Medical assistants greet patients, record medical information and handle administrative duties in a health care environment. They may also need to measure patients’ vitals or assist doctors as they examine patients.[Leer en español]
In Missouri, similar to most other U.S. states, there are no requirements for medical assistants to earn certification before practicing. There is also no law stating that medical assistants must complete post-secondary education in order to work in this field. Typically, employers will have a minimum requirement of a high school diploma or GED, but some employers may also require medical assistants to complete a training program or earn certification before being hired.
If you choose to enroll in a training program, it is best to choose one that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Consider the programs below, all of which are accredited by one or both of these organizations.:
There are a few different certifications available for medical assistants. The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) are the two most common certifications, but you may also choose to earn the National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) or the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certifications. These certifications are all accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).
Successful completion of an ABHES- or CAAHEP-accredited medical assistant training program may be all you need to sit for some of these exams. You may be able to substitute experience for education, or you may need a combination of both to sit for certain exams, as they all have their own requirements.
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data presented in 2017 stated that medical assistants in Missouri earned $15.08 per hour on average, which is equivalent to $31,370 per year. The highest paid medical assistants in this state earned more than $39,000 annually according to the same data.
During 2016, BLS data also indicated that there were 9,140 medical assistants working in Missouri. By 2026, it is projected that there will be 10,720 medical assistants working in this state. This indicates a 17.2 percent expansion in the job market during this 10-year period.
Saint Louis, Saint Ann and Florissant are Missouri cities in which the highest paid medical assistants can be found working. Since there will continue to be a great demand for medical assistants over the next several years, you should take advantage of your opportunity to enter this career field.
Medical assistants will typically work in private practices, hospitals, clinics or other types of medical facilities. You may also prefer to work with certain types of physicians, such as pediatricians or dermatologists. If this sounds interesting to you, you should know that now is as good a time as any to get started as a medical assistant.
According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants in the state of Missouri made an average of $33,110 per year in 2019. Entry-level medical assistants earned around $23,990 and some experienced professionals earned salaries as high as $42,130.