r/MedicalAssistant • u/Med_World_Hopefully7 • 3d ago
Thoughts about this
I'm kind of thinking about using Clinical Skills Institute for an online Medical Assistant (MA) program. While completing it, I'd like to work as a medical receptionist at an office or clinic I really like—preferably a pediatric practice if possible—and then hopefully get hired there as a Medical Assistant.
I'm also trying to get CPR certified, but I'm honestly not sure how or where to do it. I tried to look it up but so much came up. I went to a free CPR class through my school, but I never actually got certified because I wasn't sure what I needed to do afterward or where to go.
I'm also considering getting a phlebotomy certification. 😅 I kind of discovered it while looking into Medical Assistant programs, and now I'm interested in it too. So if anyone has information or advice about phlebotomy programs/certification, I'd really appreciate it!
Thank you!
2
u/Eskopyon 3d ago
I took a MA program at Bryant and Stratton college that took roughly 16 months. It was optional but offered 1 class that went in depth with EKG and Phlebotomy training that came with a certification exam for both respective skills at the end of the semester. It is a very intensive class to take when youre already a FT student doing internship with a job, so I didnt sign up for the class, but some of my peers did. My MA program touched on venipuncture and EKG in clincial lab class but def not enough to be proficient. I wish I had the time to take the EKG/Phlebotomy class (or that they offered that class separately bc putting those two skills in 1 class for 1 semester feels rushed). Being a certified MA, it is expected to use needles to draw blood and inject, so if you feel you can handle it, taking phlebotomy would be very helpful but a good MA program should have that included as a requirement.
CPR certification was also a requirement for graduation. I got certified at one of my jobs through the American Red Cross and my school used the American Heart Association as accredited bodies to give CPR certs, so look into them. It may cost between $100-200 for about a 3 hr class with a test and demonstration but it's been a while since I've looked bc I've been lucky that either school or work has paid for it.
I would favor an in-person program for any patient-facing Healthcare job, but my MA program taught us about the admin portion too, so if you do a clinical program and already working in admin, you're already getting some real life experience, which is good. Hopefully, the online program comes with a clinical internship to give you experience there too but already working close to that stuff is a plus.