Choosing a career in an allied health profession such as medical assisting is a wise choice. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for medical assistants are expected to grow 29 percent between 2016 and 2026. In California, medical assisting is one of the fastest-growing occupations, primarily because of the increase in the number of group practices, clinics and other healthcare facilities that need greater numbers of support personnel—especially versatile medical assistants.
If you’ve completed your education and are looking for an entry-level position, it’s important for you to have a medical assistant resume that can go out to the expansive job network. Here are some tips for writing your MA resume—a resume for 2020 that can help you highlight your skills and background and may lead to that important entry-level job.
There are several sections to include on your medical assistant resume that may help you stand out from the others:
• Contact information: In this section, you need to include your full name, mailing address, phone contact and email address. Do not list anything that could be used to steal your identity, such as your birthdate or Social Security number.
• Professional summary: This section used to be known as the “Objective,” but it is much better to use the space to give an overview of your skills and qualifications. Use power words (verbs) to highlight your abilities. An example might be: “Competent Certified Medical Assistant uses both clinical and administrative skills to treat patients and support medical colleagues. Delivers high quality patient care and shows compassion. Assists patient family members in managing patient care. Takes charge of responsibilities with confidence and performs duties skillfully and accurately.”
• Key strengths: You can also name this category “Core qualifications” or “Key competencies.” Regardless of the name, you want to highlight any certifications (i.e., AAMA CMA certified, medical billing and coding proficient, patient-centered caregiver, CPR certification) you have or special knowledge you’ve attained.
• Education: List your educational experience—diplomas and degrees. For example, “Diploma, Medical Assistant Clinical & Administrative program, Summit College, El Cajon, CA, 2019” and “Diploma, My Town High School, My Town, CA, 2018”
• Experience: As a recent graduate of a medical assistant training program, you may have limited professional experience. Did you complete an internship? An externship? By all means, list it. Since a medical assistant’s duties are so diverse and include both clinical and administrative tasks, any job (or volunteer experience) you may have held that shows related skills should be on there. Did you work at the service desk of a store? If so, you have customer service experience. Were you a receptionist in your dentist’s office? That counts. Were you a junior volunteer at the hospital? Add it! Anything relevant shows the progress you’ve made toward your career.
Summit College prepares students to succeed in the healthcare industry as a medical assistant. With small class sizes, individualized instruction and a well-rounded curriculum that addresses both clinical and administrative topics, you can be ready to enter the workforce in nine months. Day or night classes in medical assisting programs at Summit College, California, are offered in both San Bernardino and El Cajon. Upon graduation, you should be ready to perform the diverse tasks expect of a medical assistant and be ready to meet any challenges that may come your way.
When you begin a career as a medical assistant, you open the door to a promising healthcare career. Call Summit College today for more information.
Here’s an example of a medical assistant resume:
JENNIFER A. CASEY
123 Maple St.
My Town, CA 90000
909-555-6467
jacasey@email.com
Professional Summary
Competent Certified Medical Assistant uses both clinical and administrative skills to treat patients and support medical colleagues. Delivers high quality patient care and shows compassion. Assists patient family members in managing patient care. Takes charge of responsibilities with confidence and performs duties skillfully and accurately.
Key Strengths/Core Competencies
• AAMA CMA certification
• CPR certification
• Clinical medical internship
• Detailed knowledge of medical terminology and administrative best practices (including HIPAA)
• Medical billing and coding proficient
• Strong organizational and digital record-keeping skills
• Advanced computer skills
• Patient-centered caregiver
Education
• AAMA CMA certification, October 2019
• Diploma, Medical Assistant Clinical & Administrative program, Summit College, El Cajon, CA, 2019
• CPR and First Aid training, My Town YMCA, completed 2018
• Diploma, My Town High School, My Town, CA, 2018
Experience
• Clinical internship, Orthopedics Department, My Town Medical Center, My Town, CA, summer 2019
• Junior volunteer, My Town Hospital, My Town, CA, summer 2017-2018
• Customer service help, Acme Department Store, My Town, CA, November-December 2018
• File clerk, Dr. John Smith, 222 Center St., My Town, CA, summer 2016
• Babysitter, My Town, CA, 2014-present
