Healthcare is one of New York City’s top employment sectors, and medical assistants rank among the area’s fastest-growing healthcare occupations. According to the New York State Department of Labor, the New York City healthcare industry is expected to expand 29.3% from 2020 to 2030, and the number of New York City medical assisting jobs is projected to grow 27.5%.
Enrolling in a Queens medical assistant program to earn your associate degree can prepare individuals for a career in this growing field. But what does the job entail, and how long does it take to complete a medical assistant training program?
What Does a Medical Assistant Do?
Medical assistants perform clinical and administrative tasks, including patient-facing responsibilities, in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities.
Medical assistants’ clinical duties include:
Performing patient intake tasks and collecting medical histories
Measuring patients’ vital signs
Preparing laboratory specimens
Medical assistants’ administrative duties include:
Scheduling patients’ appointments
Updating electronic health records (EHRs)
Submitting insurance billing forms
Medical Assistant Skills
Medical assistants bring specialized competencies to doctor’s offices and other healthcare settings. Key skills medical assistants need to succeed include:
Clinical skills: Effective medical assistants must be able to perform certain clinical tasks in a variety of healthcare settings.
Communication skills: Whether they are interacting with patients, their families, nurses, or physicians, medical assistants need exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
Detail orientation: Medical assistants record critical patient information and communicate patient histories to healthcare providers, which requires strong attention to detail.
Analytical skills: Medical assistants must be skilled at evaluating patients’ records, completing billing and coding tasks, and interpreting medical charts.
Medical Assistant Work Settings
According to the New York Health Foundation, 63% of medical assistants in New York state work in doctor’s offices, while 7% work in other types of health practitioner offices. Medical assistants also work in hospitals (13%), outpatient care centers (6%), and other settings (11%).
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Medical Assistant Program in Queens?
While some individuals enter the profession by completing on-the-job training or an apprenticeship, many aspiring medical assistants complete a medical assisting training program. These programs, such as associate degree or certificate programs, generally take between one and two years to complete.
Currently, about 40% of medical assistants hold an associate degree or higher, according to 2022 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data reported by CareerOneStop. This data indicates that earning an associate degree can help medical assistants stand out in the job market.
Associate Degree Program Length for Medical Assistants
On average, associate degree programs take two years to complete. The medical assisting associate degree program at Saint Paul’s School of Nursing requires 97 quarter credits, which can take as little as 18 months to complete. The program, available on Saint Paul’s Queens and Staten Island campuses, consists of 72 instructional weeks divided into six 12-week sessions.
Medical Assisting Associate Degree Program Requirements
To graduate with a medical assisting degree, individuals must complete clinical and administrative coursework as well as a medical assisting externship.
Medical Assisting Courses
Coursework in a medical assisting program builds foundational knowledge in medical terminology, human anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology. Medical assisting students also complete courses in medical specialty areas, invasive medical procedures, and cardiovascular assisting. These courses prepare medical assistants to perform EKGs, collect and prepare lab specimens, and follow healthcare industry ethical practices.
In addition to clinical courses, medical assisting programs incorporate administrative training, with coursework in coding and billing, regulatory compliance, administrative procedures, and electronic health records.
Medical Assistant Externship
An externship provides hands-on experience in real-world clinical settings. Medical assisting students complete supervised clinical hours in a variety of settings to apply what they have learned in their courses and strengthen their competencies.
At Saint Paul’s School of Nursing, externship coordinators work with medical assisting students to arrange their placements at partner institutions. The externship component requires 160 hours of supervised clinical experience.
Benefits of Attending a Medical Assistant Program in Queens
The increasing demand for healthcare services in New York City means the demand for allied healthcare professionals is also increasing. Enrolling in a medical assistant program in Queens can prepare individuals to help meet this demand. Saint Paul’s School of Nursing has a second New York City campus location on Staten Island.
More medical assistants are employed in the New York City area than in any other metropolitan area in the country, with more than 45,000 medical assistant jobs in the greater NYC area, according to May 2023 BLS data. These medical assistants have a mean annual salary that is 10% higher than the national mean, according to the BLS.
The job outlook is promising for individuals interested in training for a medical assisting career in Queens and across the entire New York City metropolitan area. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 15% from 2023 to 2033, according to BLS data. However, across New York State, medical assistant jobs are expected to grow 26.8% from 2022 to 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. And, as noted above, medical assistant jobs in New York City in particular are projected to grow 27.5% from 2020 to 2030.
Some medical assistant training programs also benefit students by preparing them for certification exams. For instance, Saint Paul’s School of Nursing’s associate degree program prepares students to sit for the registered medical assistant (RMA) or certified medical assistant (CMA) exam.
Join the Saint Paul’s School of Nursing Medical Assistant Program in Queens
You can train to become a medical assistant in 72 instructional weeks at Saint Paul’s School of Nursing in Queens, or on Staten Island, with program completion possible in as little as 18 months.
The Associate of Occupational Studies in Medical Assisting program incorporates lectures, clinical labs, and an externship to prepare students for entry-level medical assisting jobs in the New York City area and beyond. Students gain experience at partner sites across NYC, allowing them to build a professional network before graduation day. An industry advisory board ensures that the program effectively prepares medical assistants with the skills and knowledge employers are looking for.
Saint Paul’s School of Nursing offers career-focused healthcare degrees and holds accreditation from the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). Reach out to Saint Paul’s School of Nursing to learn more about the length of the Queens program and requirements to become a medical assistant.
Recommended Readings
Clinical Medical Assistant Duties and Skills
Diversity in Medical Assisting
Exploring the Role of a Medical Assistant