How To Become A Doctor Assistant: What It Is and Career Path

What is a doctor assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

Quoted expert

Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA)

There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a doctor assistant. For example, did you know that they make an average of $16.76 an hour? That's $34,867 a year! Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 16% and produce 117,800 job opportunities across the U.S.

What general advice would you give to a doctor assistant?

Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA)

Faculty Coordinator of Allied Health/Medical Assistant Program Director, Midstate College

-LIKE- People who enjoy working as a Medical Assistant do it because they get a
great satisfaction from help other people. They are often the first contact with the
patient in the medical facility, which sets the tone for the rest of the visit.
They feel good making sure that their patients have the right information that they
need, the appropriate medical care they need, and helping patients feel better.
Good problem-solving skills, compassion, understanding, patience and keeping
up with a fast-paced office is very rewarding.
-DISLIKE- Some Medical Assistants have determined that there are
area/tasks/etc. that they dislike, listed below are some of these things:
 You’re always around people who are sick
 Long work hours can include 10 or 12-hour days
 Lower starting salary, which is usually based on education and
experience level
 Having to deal with stressful situations and difficult patients
 Dealing with patients who are angry, cranky, anxious or not feeling well
 Working under pressure from extremely tight deadlines

ScoreDoctor AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.7

Avg. Salary $34,867

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.82%

Asian 9.84%

Black or African American 10.33%

Hispanic or Latino 24.02%

Unknown 4.75%

White 50.23%

Gender

female 83.65%

male 16.35%

Age - 35

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35

Stress level

7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.4

Complexity level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work life balance

8.6

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a doctor assistant

Explore doctor assistant education requirements

Most common doctor assistant degrees

Bachelor's

27.3 %

Associate

23.1 %

High School Diploma

20.2 %

Start to develop specific doctor assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	37.35%
Patient Care	5.65%
Vital Signs	5.14%
Appointment Scheduling	3.71%
Lab Results	3.49%

Complete relevant doctor assistant training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New doctor assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a doctor assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real doctor assistant resumes.

Gain additional doctor assistant certifications

Doctor assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific doctor assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for doctor assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

More About Certifications

Research doctor assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage communication between patients and doctor to ensure patient comprehension of treatment plans and manage all triage calls.
Manage the movement of patient's through the ER from triage to discharge or to the floor once admit.
Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
Maintain confidentiality with patients and follow HIPAA regulations.

Prepare your doctor assistant resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your doctor assistant resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a doctor assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable doctor assistant resume templates

Build a professional doctor assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your doctor assistant resume.