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For those people who are eager to find a stable job with a salary big enough for a decent living, and do not want to continue their education, a career in medical assisting can be perfect because it is a rewarding vocation and at the same time has very promising job prospects.
It is worth mentioning that if you have already decided to become a medical assistant, you definitely should think about completing at least a proper education and training followed by a certification exam to increase your employability prospects and your future salary.
Article Table of Contents
Job Description
People in white that are not doctors but can be found in a doctor’s office, hospital, outpatient clinic, or other healthcare facilities are medical assistants or nurses.
A medical assisting job is a healthcare occupation perfect for those who find satisfaction in helping others and are not concerned only about the salary.
They perform responsible administrative tasks, the running of the medical facility is entrusted to them and their support to doctors and patients is of crucial importance in the daily operation of the clinic.
All the healthcare employees, as well as medical assistants, have the aim to complete all their activities accurately, with high quality and effectiveness.
That is why employers emphasize the fact that education is necessary and should be mandatory in this field.
Becoming a Medical Assistant in Oregon
Oregon law does not determine the regulation for becoming a medical assistant.
A high school diploma is a minimum requirement when applying for the job.
The rules and requirements are rather determined by the employers themselves since the future medical assistants will need to be involved in the field of medical assisting and possess certain knowledge about the functioning of a medical facility.
Medical assistant associate degree or certificate programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) and by entering any of these you will increase your career prospects.
They can be completed in less than 24 months depending on the degree, at a community college, university or technical school and which of the possible programs for becoming a medical assistant you would take depends on your aspirations and goals.
The importance of education comes into play when your future career potential and earning prospects, as well as self-confidence, determine your chances of becoming hired.
Requirements
If you already have a high school diploma, you can specialize in administrative and clinical duties of medical assisting by choosing among various programs.
The programs are designed to prepare you to be effective while performing patient care and clinical duties.
Courses include lessons about:
- Human anatomy and physiology
- Medical administration
- Medical terminology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical and diagnostic procedures
- Medical law and ethics
The lessons and teaching are entrusted to educate and licensed instructors eager to transfer their knowledge to younger colleagues.
After finishing these programs you get the eligibility to pass a national credential exam and gain the certificate.
However, this is not the end of your education, since you will need to maintain your CMA credential over time.
After 60 months you will need to renew your certification by retaking the CMA Exam or earn 60 re-certification points in administrative duties, clinical duties, general duties and from AAMA-approved continuing education units.
You can take the CMA Exam in Oregon:
- In Bend at 2150 Northeast Studio Road, Suite 10
- In Eugene at 1020 Green Acres Road in the Delta Oaks Shopping Center, Suite 11
- In Portland at two locations:
-
- 14623 Southeast Mcloughlin Boulevard
- 1122 Northeast 122nd Avenue, Suite A-107
- In Medford at 101 South Bartlett Street
- In La Grande near Baker City at 1901 Adams Avenue
Getting a Job
It is well known that education determines the salary in each occupation and the situation is the same with medical assisting.
The great thing is that the medical assistant’s job prospects are expected to grow.
A large number of old and ill people require the opening of new medical premises and this means that almost anywhere you go, you can find a job quickly and without any difficulties.
In Oregon, there are several places you can look for medical assisting jobs and many of them have advertisements with the requirements that they expect a medical assistant to possess.
The more educated, more experienced and well-trained assistants would certainly have priority over the unlicensed ones.
Salary
Healthcare support occupations are very important in the lives of all the people, their duties are very responsible and demanding, and they should be among the well-paid ones.
Medical assistants in Oregon earn an annual average salary of $33,900.
Job prospects are great and those who possess national certification can expect the highest salaries.
A medical assistant in Portland gets $ 36 091 annually, while his/her colleague in Medford earns only $ 32009.
The difference is due to the education levels, experience and obligations as well as the development of the city where the facility is located.
The table below shows average salaries for medical assistants in major cities of Oregon, presenting the difference from one place to another:
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Albany,OR | $33,669 |
| Beaverton,OR | $36,091 |
| Bend,OR | $33,326 |
| Clackamas,OR | $36,045 |
| Corvallis,OR | $33,660 |
| Eugene,OR | $33,891 |
| Gresham,OR | $36,045 |
| Hillsboro,OR | $35,976 |
| Lake Oswego,OR | $36,091 |
| Medford,OR | $32,009 |
| Oregon City,OR | $35,952 |
| Portland,OR | $36,091 |
| Salem,OR | $34,223 |
| Springfield,OR | $33,453 |
Regional Salary in Oregon
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, OR | 210 | $48,600 | $23.37 | $59,130 | $39,550 |
| Bend-Redmond, OR | 620 | $49,830 | $23.96 | $59,120 | $40,580 |
| Corvallis, OR | 330 | $47,160 | $22.67 | $54,350 | $38,950 |
| Eugene, OR | 1,100 | $47,840 | $23 | $59,000 | $37,850 |
| Grants Pass, OR | 240 | $46,240 | $22.23 | $55,450 | $38,200 |
| Medford, OR | 870 | $47,270 | $22.73 | $56,710 | $38,700 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 6,590 | $51,510 | $24.76 | $60,490 | $40,880 |
| Salem, OR | 1,050 | $49,320 | $23.71 | $58,150 | $39,550 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Duties
The daily job of a medical assistant can be divided into administrative and clinical ones, but in some facilities, they can be assigned to only one person.
When entering the facility, their first duties are related to administrative tasks such as filing insurance forms and interacting with insurance companies, answering e-mails and updating the medical records.
Besides the fact that they greet the patients, obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height, they also provide consolation and calm them down which requires a lot of patience and empathy.
When the examination is scheduled, they are in charge of treatment rooms, cleaning and sterilizing instruments and helping physicians examine patients.
Summary
The unemployment and difficulty in finding jobs might be the case with some other professions, but when it comes to medical assistants, they are in control and can even choose where they want to work.
What you need to reach this profession is motivation and passion to pursue this career, and the hard work and dedication always result in great success.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Medical Assistant
Medical Assisting by City
Medical Assisting by State