Alternative career options for medical assistants: Why, How, and What

May 09, 2021 | Carver Stephen | Courses For Business

Alternative career options for medical assistants: Why, How, and What

Medical assisting is a field that can get you many job opportunities if you are willing to look for other options. The medical field is broad and to compensate for the patient load that keeps increasing, they strive to hire more and more professionals to become a part of the team and help them take care of society in a better way. A medical assistant, however, is an individual who can choose from many different career options.

Alternative Career For Medical Assistants
Alternative Career For Medical Assistants

Why should medical assistants try another job?

Why not? If you really want to know, here are some reasons:

  • They can have better pay than medical assistant salary.
  • Advancing your career means better job security.
  • As you advance, you get better communication skills and other expertise.
  • You can also choose a field and decide to specialize in it for more prestige in your field.
The Medical Assistant Should Try Another Job
The Medical Assistant Should Try Another Job

Things to consider before looking for an alternative job?

Here is how you can be better suited for an alternative job.

  • Get the necessary qualities for becoming a successful medical assistant.
  • Attend more training programs and get certified for an impressive resume.
  • Get the necessary experience in your field and broaden your professional skills.
  • Specialize in a field that interests you the most and look for specific job options.
  • Get additional education in your field or opt for foreign job opportunities.
  • Become a teacher in a college and teach medical assisting to give something back to the community.

What are the options?

Working in a physician’s office is not all that medical assistants can do, here are a few of the many medical assistant jobs that you can consider.

ECG technicians

Electrocardiography is a procedure in which using different equipment such as electrocardiogram, stress testing equipment, and others, physicians identify cardiovascular problems and opt for better treatment options. Medical assistants can choose to become ECG technicians if they have a knack for this kind of work. They will have to get certified as ECG technicians which is pretty easy to do and not that time taking. After getting certification and showing your expertise in handling all the equipment and running all the different tests, you can get a job as a technician.

With an impressive job outlook and salaries, an ECG technician can earn an annual salary of more than $90,000. After advancing in this field by getting more experience, ECG technicians can move on to better job options.

ECG Technicians
ECG Technicians

Public health inspectors

Public health inspectors work in many settings such as offices, factories, and the community to ensure that policies and laws are being followed by everyone. By helping to apply the best practices of sanitation in healthcare, food preparation, housing, and other fields, public health inspectors strive to make society a better place to live.

A certified medical assistant with an additional associate degree in natural sciences or health is needed for a medical assistant to work as a public health inspector. With 11% projected growth in the next few years, this job presents the perfect platform for medical assistants to exhibit their skills and excel in the field. Public health inspectors can earn an annual salary between $78,000 and $112,000.

Health services manager

Health services managers work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and other organizations. It is their duty to make sure that all the codes and laws are being followed, the facility is up-to-date with the latest equipment, and they manage finances and set budgets. For medical assistants to become health services managers, they need to have a bachelor’s degree in health sciences. Many employers also ask for a Master’s degree and proper experience in the relative field.

With a median annual salary of more than $110,000, this job is the perfect option for medical assistants to help the community while earning well for themselves.

Clinical laboratory technologists

Different medical assistant programs can offer you a gateway to becoming clinical laboratory technologists after getting a bachelor’s degree in laboratory technology. The job description of these professionals includes examining and testing body fluids, performing blood tests, analyzing reports, keeping and maintaining logs & books, and other duties.

Becoming a clinical laboratory technologist after a medical assistant program can offer you an annual salary of more than $70,000. In addition to that, it is a field that can offer you room to grow and get promoted.

Clinical Laboratory Technologists
Clinical Laboratory Technologists