Medical Field Careers

I'm a dental hygienist so I don't know too much about assistant salaries. I do know that the range is very wide. The temp agency does $12/hr (I think). One of my friends has been assisting for 5 yr and makes $17/hr and another friend has been assisting for 20+ yr and makes $19/hr.

Hello C. R,

I am a CMA, certified medical assistant. I gratudated in 2004 and my first job I was offered 12.50 an hour. I went to MA school at a "technical" college in WI. Here in Texas, I guess it would be like the community colleges. I went the MA route because the waiting list for LVN/LPN/RN was like 2 years long. Now the MA and LVN/LPN are actually about the same length in time about a year. The MA is trained in both clincial and administrative duties where as the LVN/LPN are mainly clinical. Now being an MA is not that bad, the money is okay. You do learn a lot of clinical things, as well as coding - ICD 9/CPT, posting payments, insurance verification, etc. I love what I do so much that I have decided to go back to school to become a nurse. So it is really up to you, now here is the draw back to working as a LVN/LPN/RN yes, it is good money however when you work in the hospital you will work shift work - either 8 or 12 hour shifts, plus you will work holidays and weekends. Now if you are a LVN/LPN/RN and work in a doctors office you will not make the money you can in a hospital. I hope this helps you out. The medical field is a very good career move. Best wishes and many blessings to you!

Why not go to Nursing School?? They make alot more an hour than assisting. Starting is $22.00 an hour up to $38.00 - this doesn't include shift differential.

I went to ATI which is outrageously high for a 12 month program inclusing 3 month extern w/no pay.
I wished I didn't go to that route. The start pay is 10.25 and definitely can't support myself nor my kids w/that salary. I suggest going to nursing.

I hope this helps.
M.

I agree with the Nursing school. My best friend is a MA and fresh out of MA school she went to a Carenow job fair and got a job but she started out at 10.25.... I really dont think that is very much considering the 15 months of school she did and I only went to school to get certified as a nurses aid for 4 weeks and started out the same.

and besides that she all she did was be a receptionist but then she got into some program they have where they teach you to do the "nurse" things but u dont have any other certification and she got a 3 dollar raise.

but whatever works for you and your schedule is all that matters

Hello C.. I would not consider doing either one. The schools that offer either one costs too much for you to come fresh out of school and make $10 and hour. Those schools have to pay their teachers and they have other expenses for the school to pay for and that's why they cost so much. Consider community college. They have a lot medical career choices besides being a nurse. For instance medical coding and billing and other continuing education courses. Check them out first before you decide on either vocational college/university. Their commercials may sound appealing, but the costs are ridiculous. I fell for one in St. Louis called Sanford-Brown College and it was difficult to pay students loans back and pay house bills for $ 10 an hour. I wish I would have considered the community college route before I did that. But, consider what is the best route for you and what your long term goals are and talk with your husband to get his opinion too, because he will be the one helping to pay back the student loans if you choose a vocational school.