Course Spotlight: The Clinical Medical Technician Bundled Program

Does the sight of medical equipment make your heart thump in a happy way? Is the hands-on aspect of the medical field the part the interests you the most? Are you a people person? Do you enjoy keeping up with healthcare? Do you have people skills capable of detailed work? If so, a career as a clinical medical assistant might be for you.

What Is A Clinical Medical Assistant?

If you have ever been to an appointment and had your vital signs taken, blood drawn, or asked a series of questions pertaining to your health, you’ve benefitted from the services of a clinical medical assistant. 

Is a Clinical Medical Lab Technologist Different from a Technician?

No! However, you should pay close attention to the distinction as you research careers and educational opportunities. There are a lot of synonyms for a Clinical Medical Assistant like Medical Assistant, Healthcare Assistant or even just Clinical Assistant.  The job descriptions all entail the same type of work.  You work directly with patients and support the doctor. 

Is a Clinical Medical Assistant Different from a Medical Assistant?

No! However, you should pay close attention to the distinction as you research careers and educational opportunities. There are a lot of synonyms for a Clinical Medical Assistant like Medical Assistant, Healthcare Assistant or even just Clinical Assistant.  The job descriptions all entail the same type of work.  You work directly with patients and support the doctor. 

What Does a Medical Lab Technician Do?

A Clinical Medical Assistant performs clinical procedures including administering medications, assisting with minor surgery, performing an electrocardiogram, obtaining laboratory specimens for testing, educating patients, and maintaining clinical equipment in an ambulatory care setting. Medical assistants perform routine clinical tasks to keep the offices of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists running smoothly.

Clinical duties may include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises.

They instruct patients about medication and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for x-rays, take electrocardiograms, and change dressings.

Where Do Clinical Medical Assistants Work?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the majority of Clinical Medical Assistants work in physicians’ offices, while others can seek employment in outpatient centers, surgery centers, hospitals and continued care facilities.  If a facility operates around the clock, Clinical Medical Assistants are needed for all shifts, weekends, and holidays. Others can be employed by the government in public health. 

What is the Job Outlook for Clinical Medical Assistants?

The BLS predicts that the demand for Clinical Medical Assistants will grow faster than average through 2030. That makes this a good time to enter the career field.

How Much Do Clinical Medical Assistants Make?

According to the BLS, the national median Clinical Medical Assistant salary in 2020 was $35,850 per year ($17.23 an hour). The pay you might expect varies based on where you are employed – that includes the type of facility as well as the state or city.

Our Clinical Medical Technician Program

Our clinical medical technician program prepares you for entry-level medical work. It's particularly well-suited for anyone who wants to work in a smaller setting like a physician’s office. Keep in mind that some states have licensing requirements for Clinical Medical Assistants with specific educational or exam requirements. Check the regulations where you live before you commit to any course of study.

Medical and Clinical Lab Technician Training

Our 920-hour Clinical Medical Technician Program is online and self-paced. It combines three of our standalone curricula to prepare you for clinical lab work, including:

• Clinical Medical Assisting
• EKG Technician
• Phlebotomy Technician

Taken together, these modules will teach you the theory, context and procedures of your job. You'll learn about the legal, ethical, and safety considerations you need for a healthcare career. We'll cover lab practices, urinalysis and other tests, how to draw blood samples, how to perform a 12-lead EKG test, and much more.

Clinical Medical Technician Externship with a Local Provider

An externship is like an internship, but shorter. You get the opportunity to shadow a professional and gain hands-on experience. Our clinical externship is not a mandatory piece of the program – you can graduate without it. However, it can be a valuable way to gain 180 hours of valuable experience for your resume and make you stand out from other entry-level candidates.

If you put your best foot forward, you can earn professional references or even a permanent job in your externship facility! To be eligible to start an externship, you need to finish at least 50 course-hours with test scores of 85% or better. You'll also need to pass a background check, drug screening, and meet a few other requirements.

Pass the CCMA Exam

This program includes a voucher for the National Health Association (NHA)'s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) exam, which can also serve you in a Clinical Medical Assisting career if you decide that you want a higher degree of patient interaction. The package prepares you to earn two other NHA certifications, as well: Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT) and Certified EKG Technician (CET).

Be sure to do your research and find out what certifications are required or preferred in your area. Sometimes you need specific credentials to meet regulatory requirements, and some employers have their own preferences. Planning is important – you want to build qualifications that will get you hired.

Bottom Line

Meditec's Clinical Medication Technician program offers quick entry into a rewarding and growing career field. With self-paced coursework, you can plan school around your life instead of life around your school.

You'll also get a free laptop (to keep!), so you won't have to worry about reliable equipment. If you're a military spouse, this program is eligible for MyCAA funding. That means your course of study will be completely covered by the DOD. Find out if you're eligible today!