Back in May, we looked at how to become a medical assistant after graduation. Now, we want to take a look at how to advance your career as an MA. What are the next steps in your professional career after you’ve gained some entry-level experience? What happens if you decide you don’t want to work in a clinical environment anymore? What jobs are available to you? Before you start looking for your next medical assistant job, consider these tips to help you take the next steps.
Consider a Specialization
With some general experience, you can start to look into specializations that can enhance your career. Common specializations include:
- Ob-gyn
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- Radiology
There are many to choose from, so you can look into areas of medicine that interest you.
Get More Training
A career in healthcare means life-long learning. Even after you’ve graduated, you want to continue to hone your skills and gain more training. For example, some of the work you’ve done to become a medical assistant can be used to pursue a degree in nursing. You can also look at other medical fields and complete more education.
Teach
This doesn’t have to be formal, but many people learn by teaching, so you can enhance your skills by sharing your knowledge. As you get more experience under your belt, consider offering to mentor medical assistants just starting, or who are still in school so they know what to expect after graduation.
Consider Additional Pathways
Medical assistants have several options to consider as they advance their careers. Not only can you dive into specializations, but you can also take your experience and move on to other positions. Of course, nursing is a popular choice, but so is medical billing or allied health management in a supervisory role. If you decide you don’t want to remain in a clinical role, your career can take plenty of pathways in administrative positions.
Are you looking for a great medical assistant role in the DC area? Contact NRI Healthcare Staffing to see how we can help today.
