Get to Know Our Medical Assistant Career Paths










Medical assisting is a versatile, in-demand healthcare career with a growing demand. Medical assistants work directly with patients in clinical and administrative roles. They’re highly sought after in settings such as hospitals, physicians’ offices, specialty clinics and long-term care facilities. 

In response to this growing demand, MedCerts offers multiple pathways for students to specialize in their Medical Assistant careers and stand out from the competition – including their recently launched Geriatric Medical Assistant program, a much-needed specialty in the healthcare industry.

Medical Assistant Career Paths

Whether you’re interested in working in an outpatient or inpatient setting, MedCerts’ Certified Clinical Medical Assistant programs can help you develop the skills you need to launch a rewarding career in healthcare. 

Medical Assistant

In the standard Medical Assistant program, you’ll study basic human anatomy and medical terminology to effectively communicate with other healthcare professionals. You’ll be qualified to administer medications, help out with minor procedures, record vital signs and take medical histories. Since confidentiality is so important in the medical field, the program also covers key regulations and teaches you how to comply with them to protect patients’ personal information.

Target Certifications: Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)  

Clinical Medical Specialist

As a Clinical Medical Specialist, you’ll combine the core skills in the Medical Assistant program with training in phlebotomy, which is the practice of drawing blood and other specimens. This dual-certification training prepares you to be a valuable addition in any clinical setting. The extra set of skills makes you more competitive when applying for jobs. 

In addition to the Medical Assistant curriculum, you’ll learn how to safely handle laboratory specimens and equipment used to diagnose medical conditions and monitor patient health. You’ll also develop techniques to help put patients at ease during blood and non-blood specimen collection. 

Target Certifications: Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)

Clinical Medical Professional

If you want to stack even more skills on your resume, you can become a Clinical Medical Professional. This program covers all of the content in the Medical Assistant and Clinical Medical Specialist programs, with the added benefit of EKG technician certification. 

When you finish this 36-week course, you’ll be a multi-skilled healthcare professional. You can perform diagnostic cardiac testing, including electrocardiograms (EKGs) and Holter monitoring. You’ll be qualified to assist cardiologists or work in high-demand settings such as emergency rooms, where EKGs are a routine part of patient care. 

Target Certifications: Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Certified EKG Technician (CET)

Clinical Medical Assistant and Scribe Professional

Documentation is a critical component of medical care. A Clinical Medical Assistant and Scribe Professional helps create and maintain a detailed patient record. You’ll work with the attending physician to document each patient’s history, concerns and treatment plans fully and accurately. Upon completion, you’ll be certified as a Medical Administrative Assistant and a Clinical Medical Assistant. 

Target Certifications: Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Apprentice Medical Scribe Professional (AMSP)

Geriatric Medical Assistant 

If you’re passionate about providing care to elderly patients, you may enjoy working as a Geriatric Medical Assistant. In this role, you’ll be working primarily with patients over the age of 65, many of whom have complex and ongoing medical needs. This certification prepares you to work in settings such as retirement communities, nursing homes, hospitals and outpatient clinics. 

Target Certifications: Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

Launch a Rewarding Career in Healthcare 

Healthcare professionals are always in demand, even during times of economic uncertainty. As a Medical Assistant, you’ll perform meaningful, hands-on work while enjoying long-term job security. 

Written by

Dana Janssen

Chief Product Officer

Dana has over twenty (20) years’ experience in Allied Healthcare and Education, and currently serves as the Chief Product Officer for MedCerts where he is responsible for product vision and strategy, research, and development.

Dana joined MedCerts upon its founding in 2009, and has led the research, development, and production of the entire catalog of programs that have helped MedCerts transform the distance learning landscape. Leveraging state-of-the-art technologies and innovative instructional design practices, Dana and his team have pioneered the development of the MedCerts 12 Elements of eLearning. Each MedCerts program contains a proprietary blend of these engaging, interactive, and entertaining elements that effectively accommodate learners of all types. Dana is deeply in-tune with the needs of today’s healthcare employers and is an expert in careers and certifications related to allied health.

Dana holds a Bachelor of Science in Education (BS) degree from Valparaiso University, and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from Davenport University. Dana is an avid sports fan and in his free time enjoys mountain biking, woodworking, knifemaking, and spending time with his family and pets.

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