Post job

Medical internship vs student medical assistant-externship

The differences between medical interns and student medical assistant-externships can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a medical internship and a student medical assistant-externship. Additionally, a medical internship has an average salary of $50,843, which is higher than the $35,588 average annual salary of a student medical assistant-externship.

The top three skills for a medical internship include patients, patient care and vital signs. The most important skills for a student medical assistant-externship are patients, vital signs, and EKG.

Medical internship vs student medical assistant-externship overview

Medical InternshipStudent Medical Assistant-Externship
Yearly salary$50,843$35,588
Hourly rate$24.44$17.11
Growth rate16%16%
Number of jobs127,692178,362
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age3737
Years of experience1212

What does a medical internship do?

When it comes to a medical internship, one of the primary duties is to attend to the patients' needs while under a more experienced physician's supervision. During this period, the medical interns must rotate in various fields of specialties or departments for exposure. Aside from learning and observing, there are also instances when medical interns are required to produce necessary reports and documentation, communicate with patients and families, and take part in more challenging cases.

What does a student medical assistant-externship do?

Student Medical Assistant Externship is a broad term for catering students for short, reliable, and practical work experience. Once you graduate, you can get a chance to meet contacts that may be useful for your career. You can have a better chance to work in a clinic, hospital, and any medical platform after going through this kind of externship.

Medical internship vs student medical assistant-externship salary

Medical interns and student medical assistant-externships have different pay scales, as shown below.

Medical InternshipStudent Medical Assistant-Externship
Average salary$50,843$35,588
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $77,000Between $26,000 And $47,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MA-
Highest paying stateNew York-
Best paying companyTakeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.-
Best paying industry--

Differences between medical internship and student medical assistant-externship education

There are a few differences between a medical internship and a student medical assistant-externship in terms of educational background:

Medical InternshipStudent Medical Assistant-Externship
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 39%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationMedical Assisting Services
Most common college--

Medical internship vs student medical assistant-externship demographics

Here are the differences between medical interns' and student medical assistant-externships' demographics:

Medical InternshipStudent Medical Assistant-Externship
Average age3737
Gender ratioMale, 24.9% Female, 75.1%Male, 23.8% Female, 76.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% Asian, 9.7% White, 50.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.4% Asian, 9.4% White, 50.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage6%6%

Differences between medical internship and student medical assistant-externship duties and responsibilities

Medical internship example responsibilities.

  • Adhere to OSHA guidelines while performing instrument sterilization in addition to managing medical inventory.
  • Room patients, vitals, schedule, injections, clia waive tests, womb care ,
  • Learned how to triage patients and make sure they are ready for the doctor to see.
  • Organize and fill patient medical records, telephone triage, schedule appointments, and provide patient education.
  • Organize, prep, and assist patients in putting on heart monitors for EKG and heart rate readings in the lab.
  • Assist physicians in taking blood pressure, EKG, ultrasound, measuring heart beat and recording all vitals in physical examinations.
  • Show more

Student medical assistant-externship example responsibilities.

  • Perform EKG's, ear cleanings, injections, nail cultures and assist with women's yearly physicals.
  • Gain experience in performing routine patient care interventions while developing strong organizational skills while caring for patients.
  • Shadowed/Assist official personnel on performance of special procedures, patient evaluation, transporting patients, therapeutic exercises and body mechanics/functional mobility.
  • Observe various departments and operations within the hospital and clinical setting environment including surgery, radiology, urology, and emergency.
  • Review and administration of medications, allergies and other pharmacology relate items.
  • Perform CLIA wave laboratory testing.
  • Show more

Medical internship vs student medical assistant-externship skills

Common medical internship skills
  • Patients, 34%
  • Patient Care, 10%
  • Vital Signs, 6%
  • Surgical Procedures, 4%
  • Surgery, 4%
  • EKG, 3%
Common student medical assistant-externship skills
  • Patients, 35%
  • Vital Signs, 11%
  • EKG, 5%
  • CPR, 5%
  • Data Entry, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%

Browse healthcare support jobs