A medical assistant is required to complete an accredited program that takes between six months and one year of training. Manage medical files, answer phones and help check in patients as a medical assistant with information from a family doctor in this free video on medical careers. Expert: Dr. David Cathcart Bio: Dr. David Cathcart specializes in occupational medicine and has an in-depth knowledge of cancer, as well as experience dealing with cancer patients and treatment for multiple years. Filmmaker: Johnny Cathcart
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December 29, 2010 at 1:49 pm
Can you be a medical assistant and not draw blood?
December 29, 2010 at 1:53 pm
@JustHannah38 – The National Accrediting Agency for Clinical Laboratory Sciences has more information about accredited programs to learn phlebotomy. Just to reiterate to please forgo those private overpriced for-profit tech schools and consider the more affordable ones.
December 29, 2010 at 2:05 pm
@JustHannah38 – If you’re still interested in the field, please only consider the more Affordable county vo-tech school or community college as long as the program is accredited within the industry. Regarding phlebotomy, I’m not sure if a person needs to get additional certification by For more general career information: Bureau on Labor Statistics – Occupational Outlook Handbook by the government.
December 29, 2010 at 2:07 pm
@JustHannah38 – A medical assistant doesn’t usually work in a hospital unless getting a job as a phlebotomist (drawing blood) or ekg (electrocardiograms) tech which tests the electrical activity of the heart. Please be aware, however, that there aren’t supposed to be too many jobs despite what those private overpriced for-profit tech schools proclaim.
December 29, 2010 at 2:47 pm
can they work in the hospital? thats what i want to do
December 29, 2010 at 3:38 pm
This video is talking about a Patient care technician or CMA not a Medical assistant. Comments that have been posted on here are clearly from those who have not been given the care and attention of a good medical assistant. I have worked hard as a MA for twenty years, learned from great physicians and know I made the right decision. Just ask the Rn’s that have taught us Venipunture, Medication administration, EKG’s, surgical preps and so much more how great medical assistants really are!!
December 29, 2010 at 4:19 pm
@BloodBound093 In some cases us as CMA’s draw blood under the doctors license…however injections are done in small offices if the doctor requested.
Hope that answers your question. =)
December 29, 2010 at 4:47 pm
if medical assistants don’t draw blood or give injections than what’s she doing at 1:24? and i’m pretty sure most medical assistant programs are actually one to two years long…
December 29, 2010 at 4:55 pm
i work third shift and iam tierd of working at night i make ok money so i was looking to go to school to become MA or something in medical field some thing that takes not more than 2 years and make at least what i make. after i found out MA makes about 10-15 if you lucky and not eassy to find a job i said to my self may be i should hold on to my job where i make 100-250 per night and needs no schooling and its not hard at all
December 29, 2010 at 5:04 pm
can you be Medical Assisting, Medical Administrative Assistant,andMedical Insurance Billing/Coding at the same time?
December 29, 2010 at 5:12 pm
this guy doesnt know what hes talking about, i draw blood and give injections, im just an ncma, he calls a cna a type of nurse? this is not credible
December 29, 2010 at 5:26 pm
@joelewis86 – I’m just relaying what people have said about the field. Most that have gone to school for medical assistant say that they’re struggling to find work regardless of geographic location
You’re very fortunate to have found a job and are making the hourly wage that you are 
December 29, 2010 at 6:06 pm
@Jannsmith I don’t make min wage i make 12.00 a hour where do you live and where are u looking for work u might need to relocate…
December 29, 2010 at 6:56 pm
@JuMunchie – Please steer clear of those online, for-profit schools such as penn foster, everest, kaplan, university of phoenix, sanford brown and others as they are merely out to ‘make a profit’ (and course credits may NOT transfer to other schools). There are a lot of consumer sites that have posts about those online, for-profit schools. Much better off with the county vo-tech school or community college.
December 29, 2010 at 6:57 pm
@nfwvideo – Most jobs in the field do pay minimum wage and there aren’t supposed to be too many jobs for MA (or medical biller/coder) despite what those private overpriced for-profit tech schools proclaim. Anyone that’s still interested in the field should consider the more affordable county vo-tech school or community college as long as the program is accredited within the industry.
December 29, 2010 at 7:15 pm
@JuMunchie – I have heard that the mental health/social work (and nursing) field is supposed to have a high burn-out rate.
December 29, 2010 at 8:04 pm
@JuMunchie yeah it stinks, i had a dr tell me that with all the expences of the practice thats all they can afford
December 29, 2010 at 8:50 pm
Mental Health Tech. And, no it’s not right. I don’t have very many single Dr practices in my area. I live in a middle-class area. So, my bias is skewed. That’s why I don’t disagree (totally) with the minimum wage argument.
December 29, 2010 at 9:24 pm
@JuMunchie MHT? there are several dr offices in my area that pay minimum wage and a very heavy workload, single dr family practice’s in my area pay very low its just not right
December 29, 2010 at 10:15 pm
And, I’m not trying to bring that job down. Personally, I think those people should be getting paid more money. Dealing with psych patients can be a very stressful job.
December 29, 2010 at 11:08 pm
I have to tell you, it’s a rush to draw blood and get it right on the first time. I’m sure that’s luck and I’ll probably bruise a few patients. But, yeah… it seems to depend on what state you’re studying in as well.
December 29, 2010 at 11:20 pm
I’m not disagreeing that in some areas of the US… there are drastic differences between pay rates… I just go by what is offered in my area. And, that is not minimum wage. If that were true, I would be better off being a bagger in a grocery store (which I’ve done in High School). Quite frankily, it’s a better job to me than being a MHT. You get all loads of crap and a low pay rate.
December 30, 2010 at 12:02 am
@JuMunchie this career pays minimum wage i tried it for a few years it not worth it
December 30, 2010 at 12:45 am
alot of medical assistant draw blood and give injections. at least some of the schools i have checked on do.
December 30, 2010 at 12:58 am
@zomven1
I think that’s Face facts, A MA is… not an. Guess your grammar speaks volumes for itself.