One of the most notable advantages of being a medical assistant is the superior job mobility it can bring. Medical assistants have the luxury of choosing the medical setting they wish to work in, as well as their specialty, and medical assistants are needed across the country. Many medical assisting professionals specialize in pediatrics because of the field’s various advantages, including increased job prospects.
Prism Career Institute, with campuses in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is a great place to start for those wishing to become a pediatric medical assistant. Our Medical Assistant program can take graduates into many different areas of specialty, including pediatrics. Here, we discuss why there is a growing need for pediatric medical assistants and the other advantages of the role.
Job Outlook for Pediatric Medical Assistants
Many individuals are interested in pursuing a career in the healthcare industry because of its well-documented fast growth. That is especially true for medical assistants. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of medical assistants to grow 14 percent through 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
BLS projects around 114,600 openings for medical assistants each year on average over the next decade. Many of those openings are expected to be in the field of pediatrics. That is largely due to an increase in children with chronic conditions and special medical needs that necessitate expert care. The great need for healthcare providers specializing in pediatrics suggests the field will continue to expand. It also indicates the need for qualified pediatric medical assistants will remain present for quite some time.
Other Advantages
High demand isn’t the only benefit of becoming a pediatric medical assistant. Other advantages of this specialty include:
Boosted Earnings
Medical assistants can boost earnings by specializing in pediatrics. That’s because their role often requires more advanced training. The duties of a medical assistant working with adults and children may be the same in many ways. However, it takes special care to work with children, garnering a higher average salary.
Ability to Help Children
What sets the role of pediatric medical assistant apart from other specialties is the privilege of working with kids. Many professionals in this role possess a genuine love for children, as well as a desire to care for their well-being. While being a medical assistant is immensely rewarding and satisfying regardless of the specialty, working with children is an advantage on its own. In this role, you can care for children and greatly influence their lives.
Job Mobility
Being a pediatric medical assistant allows you to work in a variety of medical settings. You can work in a private Pedestrian’s office, hospital, clinic, school health center, or one of many other settings. This flexibility allows you to choose the environment that best fits your lifestyle and wants.
Differences in Training
Becoming a pediatric medical assistant requires completing a medical assisting program like the one at Prism Career Institute. We offer courses during the day and at night, allowing students to choose a class schedule that accommodates their busy lives. That also makes it ideal for those who already have jobs or family obligations but are interested in switching careers.
Prism Career Institute is also pleased to offer eligible students opportunities for financial aid. By participating in several financial aid programs from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as other agencies, we can meet the needs of our students. That makes furthering your education more manageable.
Pediatric medical assisting may require additional training and certification after completing courses at Prism Career Institute. Additional training is necessary to ensure you deliver the best possible care to children and adolescents. Some of the specialized skills that individuals will learn with this advanced training include:
- A strong understanding of pediatric physical, intellectual, and emotional development
- How to approach stressful situations with kindness, compassion, and a sense of calmness
- How to successfully communicate with children, such as speaking to them at eye level, using clear, age-appropriate language, and careful listening
Begin Your Journey at Prism Career Institute
Those interested in pursuing a career as a pediatric medical assistant can begin their pursuit by completing the Medical Assistant program at Prism Career Institute. Offered at our locations in Philadelphia, PA, Cherry Hill, NJ, and West Atlantic City, NJ, the program is designed to equip students with a basic understanding of the medical assistant profession. That allows them to venture into different specialties of their choosing, including pediatrics. Anyone wishing to springboard their career path into pediatrics as a medical assistant should contact us today.