Where do Medical Assistants Work?

Joe Cockrell

Joe Cockrell

| Update: April 14th, 2025

You’ve been thinking about getting into a rewarding career like healthcare. But where to work as a medical assistant once you complete your medical assistant training? The good news is that medical assistants have a variety of career paths to explore. Whether you thrive in a fast-paced hospital or prefer a quieter physician’s office, there’s a setting that matches your passion.

Where is the Best Place For a Medical Assistant to Work?

The best place to work as a medical assistant really depends on where you would like to work and the role you want to play at your next job. For example, if you like to work with children or the elderly, you should consider working at either nursing facilities or pediatrician offices. 

It really depends on where your passion lies. The type of work that medical assistants perform at these facilities depends on the specialty and size of the practice. That said, medical assistants typically perform both administrative and clinical tasks.

Administrative Tasks

  • Greeting patients
  • Answering phone calls
  • Escorting patients to exam rooms
  • Recording medical histories
  • Processing insurance claims

Clinical Tasks

  • Assisting doctors with examinations
  • Recording vital signs 
  • Preparing exam rooms

Doctor's Offices & Medical Clinics

Most medical assistants work at physician offices or clinics. If you enjoy building relationships and seeing familiar faces, working in a private physician’s office or medical clinic might be the perfect fit. 

These settings offer a sense of community where you’ll often interact with the same patients throughout the year. Medical assistants here wear many hats, handling both clinical and administrative tasks, such as:

  • Greeting patients and managing appointments
  • Taking vital signs and assisting with exams
  • Maintaining medical records and processing insurance claims

Since these offices tend to be smaller, you’ll likely gain experience across different areas, making every day both dynamic and rewarding.

Insurance Companies

Prefer a more structured, office-based environment? Insurance companies also hire medical assistants to handle medical claims and ensure that patient information is accurate and up-to-date. In these roles, your responsibilities may include:

  • Verifying patient insurance coverage
  • Reviewing medical records for accuracy
  • Assisting with claims processing

If you have strong organizational skills and enjoy working behind the scenes, this type of role could be a great match.

Home Healthcare

Do you have a passion for personalized patient care? Working in home healthcare allows medical assistants to care for patients in the comfort of their own homes. This environment is ideal if you enjoy building close connections with patients and their families. Responsibilities may include:

  • Monitoring vital signs
  • Administering medications
  • Assisting with mobility and daily activities

If you’re compassionate, detail-oriented, and enjoy one-on-one care, home healthcare offers a deeply fulfilling career path.

Alternative Jobs for Medical Assistants

Other places that employ medical assistants include:

  • Hospitals
  • Outpatient care facilities
  • Chiropractic offices
  • Pediatric clinics
  • Urgent care facilities
  • OB-GYN clinics
  • Medical research centers
  • Diagnostic laboratories
  • University hospitals

 

Learn more about UEI's Medical Assistant Program

How Can You Become a Medical Assistant

You can become a medical assistant by attending a training program such as the one currently being offered by UEI College. Medical Assistant Programs provide you with the knowledge, skills, and hands-on training that you need to graduate, earn a diploma and become a medical assistant in as few as 10 months.

Furthermore, the medical assistant program provides both administrative and clinical training, allowing you to pursue careers that require administrative or clinical training.

Additionally, to complete the program, students are required to complete an externship that involves students working at an approved local clinic where they will gain real-world knowledge, providing them with a taste of what to expect upon employment as a medical assistant.

If you’re interested in becoming a medical assistant, contact us, and one of our admissions team members will reach out to you and provide you with all you need to know in order to enroll in the program. With so many career options, medical assistants can choose a work environment that best matches their personality and professional goals.

 

Find a UEI campus near you to start exploring your career options

 

Whether you enjoy the excitement of a busy hospital, the warmth of a private clinic, or the personal touch of home healthcare, the choice is yours. You could be completing a program in as few as 10 months at UEI College.

Joe Cockrell

Joe Cockrell

Joseph Cockrell is a seasoned strategic communications leader with over 25 years of experience, coupled with a distinguished graduate-level education. A former professional journalist, Joseph excels in media relations, crisis communications, corporate reputation management, strategic communications planning, and marketing. Renowned for his proficiency as an expert storyteller, Joseph possesses a unique ability to craft compelling written and video content of the highest caliber. With an extensive background in navigating complex communication landscapes, he brings unparalleled insight and skill to elevate brands and effectively convey impactful narratives.