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What is a registered medical assistant and how to become one
Registered medical assistants are professionals who perform both administrative and clinical patient care duties in a healthcare facility.
They prepare patients for treatment and exams and assist physicians during patient visits by obtaining medical information such as vital signs, weight, and height, collecting blood samples, and conducting basic lab tests. They also commonly perform electrocardiograms and prepare and administer medications or injections as directed by the physician.
Registered medical assistants' administrative duties include scheduling appointments, answering phones, and updating electronic health records with patient medical histories, vital statistics, and test results. They also manage medical billing needs, fill out insurance forms, handle patient correspondence, perform bookkeeping and accounting tasks, and use administrative medical software.
Registered medical assistants need an associate's degree or a medical assistant certification. Degree in hand, they're then qualified for other certifications. These include Registered Medical Assistant (RMA), National Certified Medical Assistant NCMA), Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), and Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
On average, registered medical assistants earn about $15.42 an hour or $26,000 to $41,000 a year.
What general advice would you give to a registered 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 $36,580
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 16%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1.00%
Asian 8.73%
Black or African American 11.42%
Hispanic or Latino 19.20%
Unknown 4.91%
White 54.74%
Genderfemale 91.80%
male 8.20%
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
Registered medical assistant career paths
Key steps to become a registered medical assistant
Explore registered medical assistant education requirements
Start to develop specific registered medical assistant skills
Skills Percentages Patients 17.95% Vital Signs 8.19% Office Procedures 4.63% EKG 4.23% Customer Service 3.90% Complete relevant registered medical assistant training and internships
Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New registered 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 registered medical assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real registered medical assistant resumes.Gain additional registered medical assistant certifications
More About CertificationsRegistered 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 registered medical assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for registered medical assistants include Medical Assistant and Registered Medical Assistant.
Research registered medical assistant duties and responsibilities
- Generate referral letters for physician, manage and sort medical documents within the EHR system, and assist with e-prescribing.
- Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
- Attain medical histories, explain treatment procedures to patients, prepare patients for examination, and assist during diagnostic examinations.
- Front and back administrative duties, answering phones, scheduling appointments and compliance with HIPAA, CLIA, and OSHA regulations.
Prepare your registered medical assistant resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your registered 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 registered 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 registered medical assistant resume templates
Build a professional registered 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 registered medical assistant resume.
Apply for registered medical assistant jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a registered 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 registered medical assistant job
Are you a registered medical assistant?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average registered medical assistant salary
The average registered medical assistant salary in the United States is $36,580 per year or $18 per hour. Registered medical assistant salaries range between $26,000 and $49,000 per year.
What am I worth?
How do registered medical assistants rate their job?
Registered 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
For profits places, that understaffed under schedule, Nursing staff, do not provide proper equipment nor keep it in repair. Do not allow staff breaks lock the bathrooms, do not even give lunch breaks, Call you on your C phone when you are changing a diaper from in side the ward to tell you to go help another ward. No between shift report. not providing the names of R.N. or L.V.N. to changes in Clients conditions. I have worked as a L.N.A. I love my choice for a career But due to the conditions of Phoenix Arizona facilities I will not be looking for a job in the field. You have to go to an add agency to find a job, Some jobs have wonderful advertisement and then after two week you learn what they are really like .Not Good All they care about is profit. no dignity no respect for pat6ients,clints or staff. I pray to god there are some good places in or around Phoenix Arizona I have not found one yet and the agency are not very honest. God Bless the Clients in their care keep them safe and healthy
Updated January 8, 2025
