuracy, spelling and grammer. Be sure to have your resume in proper format. Last but not least, when you finally get that interview- make it count! Go in confident and secure. Tell the employeers that although you are a recent grad you are a fast learning and very eager to take on new challenges and tasks! Show then that you would be a good investiment. Learn what you can from there and work your way up. LPN's are being phased out due to CMA's and the fact that CMA's salaries are less. Be positive! Hope I helped out a bit and good luck to all of you! OH AND most importantly. You will be offered more money from a specialty practice rather than a general/internist. Specialty practices such as Cardiology ect. gross more than internists do.

You're right. The potential for CMA/RMA is what we make of it. I have seen a lot of MAs move up into management and leadership postions. We all have to realize that when starting out, we may have to take what comes along for the experience. Also, sometimes opportunities to get OJT may come along and occasionally that OJT makes you elgible for another credential (I have a couple of Washington state licenses because of OJT).

I was a little shocked about the pay rate that alot of you have mentioned. I am currently in school doing my Associates degree in Medical Assisting. Where I am from we get paid about 2-3,000 more than an LPN. I work at a Health care center now as a Medical Receptionist and make $11.94/hr. to start. I plan on working there as well when I receive my MA degree. All you see in the paper here is "NOW HIRING CMA'S"
they hardly even mention LPN's much. I was even told by my administation office where I work they pay MA's more because we can do more than a nurse can. Everything from Insurance billing to giving a shot to a patient. I guess every state is differant. Goodluck to everyone!

rose in Gainesville, GA said: i got certified and no one wants to hire you because you don't have a year's experience. This is very disappointing to find out I went to school for nothing! i have faxed, hand delivered, called, replied to ads and nothing keep getting the same story everywhere

If i havent heard anything true in my life, it would have to be that. it is very sad to know that i have went to school, devoted myself, spent time and money to try and get a better job. but its like you said, you have to have a year experience. thats all i hear but how are you suppose to get it, if nobody gives you a chance????

go to craigslist.com and look

rose in Gainesville, GA said: i got certified and no one wants to hire you because you don't have a year's experience. This is very disappointing to find out I went to school for nothing! i have faxed, hand delivered, called, replied to ads and nothing keep getting the same story everywhere

I know how you feel. I finally got a job at the hospital, which took 3 years after I graduated, which was for a division clerk, not medical assistant. I got hurt back in Feb. and was out for 5 1/2 months, when I went back I had to apply for a new position for a doctor that was employed by the hospital and then 3 months later, since I was the only employee that was previously employed, got laid off. I have been looking now for a month and I am finding the same old thing. You must have experience before they will let you do it. One of the girls in the office I was in hired a girl that had one week to finish school and they hired her instead of giving me the job, and she is still employed. It is very irritating. I am 43 yo and this is ridiculous. I am hoping to get something soon before I lose my home. I am sorry that I couldn't give you any positive answers, I just hope and pray that it is easier for you then it has been for me. I graduated back in 2001 with a 3.06 GPA in medical assisting, coding and transcription. I wish you the best of luck . Good luck in your search.

go to the site craigslist.com and look for employment

HEY GUYS...I WAS READING SOME OF THE COMMENTS LEFT ON THIS PAGE AND WOW ITS CRAZY...DONT KNO WHAT TO BELIEVE ON THE MEDICAL ASSISTANT CAREER...I HAVE BEEN EXCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM AT MY SCHOOL THIS JAN 2008...AM I CONSIDERING SOMETHING GOOD OR IS THIS GOIN TO BE A LET DOWN...JUS HIT ME BACK UP WITH SOME INFORMATION I WOULD GLADLY APPERCIATE IT...THANKS :)

Hello

Well after along time of looking i finally got a job today. No its not what i really wanted but it will do for now.
Im in a vet clinic but its experiance adn it will do for now. but im not giving up looking for a doc office job..

Goodluck guys

Anna im from louisiana as well and i was looking into going into becomming a Medical Aisstant. Should I reconsider?

hi my name is christie and i would like to were can i go and get certified in the state of tn or can i take th e test somewhere else online.

I guess I am lucky, it seems that a few of you are having problems finding a job in Medical Assisting field. I alreayd work at a Dr. Office so my bosses are just waiting till I graduate to move me back to the nurses area.
Go to www.indeed.com and it will tell you what
your salary will be in your town and state for the Medical
Assisting field. You can do 2 searches at one time and compair salary's with Med Assisting and LPN, where I am
we make 3,000 more a year than an LPN.

Ashleigh in Lafayette, Louisiana said: Anna im from louisiana as well and i was looking into going into becomming a Medical Aisstant. Should I reconsider?

In a word,yes.

christie said: hi my name is christie and i would like to were can i go and get certified in the state of tn or can i take th e test somewhere else online.

You can't take any certifying exam online but it can be taken on a computer at a testing center. You need to first sign up for the test. You can either go to the websites of AAMA,AMT,or another certifying agency to find out information,or you can check with your school as to what to do.

What school are ya'll going to? Im at Allied and we can say we have had one year of experience because we work on real people as oppossed to fruit and plastic. Peopl from my school as have extreme sucess stories.

NO, I think that you should go to school for medical assistant. The course was about 7 1/2 months. What school will you attend? Why would you think about reconsidering? I love my job and if you want to work strictly in a doctors office and not too much in the hospital setting, then medical assistant is the next best thing to LPN.

Thanks for asking
Write again and tell me what you decide.

Hello, I'm looking to start an accredited 7 month MA program. Big question: In someone's opinion who is in the field, do you think a 40 year old male will be totally out of place as a medical assistant? In the right specialty, can jobs be had for male MAs without 1 year of experience? Thank you for your help!

John D. in San Diego, California said: Hello, I'm looking to start an accredited 7 month MA program. Big question: In someone's opinion who is in the field, do you think a 40 year old male will be totally out of place as a medical assistant? In the right specialty, can jobs be had for male MAs without 1 year of experience? Thank you for your help!

There is nothing wrong w/being a male Medical Assistant. I am a male MA, and sometimes the gender thing is a benefit in certain situations. It's true that sometimes the MDs or NPs may need a female MA to accompany them during certain exams, but it's what you can do and how good of an MA that really counts. I work 1 on 1 w/the providers in my area/dept., and it's truly a teamwork situation. You may end up having to take the first MA job (or something in the medical field) that comes along for the "1" year of experience. But there are plenty of opportunities out there. Plus, I have noticed that a lot of the PHYSICIANS ASSISTANTS-CERTIFIED that I have been meeting started out as MAs before going back to school again. Working as a Medical Assistant gives you some really invaluable experience and insight into the field of medicine and how a clinic is run. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS-CERTIFIED (PA-Cs) go through a program that is usually 2-3 years in duration on top of having some post high school diploma or degree. Good luck!

Thank you for the words of encouragement. I'm on a minimum 2 year waiting list to get into a local RN program, so in the meantime I thought I'd take a MA course and work as a medical assistant until they call my name for the registered nursing program. I really don't want to do CNA work, bed pans and diapers. The only other medical training that comes to mind which can be done in about 6-7 months is MA. However, I've been scanning some of the MA forums and it appears that many new grads are having a really hard time landing their first job. Add my age and gender and I have to wonder about my own prospects. Thanks again, John