Good point, Maddy. Goes perfectly with what was originally Posted by M.D. => =>
"One overall thing I have a gripe about, as a practicing physician, is that the MA schools are not teaching what I want, as a physician."

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Website Owner/Forum Admin

Thank you so much for your post....as an M.D., I also thank you for taking the time to let us know what you really need from an M.A. I, for one, want to be exactly what you stated, a "right hand man" in the office. When I did my externship in an internal medicine clinic, all sorts of things came up and I was able to assist in a variety of situations. They did everything, sutures, applying casts, discovering dangerous situations that needed immediate attention. It was great experience....and I feel that you must have a personal gift for sensing urgencies, and knowing what the Dr. may need as he or she treats each indivudual patient. It was also a great learning experience. Alas, I am still not employed as an MA and it still remains a dream. I thank you again and hope that by some stroke of luck I happen upon an interview with an M.D. like yourself.

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? no

Good afternoon Teach, My hat is off to you. I think you doing really great job with your students. It really takes a special person to even want to be a Medical Assistant and even more special person to want to teach Medical Assisting. I went to Eagle Gate College in Salt Lake City, Ut. It took me 17 months to get through my MA Diploma program. I have no regrets...and I learned alot by real professionals and who I have come to know as professionals and as my friend. I've seen in my time at school students come and go and I could tell who would make and who would not...I have always had this gift since I was a wee little lad. I've been a CNA for 14 yrs. now and I've been a CMA for almost 2 yr. I work for the government as a contractor for the USAF as a CMA in family medicine. Every week we have an education for 3hrs. We learn everything we learned in school and then some things we never learned in MA school and it makes us stronger Medical Assistants we are also known as 4N's...and we are part of the nursing team. We train to do IV's and we only can only get them started with NS and no drugs...only LPN's and RN's can do that and before we give an injection to anyonewe have to know what we are giving and the route its given, and its side effects and if don't feel comfortable giving it we don't have to. What I'm trying to say is we do keep on learning even after college...and thank you for all you do into making sure your students will be great MA's and your right it does take a special person to become a Medical Assistant.

God bless,
Matt Edler, NCMA

Your Professional Title/Credentials: NCMA, (NCCT), CNA

Are You Still In School? No.

Are You Working? Yes.

Hello my name is Wilma Broekmeulen from Belgium near the border of Netherland.(my English is not very well so sorry if i write not everything correct)
my dream is to have a externship for e few weeks in the USA for 2 reasons 1 to learn the English language better 2 to learn the dirfferent of working in the netherland versus USA as a medical assistant.I'm following class in the Netherland for medical assistant for 1 ,5 year I am going every 3 week 2 weeks 2 evenings and the thirth week 1 evening and 1 afternoon to school.in that time we also have an internship at a hospital or at a family doctor who has an medical assistant from 90 days in that 1, 5 year.
Hopefully you can help me wih my dream

regards WIlma
P.s.on this site you can fine something about my school
www.kellebeek.nl/mbo/brochures/AG.pdf
unfortunately this site is not in English

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Wilma Broekmeulen from Belgium

Are You Still In School? yess

Are You Working? no

I am a MA. I took Medical Assisting/Clinical. The class requirement was 500 hr. this included pharmacology and some terminology plus 8 weeks internship. This class cost me about $500.00 including books and uniforms. During internship we were allow to draw up medication but were not allowed to administer until after we graduated. Then during the summer I took a medical terminology. My teacher was and RN with teaching credentials.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? No

I am 51 yrs old and recently graduated Medical Assisting/Clinical in the Los Angles area. I read you statement and I can honestly say that my instructor thinks the same way you do, as to what really needs to be taught to be a good back Medical Assistant. Included in the MA class were pharmacology and parenteral administration of medications this included some terminology plus 8 week extern at Kaiser Permante. I received a certificate in both. Then I took Medical Terminology this last summer and received a certificate in this also. I mainly just wanted to hello and to let you know that MY teacher, who I have so much respect for is apparently up on what most doctors want.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? No

Hello it is me again. I have a couple questions for you, if you don't mind. (1) I was wondering if your practice is in California, if so, may I ask where is you practice located? (2) And by any chance are you looking for a new graduate MA? Just thought I would ask.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? No

U need more than 6-8 wks of training . I work with alot of newbys and some i can't believe make such simply mistakes and I know what school they have gone to by the way they work NY

Your Professional Title/Credentials: ma new teacher

Are You Still In School? nope

Are You Working? yes

If Medical Assisting is ever going to be a respected profession, it has to have common educational standards, and a way of proving competency. There is no way on earth that a MA would be trained to cover all the things that we do in 6-8 weeks or through a correspondence-internet course. If we ever want to be able to be given more technical skills i.e. IV therapy etc., telling someone you went to school online 6-8 weeks (or that you never have gone to school) isn't going to make it happen and will ruin it for the students who spend 2 years working to earn a degree. How is a physician supposed to trust someone who has no education OR certification? Just by the way you look or act? Also, if you have never been formally trained or passed a certification exam, how can you expect to say "I deserve $15.00/hour" with no proof except your word or your past employer. This is the reason our wages stay low, because there are still so many untrained uncertified MA's out there competing for the same jobs as formally trained graduates.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Network Dean of Medical Assisting

