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The differences between clinical medical assistants and licensed practical nurses can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 6-12 months to become a clinical medical assistant, becoming a licensed practical nurse takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a licensed practical nurse has an average salary of $52,912, which is higher than the $37,052 average annual salary of a clinical medical assistant.
The top three skills for a clinical medical assistant include patients, patient care and vital signs. The most important skills for a licensed practical nurse are patients, CPR, and home health.
| Clinical Medical Assistant | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Yearly salary | $37,052 | $52,912 |
| Hourly rate | $17.81 | $25.44 |
| Growth rate | 16% | 6% |
| Number of jobs | 233,464 | 614,369 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 3.33 |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 27% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Average age | 37 | 46 |
| Years of experience | 12 | 2 |
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.
Licensed practical nurses are considered leading front liners in the clinic or hospital setting. They assist nurses and doctors in conducting various activities related to sick or injured patients. Licensed practical nurses are primarily expected to provide routine care for patients and assist registered nurses in creating care plans. They maintain and update medical records, prepare patients for medical examinations, help patients dress, bath, or eat, take vital signs, administer and monitor medicine intake, monitor patients and update nurses and doctors on patient status, and assist during medical examinations.
Clinical medical assistants and licensed practical nurses have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Clinical Medical Assistant | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Average salary | $37,052 | $52,912 |
| Salary range | Between $29,000 And $46,000 | Between $37,000 And $74,000 |
| Highest paying City | Vancouver, WA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | California | Hawaii |
| Best paying company | Brigham and Women's Hospital | The Citadel |
| Best paying industry | Health Care | Health Care |
There are a few differences between a clinical medical assistant and a licensed practical nurse in terms of educational background:
| Clinical Medical Assistant | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Most common degree | Associate Degree, 27% | Associate Degree, 33% |
| Most common major | Medical Assisting Services | Nursing |
| Most common college | - | Emory University |
Here are the differences between clinical medical assistants' and licensed practical nurses' demographics:
| Clinical Medical Assistant | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| Average age | 37 | 46 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 10.8% Female, 89.2% | Male, 11.3% Female, 88.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.1% Asian, 6.5% White, 59.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 6% | 7% |