[Purple Princess]

I have a very similar thread in another forum. But maybe someone here would have a better answer. I've had multiple college courses including fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, algebra, anatomy, physiology, health, medical terminology, psychology, English, and Spanish. I'm a CNA and certified in CPR and use of the AED. I've attended seminars and got a certificate in stroke management. My friend is in LPN school but is working as a MA at the doctor's office. He had formal training in Pittsburgh. But he's telling me based on my credentials that I could qualify as a medical assistant there and get on the job training. This is in Pennsylvania. Most of the things I see them doing I know how to do. I think I will go head and apply there, give a resume. The worse they can say is no. I'll probably have to take the state exam for medical assisting. But I'm not happy with my current job, gotta go there today in fact. ( help!)

[LorraineCNA]

I'm a MA on my externship. There is no "State Exam" for medical assisting. There are numerous organizations that offer exams for certification. One is the AAMA the other the AMT. However, for these two, I believe you have to have graduated from an accredited program (for AAMA, which offers the CMA credential, the school has to be either CAAHEP or ABHES accredited). For more information you can check out www.aama-ntl.org or www.amt1.com

There may be a few agencies that offer "certification" without formal training but the two I mention are the most highly regarded. Also, I'm from Pittsburgh and very rarely do I see anyone willing to hire with no formal training. They all want graduates of an accredited program. Check out www.upmc.com and look at their MA positions.

Lorraine

Originally Posted by Purple Princess

I have a very similar thread in another forum. But maybe someone here would have a better answer. I've had multiple college courses including fundamentals of nursing, pharmacology, algebra, anatomy, physiology, health, medical terminology, psychology, English, and Spanish. I'm a CNA and certified in CPR and use of the AED. I've attended seminars and got a certificate in stroke management. My friend is in LPN school but is working as a MA at the doctor's office. He had formal training in Pittsburgh. But he's telling me based on my credentials that I could qualify as a medical assistant there and get on the job training. This is in Pennsylvania. Most of the things I see them doing I know how to do. I think I will go head and apply there, give a resume. The worse they can say is no. I'll probably have to take the state exam for medical assisting. But I'm not happy with my current job, gotta go there today in fact. ( help!)