The population of San Antonio is almost 1.5 million people. It’s the second-biggest city in Texas and the seventh-biggest in the United States. That’s a lot of people! And people need a lot of things. They need grocery stores, restaurants, apartments, and schools. They also need health care. Hospitals, clinics, and facilities are necessary to keep residents happy and healthy. And each of these places needs medical assistants to run smoothly.
What is a Medical Assistant?
Clinical and Medical Assistants work at doctor’s offices, clinics, or hospitals. Their main job centers around making sure patients’ experiences go well. Depending on the setting, they may be in charge of greeting patients and signing them in. They also are trained to take vital signs such as blood pressure, temperature, and pulse. Medical assistants even give injections and handle lab samples. It’s a perfect job for people interested in a healthcare career but don’t want to spend years and years in school.
How Do I Become One?
To become a Medical Assistant, you first have to get trained to be one. Find a program that suits your needs and your schedule. Look for quality instructors and a nearby campus. Think about if you want night classes or day classes. Once you decide on a program, you have to apply. Then, you meet with staff about financial aid to see if you qualify. Review your curriculum to mentally prepare yourself for classes. Once you’re a student, you can complete the program in as little as 40 weeks. Your course of study should also include an externship. Participating in an externship is a way for you to get real-life experience in the field. In Texas, Medical Assistants also need certification from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the American Medical Technologists (AMT).
Why Is It A Good Idea?
In the first paragraph, we talked about all the people in San Antonio. We also explained that all these people need health care facilities. Remember that all of those facilities, offices, and clinics need Medical Assistants! There’s a demand for these type of skilled employees. Training to be a Medical Assistant can be a good investment as well. The Bureau of Labor Statistics calculates the average salaries of all types of jobs. According to them, the average salary for medical assistants in the U.S. is more than $32,000. Seems like a promising career path to us!
Start A Program in San Antonio
At Southwest Schools in San Antonio, we like to say, “Our education works, and so do our graduates.” We take pride in training students to be productive and successful employees. In addition to our Clinical/Medical Assistant program, we offer Pharmacy Technician, Medical Office Specialist, Computerized Accounting Specialist, and General Office Skills programs. If you’re interested in learning more, call us at (210) 921-0951 or schedule a tour soon.