What is a unit assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Jason Mott Ph.D.

A unit assistant provides administrative and clerical support to a specific department within an organization. These assistants maintain accurate records, organize files and documents, schedule appointments and meetings, and answer phone calls and emails. Unit assistants also assist with budget tracking and may also manage inventory and order supplies, communicating with other members of the department to encourage smooth business operations.

What general advice would you give to a unit assistant?

Jason Mott Ph.D.

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.

ScoreUnit AssistantUS Average

Salary

2.6

Avg. Salary $33,802

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.9

Growth rate 16%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.82%

Asian 9.45%

Black or African American 10.02%

Hispanic or Latino 19.11%

Unknown 4.69%

White 55.90%

Gender

female 69.96%

male 30.04%

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 unit assistant?

Pros

Ability to develop organizational and administrative skills
Opportunity to work as part of a team
Potential for career advancement
Competitive pay, benefits, and job security
Sense of fulfillment from helping others

Cons

Potential for stress in fast-paced or demanding work environments
Limited control over work schedule and workload
Potential lack of recognition and appreciation for work performance
Limited opportunities for upward mobility
Heavy administrative workload, including documentation and paperwork

Key steps to become a unit assistant

Explore unit assistant education requirements

Most common unit assistant degrees

Bachelor's

39.2 %

Associate

24.4 %

High School Diploma

16.3 %

Start to develop specific unit assistant skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	36.90%
Customer Service	7.90%
HIPAA	6.06%
Vital Signs	4.97%
Medical Terminology	4.55%

Complete relevant unit assistant training and internships

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

Gain additional unit assistant certifications

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

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

More About Certifications

Research unit assistant duties and responsibilities

Manage Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
Carry out necessary duties for post surgery patients which result in quicker test results and recovery time for patients.
Follow HIPAA laws and assist patients.
Qualify in 12 lead EKG's, and applying 6 lead telemetry monitors.

Prepare your unit assistant resume

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

Build a professional unit 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 unit assistant resume.