Can a Medical Assistant Become a Nurse?
If you are wondering whether or not a medical assistant can become a nurse, the answer is yes. Better yet, the work experience and education that you complete as a medical assistant can be put towards your nursing degree.
You may be wondering what the benefits of becoming a medical assistant before becoming a nurse are. For one thing, a medical assistant training program can be completed in a relatively short amount of time. After graduating from a program, you can begin an internship or even an entry-level position. This will allow you to gain vital experience that can help you succeed in an advanced nursing program. According to recent government salary reports, a registered nurse can earn on average about $35,000 more every year than a medical assisting. This has many current MAs looking at transitioning into a full-time nursing role. But first you’ll need to know how to proceed.
Step 1: Talk to a Nursing School about Transferring Credits
Before beginning your training, it is important to map out your options. For example, it is important to find out which credits from your medical assistant training can be transferred to your nursing program. Not every course you complete as a medical assistant will count at a nursing school, and various training programs may accept different credits. By investigating beforehand, you can figure out which credits to take in order to most benefit your future training at a nursing school.
Step 2: Find the Right Nursing School
Finding the right nursing school goes hand in hand with discovering which credits transfer from your medical assistant school. Beyond finding a program that accepts your credits, it is important to attend a nursing school that suits your needs. For example, some nurse programs at community colleges and high schools offer one year certification programs. However, these type of programs will not be enough if you hope to become a Registered Nurse with advanced career options.
Most Registered Nurses earn a bachelor’s, or even master’s degree in nursing. With the right medical assistant training, you may be able to reduce the amount of semesters or even years your nursing program takes to complete. In addition, you will want to make sure you attend an accredited program. Only nurses with a degree from a state approved school can become licensed, which is required to begin working.
Step 3: Build Your Resume While Attending a Nursing School
With your certification or degree from a medical assistant school, you will be ready to work. While attending a nursing program, you may have time to work at an internship or part-time job. This will allow you to learn additional skills and build your resume, putting you in an even better position by the time you earn your nursing degree.
After completing a nursing school, you will have several certifications, as well as years of on the job training under your belt. This will help you to begin an advanced career in nursing, allowing you to earn a higher salary and gain access to increased job opportunities.