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Anyone here go from MT to medical assistant? - sm

Posted: Sep 26, 2013

I'm looking at a program in my area that is 9 months long to become a certified medical assistant. I do realize that MAs don't get paid much (about 14 an hour where I live which sounds awesome to me right about now as I'm a poor MT), and there really isn't any advancement in this type of job. But, I do want to do something hands-on in the medical field and this seems like a good way to go. My local hospital is phasing out all the LPNs and replacing them with medical assistants so I was wondering if anyone has become an MA?

I went from MA to MT...sm - mt2

[ In Reply To ..]
I went from being a certified MA 17 years ago and working in a doctor's office for 5 years to gradually phasing into being an MT. I regret it now, lol! It's been 12 years since I became an MT and way too long to go back to being an MA. I can say that $14.00 an hour is a bit high, but I guess that could depend on where you live. Average around here is $12.00. I'm actually contemplating going back to school for RN. I can't take much more of this crap!

The same here, wish I had kept up my certification! nm - Cynnamon

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

i'm surprised they pay $12 actually - around here they pay LPN

[ In Reply To ..]
about $14 and RN maybe 16-18. The who medical field is way flooded

Really wanted to but our area is FLOODED in MAs and not enough jobs. - 2SchoolsChurningOutMAs

[ In Reply To ..]
In fact, there are so few openings that the MAs are taking all of the receptionist positions, etc., leaving nothing really available even clerically around here. It's been incredibly discouraging.

Same here and overabundance drove down the pay too! - ETOHPRN

[ In Reply To ..]
I recently met a fella working as a car salesman who said he was once an MA but bailed because the field had just gone to crap...all the practices consolidating, workload doubling, hours got cut, benefits went down, general happy vibe of looking forward to going to work for the day gone because everyone was miserable all the time.

Healthcare field in general has gone/is going down the tubes :(

unless you are a high and mighty nurse - not enough money in this world

[ In Reply To ..]
for me to be a nurse. overpaid bedpan changers. And before you slam me I did go to nursing school for a while and my sister in law is a nurse. I think they are WAY overpaid for what they do. But ask any of them, they are god's gift to earth.

My local hospital system wants BSN now, not just RN. Just - me

[ In Reply To ..]
because you are an RN doesn't mean you have to work in a hands on position. My son's GF is an RN and she works for an insurance company making $32/hour, gets large yearly bonuses ($4000 last year), and gets yearly raises. Her insurance isn't great despite working for an insurance company. They treat the employees very well. Her supervisor saw her potential and is doing all she can to help her meet certain goals in order to get a very significant raise at her next review. GF loves her job. No weekends and no holidays.

I am currently in school for just that, only it will take twice that - I am

[ In Reply To ..]
long in my state to become certified. The rate here is about $15/hour. Still less than I made as an MT, but was laid off from 2 jobs and despite 27 years of experience can't seem to get another MT job. My school has 100% placement for all graduates, but still will be 18 months from August 2014 and I need something to pay the mortgage until then.

The MA program is limited enrollment at my school and you have to have certain classes completed with a C or higher by March. I didn't decide to go back to school until July. I have 1 class that I have to get a C or better in by March, which I am currently taking. So far I have a 96, so I think I can get at least a B. The counselor said with my background that he will guarantee I get in the program so that I can start in August 2014. I think they only take 24 students a year so competition is fierce.

I cannot take any of the MA specific courses until August. I have to make an appointment with the department head to see if my experience in MT will allow me to test out of the 2 required medical terminology classes and word processing. The counselor thought I might be able to test out of ethics too. If I am able to bypass those classes it won't make a difference in me getting my degree earlier, but will lessen the financial burden and will give me a lighter schedule.

In the meantime I have 2 core classes I need to take. We also came up with a plan to go for a certificate in billing and coding. I may be able to complete it in a semester. He felt like I could be placed as soon as I graduate and that it should allow me the flexibility to work and go to school. He had one company call him looking for someone. The pay was $30,000 with a sign-on bonus of $1000. It did require working onsite, but I occasionally see jobs paying nearly twice that and you can work at home. It is a job that can be offshored too though. I'm too old to go through that again and MA offers much more stability.

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