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How to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida

Omar Fernandez

Published:
Miramar Medical assistant program students take blood pressure measurements

If you are interested in joining the healthcare profession, but you’re not yet ready to commit to full time study for a nursing degree, then a medical assistant program could be a great choice for you. With a medical assistant certificate, you could complete your qualification within 12 months of full time study, and you’ll be prepared to enter the industry with great job opportunities and competitive salary offers.

If you’ve been curious about how to become a medical assistant, then taking a look at the FVI School of Nursing and Technology CCMA program should be your first step.

What Does a Medical Assistant Do?

Medical assistants have two key jobs to perform, which you will be trained to do in a medical assistant program. First, they perform a variety of administrative tasks such as working with patients, insurance companies, processing medical bills, answering the telephone and scheduling patient visits. Second, they assist other health care providers, such as physicians, nurses and physician assistants, in providing medical care to patients. For example, at the beginning of the patient’s visit they make take vital health sign readings such as the patient’s weight, height, temperature, and blood pressure. They also collect urine samples and tissue specimens as requested by the doctor for laboratory testing.

In large health care settings such as big group practices or hospitals, medical assistants may focus on only one of these two areas. But in smaller offices, such as practices that have only one or two doctors, they will most likely perform both the administrative tasks and the medical care tasks. A good medical assistant school will train you on all the tasks you might be asked to perform.

How Do You Become a Medical Assistant in Florida?

 

You can become a medical assistant in as little as a year after graduating high school through a medical assistant school in Miami, which will give you a certificate. When choosing a medical assistant program, make sure it is accredited. FVI School of Nursing and Technology is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE)

Medical assistant programs require students to obtain hands-on experience in a medical facility. Real-world experience will help beef up your resume and you may even land a full-time job in the medical facility where you worked! https://www.youtube.com/embed/f-8sVSFj2ok

How Do I Choose an Accredited Medical Assistant School in Florida?

At FVI School of Nursing and Technology in Miami, we offer high-quality education for careers in healthcare and information technology. Our admissions process is simple so you’ll find it easy to get started on the path to success. In addition, we maintain a staff of financial aid professionals who can help you understand your financial aid options to meet your educational expenses.  Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

Our medical assistant program is designed to train you to efficiently handle all of the relevant aspects of medical office management including reception, scheduling appointments, managing patient records, informatics and insurance billing. We also train you to handle clinical duties such as preparing patients for examinations and minor surgeries, performing specialized medical tests including urinalysis, collecting biological specimens, phlebotomy, performing EKG tests and some X-rays, and processing and recording pharmacological data.

When Can You Begin Studying to Become a Medical Assistant?

A certificate program will be available to you after graduating from high school. The postsecondary non-degree award will be recognized throughout the industry, and you’ll find better job opportunities if you’re already qualified, especially when compared to applicants who would need on the job training.

At FVI, we run regular programs to train students for the medical assistant certificate exam. All learning and testing is performed in-house, and the study program has been designed to provide comprehensive technical learning in relation to the medical assistant role. In addition to getting you ready for the technical aspects of the role and the certification, we’ll also help you to prepare for work in a busy and dynamic environment. Success as a medical assistant will rely heavily on your attitude and professionalism, so you’ll also need to develop soft skills and business skills.

If you’re a recent graduate looking for your next opportunity, or even if you’re nearing high school graduation, then it’s time to give us a call to start looking at your study options at Florida Vocational Institute.

How Do I Become A Certified Medical Assistant in Florida?

Most employers usually require that you have a certificate that shows that you’ve been trained and passed a test specific to the knowledge required of a medical assistant. There are many certifications that you can earn.  At FVI, we recommend all students take and pass the medical assistant certification exam (CCMA) which we administer at our campus.

What Will You Be Doing in Your Role as a Medical Assistant?

Your key function will be to provide assistance to clinical physicians and other medical staff. Unlike some roles in the healthcare industry, medical assistants are required to perform multiple tasks throughout the day. You will regularly be on your feet, and you’ll need to have a strong eye for detail, as well as excellent organizational skills.

