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Medical professionals are in high demand in the U.S. today, and that trend should only continue as the aging baby boomer generation needs support from hospitals, doctors, and specialists. Medical assistants are some of the most needed health care workers today, with 34 percent growth expected in this field between 2008 and 2018, according to predictions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Anyone trained by professional medical assisting schools should have strong job prospects in virtually every location in the U.S.

Medical Assisting Schools: Training for Career Duties

The majority of medical assistants work in doctor's offices, but others find jobs in hospitals, chiropractic clinics, optometrists' offices, and other specialized health centers. Medical assisting schools prepare their graduates to work in a variety of environments doing everything from taking vital statistics, to explaining treatments and diagnostics, to performing administrative tasks.

Medical assisting schools typically offer programs for one-year certificates or diplomas and two-year associate's degrees. These programs include training in anatomy, physiology, laboratory techniques, transcription and medical terminology, diagnostic procedures, pharmacology, and everything else students need to know to succeed in medical assisting careers. Some medical assisting schools also include practical medical secretary training, which is useful in many health care support positions.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants earned a median annual salary of $28,650 in 2009. Those working in specialized settings, such as psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals or dental officers, could earn substantially more.