Are You Still In School? no

Are You Working? yes

I believe the Doctor is correct about most of what was written except nurses do make great program chairs if they listen to what is being said i have taken a program from 169 students to well over 389 in one year so to make such a broad statement is ridiculous about nurses being program chairs.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: medical assisting program chair C.E.N R.N CMA/RMA

Are You Still In School? yes working on M.S in nursing

Are You Working? yes

I want your advice, I was working as a CNA for three years and always spend weekend working, but my kids want to spend weekend with me, and I would like to start working as a Medical Assistant I took the course in a Communitity Adult School in Baldwin Park, that was three years ago, but now I want to change, any advice?
Thanks Clary

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CNA and MA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? No

I just signed up for an 18 month program, leading to an A.A.S. degree. I'm personally happy with my decision to go w/ the longer program, as they also offer a diploma/certificate option, which is 8 months (?). Because I start my program next month, I really don't have anymore information to contribte other than that.

Oh, my program is regionally (WASC) accredited and the college is non-profit. They also have articulation agreements with CSU. This all contributed to my decision to pick the longer program.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA Student

Are You Still In School? yes

Are You Working? Not yet

My program is a 10 week accredited program. 12 hours a week in class, with a 4 week externship. I feel like I learned a lot. Plus I took the NHA (and passed!!!) which covers a lot more information than the test we had in class each week.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CMA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Not in a Medical Office

I also agree with Licensing for Medical Assistants
It will give us more respect as a medical professional
I teach at Everest college and want great rewards for those students. our program is on Module basis
approx. 9 months in length with clinical externships
I myself, am a Male Medical Assistant Instructor and Love what I do. Many of our students have great success stories as an Instructor the only thing left
is Licensing for these folks.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: RMA AHI Cpht CNT

Decided to not go forward with the program.

Are You Still In School? different program

Hi Everyone,

I appreciate reading "Teaches" posts, and providing her insight since I am looking into an ROP MA program (Ca.) to start in the next six weeks. This will help me and my family tremendously. I need to work, have children, and I know how to make sure I get the medication labels straight. I understand Lori's concerns, and they are valid yet, RN's are sued, doctors are sued, and MA's need to be competent too. This comes with common sense, an ablility prior to walking into the classroom. I had to pass an exam prior to my registration date. EMT's have less training than MAs. I have an MBA, and taken my RN prerequisites yet, moving to California where the clinicals are at 6:00 AM, I can not do that with children who start school at 8:00 AM. MA is my plan B to actually work in my field, and thanks again Lori for your post, and helping me understand the benefits about the MA ROP program. Affordable, fast, and efficient (for those who work hard and want to pass the exams) :).

Your Professional Title/Credentials: Working on something

Are You Still In School? y

Are You Working? n

Hi Kat. I think we are taking the same ROP course together and Im very happy with what we have learned thus far.

I have a BSW and AA and really couldnt imagine taking a 1 or 2 year MA course for such little pay. Futhermore, I only want to work back office. Front office I have no interest.

For those of us that are already formally educated a ROP course is ideal.

We paid 40 for registration fee. You cant beat that.

And agree with one of the replies above; some are making Medical Assistants seem more than it really is.

Are You Still In School? Yes

Are You Working? No

Hi sre, Good to hear you are taking ROP. I have started and absolutely love it. My teacher is awesome, nice, and smart. She is a nurse who also taught at a private college. Our classroom has all adults, who want to do well and work. Good Luck to you!!!!

Hmm, funny. You say to spell correctly, even in a forum yet you spelled the word tattoo incorrectly. I would never want to work for someone who could not accept me for me. I would never change who I am for a "job".

Your Professional Title/Credentials: P.M.A.C.

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes- 4 years

Hello, could you by any chance suggest any places in the Antellope Vally area(Lancaster/Palmdale)where I can get my foot in the door as a MA? I graduated in July 2011 in IN. but had no such luck in CA.on finding a job at entry level.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: MA

Are You Still In School? NO

Are You Working? NO

I am a 52 year old male and I am thinking about going to start a program here in southern california that is an Adult Education School. The certificate will be in Adminstrative and Clinical Medical Assistant with Phlebothomy Technician 1. The program is 20 weeks plus externship for Adminstrative and Clinical Medical Assistant 4 weeks and phlebothomy technician 2 weeks. The total cost is $4,899 that also includes the NCCT certification testing, test prep and skills workshop. This is not a CAAHEP approved program.

I am currently on unemployment so at least I am getting paid while going back to school. And a program in Los Angeles call Work Source will pay for the program.

They have no job placement department


Are schools that are not accredited by the state of Caliornia still good to go to? There are for profit schools that are 8 months classroom and 1 month externship but are around $15,000. Will doctor's offices not hire you because you went to a shorter program but you are certified by NCCT?

Any thoughts

Your Professional Title/Credentials: future MA student

Are You Still In School? NO

Are You Working? NO