Can someone become a medical assistant w/o the class?

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I know these career schools crank out MA's like nobody's business, but I am wondering if it would be possible to be hired as an MA just with on the job training. I have a BA degree in another area that I am not using, have a CNA certificate, and have taken medical terminology as well as all the usual nursing pre-reqs. I am looking to advance to higher pay and a greater scope of practice, but am in a deadlock until I get accepted somewhere for nursing school. Would something else like plebotomy be a better option to combine with my CNA certificate for my temporary career? What if I took free computer certification courses at work to learn various microsoft applications? Other thoughts?:wink2:

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

It is possible to work as a medical assistant with only OJT (on the job training), but the pay will usually be less than if you completed an accredited program to become a CMA (certified medical assistant) or RMA (registered medical assistant).

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

I would certainly consider taking a phlebotomy course! It helped me when I took it 15 years ago. They do not really empathsize on phlebotomy in nursing school (if at all). Many nurses look for the CNAs that can draw blood for them, and also, with the fusion of many jobs into one, a CNA that draws blood well will have more advantages (especially in hospitals), than those that don't. I still draw blood frequently as a nurse.

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