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What is a lead medical assistant and how to become one
A lead medical assistant works with physicians to assist patients in a friendly and effective manner on medical issues and concerns. He/She helps during surgical procedures and diagnostic testing. He/She presents medication to patients and ensures they take it. Likewise, he/she administers medication using specified procedures when required. Furthermore, he/she takes vital signs and examines the patient to detect response to medication and reports reactions. Also, he/she restocks medication inventories and helps with the training and onboarding of all new medical assistants.
The primary educational requirement for this role is a high school diploma or its equivalent. Employers may require applicants to be a graduate of an approved medical assistant program. You'll need a minimum of four years of experience in a similar role. The core skills required for this position are communication, organization, multitasking, and customer service skills.
Lead medical assistants earn an average salary of $39,901 per year. This ranges from $28,000 to $58,000.
What general advice would you give to a lead medical assistant?
Janice Noteboom, MHA/Ed., CMA (AAMA)
Faculty Coordinator of Allied Health/Medical Assistant Program Director, Midstate College
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
Avg. Salary $38,303
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 16%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.97%
Asian 8.73%
Black or African American 9.56%
Hispanic or Latino 26.62%
Unknown 4.83%
White 49.28%
Genderfemale 88.11%
male 11.89%
Age - 35American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 35Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work life balance is excellent
6.4 - fair
Lead medical assistant career paths
Key steps to become a lead medical assistant
Explore lead medical assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific lead medical assistant skills
Skills Percentages Patients 19.56% Vital Signs 7.91% Patient Care 6.85% Surgical Procedures 5.38% EKG 4.85% Complete relevant lead medical assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New lead medical 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 lead medical assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real lead medical assistant resumes.Gain additional lead medical assistant certifications
More About CertificationsLead medical 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 lead medical assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for lead medical assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).
Research lead medical assistant duties and responsibilities
- Manage company financial accounts, including employee payroll and tax document preparations.
- Ensure the laboratory is CLIA compliant for semi-annual certification, provide annual CLIA waive competence.
- Perform all staff yearly reviews and yearly competencies on the CLIA waive testing done in the office.
- Alphabetize medications, accurately update and record patient medications and allergies in patient chart upon each visit.
Get lead medical assistant experience
Generally, it takes 6-12 months to become a lead medical assistant. The most common roles before becoming a lead medical assistant include medical assistant, certified nursing assistant team lead and medical assistant externship.Prepare your lead medical assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your lead medical 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 lead medical 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 lead medical assistant resume templates
Build a professional lead medical 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 lead medical assistant resume.
Apply for lead medical assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a lead medical assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first lead medical assistant job
Are you a lead medical assistant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average lead medical assistant salary
The average lead medical assistant salary in the United States is $38,303 per year or $18 per hour. Lead medical assistant salaries range between $23,000 and $63,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do lead medical assistants rate their job?
Lead medical assistant reviews
Very fulfilling and rewarding
Interaction with patient. Caring for patients. Educating, Scheduling procedures.
Being overwhelmed with too many time sensitive referrals. Appeals
Knowing that you are supporting Doctor's , Nurses , and other health care providers, helping people recover from illness or injury and if they are in the end stages allowing them to have respect and dignity in the end stages of life, being able to give aid and comfort to their families. Seeing that love ones even if they have no family receive respect. I enjoy helping people when they need it the most.
Updated January 8, 2025