Your role can include, but won’t be limited to:

  • Giving injections and medications to patients in a clinical setting.
  • Tracking supplies and equipment and ensuring adequate stock is kept.
  • Fitting and taking electrocardiograms for patients.
  • Drawing blood for laboratory testing.
  • Providing general information for outpatient care and recovery.
  • Providing treatment and procedure information for patients.
  • Assisting physicians during consultations.
  • Collecting laboratory specimens for urinalysis, stool analysis etc.
  • Applying and changing dressings or removing sutures for patients.

In addition to these medically focused functions, you will often be required to perform a number of administrative functions when you are employed as a medical assistant. Completing insurance documentation, handling admissions, greeting patients and visitors, answering phone calls, and keeping medical records could all fall into your job once you complete your medical assistant training program in Florida.

Getting the Right Education for a Dynamic Job Role

As you can already see, your role as an assistant can change from day to day, or even hour to hour. It will be essential that you have the right knowledge to be flexible in your role, while providing real value to your patients and the clinic that employs you.

While some clinics will accept high school graduates for continuous on the job training, it’s much better to have a solid background of full time study. You’ll be able to get up to speed with processes faster, and you will be more efficient, even when starting in a junior position. Of course, this will only be possible when you choose the right school for your training.

At the FVI School of Nursing and Technology, you will find the small class groups, comprehensive skills and theory based lessons, and internship learning, will all help you to prepare for the challenges of working as a full time medical assistant. In short, if you’re asking how to become a medical assistant, then the simple answer would be to enroll at FVI School of Nursing and Technology today. Enroll in our Miramar medical assistant school or our Miami medical assistant school. We offer our medical assistant program at both campuses.

What Will I Learn In Medical Assistant School?

At FVI School of Nursing and Technology in Miramar & Miami, we offer high-quality education for careers in healthcare and information technology. Our admissions process is simple so you’ll find it easy to get started on the path to success. In addition, we maintain a staff of financial aid professionals who can help you understand your financial aid options to meet your educational expenses. Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

Our medical assistant program is designed to train you to efficiently handle all of the relevant aspects of medical office management including:

  • Reception
  • Scheduling appointments
  • Managing patient records
  • Informatics and insurance billing

We also train you to handle clinical duties such as:

  • Preparing patients for examinations and minor surgeries
  • Performing specialized medical tests including urinalysis
  • Collecting biological specimens
  • Phlebotomy
  • Performing EKG tests and some X-rays
  • Processing and recording pharmacological data

Learn More About FVI’s Medical Assistant Program in Miramar & Miami

At FVI School of Nursing and Technology in Miami, we offer high-quality education for careers in healthcare and information technology. Our admissions process is simple so you’ll find it easy to get started on the path to success. In addition, we maintain a staff of financial aid professionals who can help you understand your financial aid options to meet your educational expenses.  Financial aid may be available to those who qualify.

Graduates of our medical assistant program in Miami and medical assistant program in Miramar will possess the skills and hands-on experience to work in medical offices, clinics, hospitals and even in healthcare facilities for specialized medicine such as optometry, gynecology, and pediatrics. For students who can’t always come in to our facility, we offer more than 50% of our medical assistant courses either online or via hybrid delivery.

If you want to gain a position as a medical assistant professional in a rising career field, FVI School of Nursing and Technology’s medical assistant training program in Florida is a great path to take! Come explore the world of healthcare training through our excellent program! Contact us today for more information or apply now!

All nursing programs offered at FVI are approved by the Florida Board of Nursing Professional Nursing NCLEX Code Miramar US70415200 Professional Nursing NCLEX Code Miami US70418900 FVI School of Nursing and Technology (FVI) is licensed by the State of Florida, Commission for Independent Education (CIE) Miami (main) campus License Number: 3441/ Miramar campus License Number: 6010 The Associate of Science programs at FVI School of Nursing and Technology, Miramar, Florida and Miami, Florida are accredited by the Accredited Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN). FVI School of Nursing and Technology is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE) ID# 312400 since November 03, 2010

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