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The differences between certified phlebotomists and clinical medical assistants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a certified phlebotomist, becoming a clinical medical assistant takes usually requires 6-12 months. Additionally, a clinical medical assistant has an average salary of $37,052, which is higher than the $34,509 average annual salary of a certified phlebotomist.
The top three skills for a certified phlebotomist include patients, blood specimens and phlebotomy procedures. The most important skills for a clinical medical assistant are patients, patient care, and vital signs.
| Certified Phlebotomist | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Yearly salary | $34,509 | $37,052 |
| Hourly rate | $16.59 | $17.81 |
| Growth rate | 10% | 16% |
| Number of jobs | 44,574 | 233,464 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 12 |
A certified phlebotomist is a medical professional who specializes in drawing blood through venipuncture or finger and heel pricks, preparing the samples for laboratory procedures. Besides collecting blood, a phlebotomist is also responsible for gathering patient information, verifying identification, reviewing medical histories, labeling vials, and maintaining records, including diagnostic findings. They are also in charge of keeping laboratory equipment clean, discarding trash appropriately, and organizing supplies according to policies, ordering new supplies when necessary. Above all, a certified phlebotomist maintains an open and transparent communication line with nurses and physicians for an efficient workflow.
A clinical medical assistant specializes in performing administrative and clinical tasks in a hospital or similar setting. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering a patient's information, medical history, test results, and other essential documentation, and updating patient medical records. Other tasks include reaching out to patients' families and guardians, assisting health workers with room preparation and patient care, and preparing medications and other treatments, all in adherence to a physician's directives. Furthermore, a clinical medical assistant may conduct inspections to ensure that the hospital complies with government regulations.
Certified phlebotomists and clinical medical assistants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Certified Phlebotomist | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Average salary | $34,509 | $37,052 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $43,000 | Between $29,000 And $46,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Vancouver, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | California |
| Best paying company | - | Brigham and Women's Hospital |
| Best paying industry | - | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a certified phlebotomist and a clinical medical assistant in terms of educational background:
| Certified Phlebotomist | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 23% | Associate Degree, 27% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Medical Assisting Services |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between certified phlebotomists' and clinical medical assistants' demographics:
| Certified Phlebotomist | Clinical Medical Assistant | |
| Average age | 41 | 37 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 14.3% Female, 85.7% | Male, 10.8% Female, 89.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 10.9% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 9.8% White, 54.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1% | Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.3% Asian, 9.1% White, 51.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 6% |