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What is a medical assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted expert
Jason Mott Ph.D.
introduction image

A medical assistant performs administrative and clinical tasks to support physicians and other healthcare providers. They may take vitals, assist with procedures, update patient records, schedule appointments, and provide patient education. Medical assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and private practices. Medical assistants have communication skills, attention to detail, and a strong work ethic. Being a medical assistant can be rewarding for those who enjoy helping others and working in a fast-paced environment.

What general advice would you give to a medical assistant?

Jason Mott Ph.D.Jason Mott Ph.D. LinkedIn profile

Associate Professor, Pre-licensure Program Director/Assistant Dean, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh

I think the best advice for new graduates is to be flexible. Things are going to change daily. It is essential to be able to go with the flow. Also, take time for yourself. As the numbers of covid patients increase, staff members are at high risk of developing burnout. It is essential to take time for yourself to relax and get away from everything, even if for only a few minutes. That way, you can prevent becoming burned out.
ScoreMedical AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,900

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
7.9

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.5
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 1.01%

Asian 8.81%

Black or African American 10.16%

Hispanic or Latino 25.67%

Unknown 4.94%

White 49.40%

Gender

female 89.61%

male 10.39%

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

What are the pros and cons of being a medical assistant?

Pros

  • Job growth and stability

  • Entry-level position with opportunities for career advancement

  • Opportunity to work in different medical specialties

  • Competitive salary and benefits

  • Flexible scheduling options

Cons

  • Physically demanding job with long hours on your feet

  • Emotional toll of dealing with sick or dying patients

  • Heavy workload and multitasking responsibilities

  • Possible exposure to hazardous materials or chemicals

  • Possibility of working weekends, holidays, or on-call shifts.

Medical assistant career paths

Key steps to become a medical assistant

  1. Explore medical assistant education requirements

    Most common medical assistant degrees

    Certificate

    29.1 %

    Associate

    24.4 %

    Diploma

    23.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific medical assistant skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Patients20.23%
    Vital Signs9.99%
    Patient Care9.32%
    Phlebotomy3.86%
    CPR3.82%
  3. Complete relevant medical assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New 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 medical assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real medical assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional medical assistant certifications

    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 medical assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

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

    More About Certifications
  5. Research medical assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Create and maintain confidential patient files; implement EHR systems to automate patient records management for the purposes of meaningful use.
    • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
    • Participate in emergency surgical intervention in obstetrics and gynecology patients.
    • Demonstrate proficiency in taking patient history and vitals, venipuncture, injections, urinalysis and preparing examination trays.
  6. Prepare your medical assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your 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 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 medical assistant resume templates

    Build a professional 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 medical assistant resume.
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  7. Apply for medical assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a medical assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first medical assistant job

Eyako Wurapa

Medical Assistant

Dr. Kofi Wurapa is a Clinical Advisor assisting Dr. Cardeli and has his office on the 2nd floor of Building
1564. His parents are originally from Ghana, West Africa, however he grew up in Lancaster,
Pennsylvania. Dr. Wurapa enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school and attended Lebanon Valley
College in Annville, PA, followed by medical school at Pennsylvania State College of Medicine in Hershey,
PA. His certifications are in Family Medicine, Preventive and Occupational Medicine with a Master of
Public Health, and Tropical Medicine. As an Army doctor, he was a Flight Surgeon with the 101st
Airborne Division for three years, a Battalion Surgeon with the 3rd Group Special Forces and 95th Civil
Affairs Special Forces Brigade at Fort Liberty (formerly, Fort Bragg) for 10 years, with four
deployments to Afghanistan and three in the Sahel. Dr. Wurapa was also sent to Kenya in 2010 as the
Global Emerging Infections Surveillance director for three years (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and
Cameroon) and the Tanzania Country Director for the Military Malaria Research Program, Walter Reed
Army Institute of Research, for four years. Upon his retirement from military service after 23 years, he
worked as a clinician for Kaiser Permanente and Patient First. From January 2022 to December 2023, he
completed a master’s in project management at the University of Maryland Global Campus in College
Park, Maryland, and during this time was an Adjunct Professor at Bowie State University, Bowie, MD,
where he taught Anatomy and Physiology.
Dr. Wurapa loves spending time with his family. His wife is an Orthopedic Nurse, and his son is a 2Lt in
the U.S. Air Force. In addition, he has two daughters aged 8 and 10. Dr. Wurapa played soccer in high
school and college, but after a parachute injury in 2003, his soccer playing days are now over. He likes to
stay in shape by road marching and roller skating with his daughters. He lives in Gaithersburg, MD and
attends the Church of the Redeemer in Gaithersburg. When he grows up, he sees himself working for
Doctors Without Borders in Africa.

Nina Gonzalez

Medical Assistant, CMA is Cone Health

Well I had my daughters later in life and I Worked for General Electric for 10 years and I was on 2nd shift, working daily from 4pm-12 am and my youngest was 3 years old when I was laid off. I decided to go back to school at almost 40 years old and I wanted a career that I could do that would only have me working from 8am-5pm So I chose medical assisting and office technology. I went to Brookstone college in Greensboro and earned my Associates degree and became a CMA in 2005 and my youngest daughter started Kindergarten that year. I love what I do and I am only 6 classes away from getting my Bachelors degree in health administration at University of phoenix. Family is why I chose this career path and I love it.

Average medical assistant salary

The average medical assistant salary in the United States is $34,900 per year or $17 per hour. Medical assistant salaries range between $27,000 and $43,000 per year.

Average medical assistant salary
$34,900 Yearly
$16.78 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do medical assistants rate their job?

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Medical assistant reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jul 2023
Pros

Very fulfilling and rewarding

Cons

Hard work, not enough staff, mandated a lot. Under appreciated!


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2022
Pros

Interaction with patient. Caring for patients. Educating, Scheduling procedures.

Cons

Being overwhelmed with too many time sensitive referrals. Appeals


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A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021
Pros

The interaction, conversations and making the patients feel safe as I make it my main priority to do my job.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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