Jun 14, 2021 08:13 PM EDT By Patrick Jones, UniversityHerald Reporter

If you are interested in a career in healthcare, but don't want to be a doctor or a nurse, becoming a medical office assistant may be the perfect alternative. You can obtain a position relatively quickly, and it will provide you with the opportunity to help others in a medical setting. Your career will have meaning, you will have plenty of options within the industry, and it will be challenging, too. Here are some of the main reasons why you should consider a career as a medical office assistant. 

There is a Lot of Demand

Looking for a job is hard. It can be stressful and frustrating, and sometimes you need the right combination of timing and luck to land the right one. When it comes to being a medical office assistant, there is always a demand, so there is a great chance you will be able to find a position that suits you. 

The healthcare industry is always growing because people will always need services. As the population ages, even more services will be needed. This could mean being part of a team working on curing illnesses and healing practices, or perhaps even preventative services. With so much need, there are clinics and facilities all over that need dedicated employees to help them meet that need. 

You Can Get Hired Fast

When you want to change careers, it can be hard waiting for several years to finish an undergraduate degree or complete placements and internships. However, becoming a medical office assistant doesn't have to take long at all. You can complete a medical office assistant course online in a timeframe that works for you. You can finish in less than a year, and be ready to hit the ground running with a new career. Don't spend longer than you have to in your current unfullting or unprofitable job. You can take the plunge and be ready to go in no time. 

There is a Lot of Variety

If you talked to ten different medical office assistants, they would probably all work in ten different types of facility, and have 10 different sets of daily job tasks. There is so much that you could possibly experience and learn as a medical office assistant. You might work in a hospital, or a small clinic, or an urgent care department. Not to mention, you could work with any number of specialties, such as surgeons, family doctors, hematologists, and everything in between. There is so much variety, that even if you are not completely satisfied with your first job after finishing your educational program, you can no doubt switch to another one you like better. 

You Can Make Good Money

Healthcare is a massive industry that touches the lives of just about everyone in the country at some point or another. With so much money involved, you can start at a very respectable salary with nowhere to go but up. Depending on where you live, you can expect a salary of at least $35,000 to start with room to grow.

You Will Make a Difference

Money is important, but it isn't the only thing you should seek out of your career. It's important that when you lay your head down at night, you feel like you have helped make the world a better place. Working as a medical office assistant lets you do that. You will be helping people who are sick, hurt, healing, or trying to stay healthy. You will be in contact with patients every day, and you can make what can be a stressful experience more relaxing and positive for them. In many cases, the office assistant is the first point of contact for a visiting patient, and your ability to help them with compassion and care can make all the difference. 

You Can Get Benefits

Because there is such a high demand for good medical office assistants, you can take advantage of the perks of the job, such as health insurance. To get the best talent, healthcare clinics and facilities need to make sure that they offer the best benefits possible. Having health insurance can make a huge difference for your peace of mind. Not every career offers such solid benefits when you first start out, so it really is a healthy choice. 

You Can Advance

Working as a medical office assistant is a great stepping-stone to other jobs and careers. From that position, you can get a good all-around feel for how medical offices operate. You can then take that knowledge and the skills you've learned to advance to management and executive positions, should you wish. This also allows you to move to other clinics and workplaces should you find other opportunities. 

Becoming a medical office assistant is an amazing choice that will change your life. You may have been unsure about taking the next step, but this list should convince you that a career as a medical office assistant is right for you.

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