logo


Menu
  • Home
  • Programs by State
  • Scholarship Program
  • Medical Assistant Careers
    • Registered Medical Assistant
    • Certified Medical Assistant
    • Clinical Medical Assistant
    • Administrative Medical Assistant
  • Interviews
    • Medical Assistant Interview with Paloma Walker
    • Medical Assistant Interview by Emerita
    • Medical Assistant Interview with Dante Broadbent
    • Nursing Interview with Patricia


Medical Assistant Careers

medical assistant careersAll medical assistants are not created equal. They may have similar backgrounds and education requirements, but they each have different job duties to keep in mind. If you want to become a medical assistant in the near future, you may want to learn more about what your future job may entail.

Here are job descriptions for the different types of medical assistants.

Administrative Medical Assistant

Administrative medical assistants are responsible for the clerical side of medical assisting. They file paperwork, schedule appointments, organize files, and answer phone calls. They do not spend much time interacting with patients beyond the front counter of the office. With that in mind, some administrative medical assistants will also work as nursing assistants, which involves a more direct connection with the patients.

Clinical Medical Assistant

Clinical medical assistants most often work in clinics, but sometimes they work in hospitals, nursing homes, etc. In this line of work, you will handle both administrative tasks and patient-care tasks in the workforce. If you are certified to take down basic information like blood pressure readings, temperatures, and weight, you may be asked to do that to prepare patients to see the doctor. You may still work behind the counter answering calls and scheduling appointments, but chances are you will be in the office a lot more than that.

Registered Medical Assistant

A registered medical assistant is someone who has taken the time to complete a registration exam for his or her state. Some states do not require an exam at all if someone has an associate’s degree in medical assisting. Others have a short but complex test that ensures you know what you are doing as a medical assistant.

Getting registered to work within your state will help you when it comes to getting a job. Your employers will know that you are knowledgeable, committed, and ready to go. If you want the best pay rates possible, you need to be a registered medical assistant.

Certified Medical Assistant

A certified medical assistant is a lot like a registered medical assistant. This is someone who has completed a certification exam within his or her state to be a CMA. Unlike registration though, certification almost always requires a separate exam, not just a degree. You will need to contact your state’s medical assisting association to learn about the exam you will have to complete.

For the most part, you should be able to earn your certification easily if you pay attention in school. Some states will also allow you to take an exam after you have spent five years working as a medical assistant. Go through whatever it takes to secure your future, and you will do well as a medical assistant.

SEARCH PROGRAMS
Topmedicalassistantschools.com is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.




Why Medical Assisting?

Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 29 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. - BLS.gov

Popular Articles

Top 50 Medical Assisting Schools
How to Become a Medical Assistant
Disability Resource Library for Students
Top Affordable Online Medical Assistant Programs in 2018
Affordable Medical Assisting Schools
Top 20 LPN to BSN Programs
Are You Considering a Career in Medicine? (Infographic)
Top 50 Health Care Jobs
Top Online LPN Programs
Top 50 Medical Assisting Schools with Highest Graduation Rates
Top 20 Vegan Blogs

Medical Assisting

Medical Assistant Exam
Medical Assistant Training
Medical Assistant Certification
Common Questions for Medical Assistant Interviews
How to Write a Medical Assistant Resume

Nursing

Top 14 Nursing Blogs
Top 20 Nursing Programs
List of Nursing Associations

Medical Assistant Schools by State

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Hampshire
  • New Jersey
  • New Mexico
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • West Virginia
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Company

  • About
  • Contact Us

Resources

  • Top 50 Affordable Medical Assisting Schools
  • Top 50 Health Care Jobs
  • Top 75 Home Health Resources
  • Top 20 Nursing Programs of 2019
  • Top 100 Nursing Blogs
  • Top 100 Health Care Blogs
  • FactAvenue.com

Follow Us:

facebook
twitter

© 2015 TopMedicalAssistantAchools.com | Privacy Policy