Certified Medical Assistant
One attraction to becoming a certified medical assistant is that people will know that they are getting into a very broad field. A certified medical assistant performs a variety of tasks; therefore, they will not have to do the same things daily, but can be expected to perform a wide variety of tasks. This job is also a growing field, and hundreds of thousands of certified medical assistants will be needed in the next few years. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of medical assistants in 2010 was 527,600. This number is expected to grow over the next ten years by 31%, which is a much faster growth rate than the average one. The average annual wage for a medical assistant was $28,860 in 2010.
In order to become a certified medical assistant, people can complete a certification program or they can get on-the-job training. Since most jobs will require applicants with some type of experience, having a certification in the field will allow the candidates to stand out from candidates who are simply trying to get the on-the-job training. You can look for jobs as a certified medical assistant in any type of healthcare agency. These include hospitals, home health agencies, retirement homes, and veterans’ hospitals.
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Medical Secretaries
Some people may have an interest in the medical field, but they do not want to necessarily have direct contact with patients. If this is the case, they can look into becoming a medical secretary. Medical secretaries work in the medical profession, but do not have to deal directly with patients. They work by helping to schedule appointments, talk with insurance companies, and send bills to patients. The average annual wage for medical secretaries was $32,430 in 2011. Currently there are 502,850 medical secretaries, with 77,610 employed in California. Other states with the greatest number of medical secretary positions are Texas, Ohio, Missouri and Massachusetts.
This job does not require any special certification, but candidates can increase their chances of getting the job by acquiring degrees in coding, healthcare information, or business and office technology. When people begin to look for jobs as a medical secretary, they should look at insurance companies, hospitals, and other healthcare agencies.
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Massage Therapists
A massage therapist is another great career that offers the individual a lot of direct patient contact. Massage therapists work in a variety of settings including spas, hospitals, and other types of healthcare settings. In order to become a massage therapist, you will have to get a special massage therapy certification. The number of jobs in this profession was 153,700 in 2011, with the expected frowth of 20%, which is also well above the average. Massage therapists earn about $34,900 per year on average.
Once the person has experience in massage therapy, he or she can look into opening a private massage therapy clinic. The best way for people to increase their chances of getting a job in massage therapy is to be an outstanding student in their massage therapy classes. Many companies who are hiring massage therapists not only look at the applicant’s experience, but they also look at recommendations.
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Occupational Therapist Assistant
Occupational therapist assistants work with occupational therapists. This is a very unique job. This job does have direct contact with the patient, but it goes beyond the physical therapy aspect of rehabilitation. Occupational therapist assistants have to determine the best treatment plans for the patient. Medical assistants can expect to earn $47,490 per year. The number of occupational therapist assistants in 2010 was 36,000, which might not sound like a great number, but it is expected to grow by 41% in the next ten years.
When looking for a job as an occupational therapist assistant, job searchers should look in the offices of occupational therapists and hospitals. There are many ways for candidates to increase their chances of becoming an occupational therapist. First, they can be sure that they have a strong background in biology because the associate’s degree will require lots of biology classes. The associate’s degree can be completed at community colleges or technical colleges, and it will usually require two years to complete. Also, if the person can get an internship, then he or she will get some additional training to help stand out for the job. If no internship is available, a candidate should ask to do volunteer work in an occupational therapy setting.
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The economy today is very uncertain. However, if people acquire a job in a medical profession, they will feel much more comfortable about their job security.
Courtesy of: Schools.com
About the guest post author:
Dunya Carter is a human retargets and marketing specialist from Brisbane, Australia. She writes on topics related to business and career development for several websites and blogs. She is currently writing for Ochre Locum Agency and working as a freelance writer.