As part of our ongoing commitment to support allied health educators and employers, we at the National Healthcareer Association (NHA) are excited to share our latest 2024 Industry Outlook Report. This report is more than just a collection of statistics; it's a compass that guides you through the ever-changing landscape of healthcare.

The healthcare industry continues to face a shortage of qualified providers. Hospital administrators have the unfathomably difficult job of maintaining sufficient healthcare staffing levels in a high-pressure environment with complex regulations and budget constraints. 

As a dedicated educator, you understand the challenges of providing your medical assistant students the best education. Limited resources and ever-evolving industry demands can often make it challenging to meet the high standards set by the healthcare field.  

As a health sciences educator, you know how important it is to align your program with the latest industry trends and developments. By keeping up with industry advancements, you can provide the most relevant and up-to-date information to best prepare your students for their future as medical assistants. 

Today’s medical assistant (CCMA) is challenged with an onslaught of information and more regularly challenged to solve increasingly complex issues than ever before.

Preparing students for today’s healthcare workforce goes beyond basic clinical and classroom instruction. Healthcare training encompasses so much more than thoroughly preparing allied healthcare students for their careers. The best clinical knowledge is essential of course, but they also need hard-to-teach skills like teamwork and communication, not to mention resources on how even to FIND the right job and prepare for interviews. 

Medical administrative assistants (CMAAs) work directly with their patients every day and make a real difference in the quality of care their patients receive. These allied health professionals perform administrative tasks that help healthcare offices run smoothly, and play an important role in the patient experience as they are usually the patient’s first point of contact.

Here are some of the top skills employers seek to succeed as a medical administrative assistant.

 Ready to master the technical and job-ready knowledge that’s demanded in this important healthcare role? MA SkillsBuilder™: Admin can help develop key skills to handle front and back-office responsibilities.

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) are credentials that show employers that you’re qualified to fill the role of a medical assistant or medical administrative assistant. However, there are distinct differences between these two NHA certifications — and strong reasons to achieve both.