How to Become a Medical Assistant in Florida – FL

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January 26th, 2010

Certified Medical Assistant jobs (CMA’s), as stated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), are among the fastest growing, and most highly demanded professions in the state of Florida. According to the BLS, Florida is ranked 5th in terms of concentration of CMA’s with 33,780. This coupled with the sheer size of Florida and the fact that it has a large aging population of retirees, is expected to push this figure up by 35% between now and 2016.

Presently, starting a career as a CMA in Florida has never been more favorable. Here’s a basic outline of how to become a medical assistant in Flordia:

Gain admission and enroll in a Medical Assistant Program in Florida. Be sure it is accredited through the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Educations (CAAHEP.org) or Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES.org) in Florida. See your school of interest for any additional specific admission guidelines.
From the accredited school, successfully complete the medical assistant training program and secure a diploma or degree. Training programs range from 1 to 2 years depending on the school or institution.
Become certified through the AAMA as a CMA, certified medical assistant. Then it is time to begin updating your resume and applying for positions. Once you are certified, you greatly improve your chances of getting a job quicker.

Medical Assistant Associations in Florida

Florida Society of Medical Assistants (FMSA)

As a Florida State chapter of the AAMA, the FMSA’s objective is to keep Florida CMA’s abreast of current legislation and events, and to provide continued education, awareness, and information to the Florida MA community. Visit www.FMSAONLINE.org for more information on this organization.

American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

The AAMA’s primary initiative is to enhance the knowledge, skill set, and professionalism of CMA’s in Florida and around the country. Members enjoy a variety of benefits, such as group insurance, member discounts, and free medical assistant publications.

Phone: (312) 899 1500
Fax: (312) 899-1259
Address: 20 N. Wacker Dr., Ste. 1575 Chicago, IL 60606
www.AAMA-ntl.org

American Medical Technologists (AMT)
With over 41,000 members, the AMT is a national CMA/RMA professional organization that thrives on promoting advocacy, information, continuing education and benefits to its members. For further inquiry, visit www.AMT1.com. Phone: 800-275-1268