Medical Assistant Training Requirements

Training Avenues and Requirements

Medical assistant training is either provided through a vocational training program, or directly on the job under the supervision of a medical doctor. 

Often we are asked:

1. Can a Medical Assistant give injections if he/she isn't certified?
2. Can a Medical Assistant give injections in _________ (your state)?
3. Are medical assistants allowed to start or disconnect IVs?
4. Are medical assistants allowed to give narcotic injections?
5. Are medical assistants allowed to inject collagen? Botox?
6. Flu Shots?

Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to the wide range of questions concerning the medical assistant's training standards and requirements since the profession remains widely unregulated.

Medical Assistant Types of Job Training

Medical assistant training can take place in one the of the following different types of settings:

 In a secondary, postsecondary, or adult education program offered at Community Colleges and postsecondary Vocational Training Institutions across the country. If the school is properly accredited and approved graduates may sit for the national certification exams.

 Under a licensed medical doctor, or in some instances under a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, or physician assistant (PA). The supervising licensed healthcare professional is directly responsible for determining the content of the training and the proficiency of the medical assistant in training. However, lacking formal documented training, these medical assistants trained in the medical office may not be able to sit for certification exams.

Training Well Rounded Medical Assistants

The medical physician, licensed healthcare practitioner, or nurse manager in charge must determine the skill level and capabilities of each medical assistant they train.

Importance of the Here and Now As Well As the Future

Keeping the medical assistant in training informed about anticipated and expected new developments and discoveries in medical practice management, medicine and medical sciences is just as necessary as the here and now. Advising and preparing the medical assistant student about these changes is important and essential for his or her future success. If doctors, medical assisting instructors, managers and teachers cannot anticipate or keep up with current and latest discoveries and adjust their training methods quickly, their student's knowledge becomes outdated, stale and obsolete. As a result medical assistants that are out of touch must be retrained, or worse, they cannot find employment because they lack the knowledge and skills the employer expects.