
The difference between the two roles becomes more apparent when it comes to treating those patients, as the medical administrative assistant is primarily clerical whereas the medical assistant can perform both administrative duties and, to a limited extent, treat patients. What Does A Medical Assistant Do?
What jobs can you get with a medical assistant?
Specific Career Options and Duties
- Medical Coder
- Medical Transcriptionist
- Physicians' Office Assistant
- Health Information Administrator
- Records Clerk
- Admissions Clerk
- Billing and Insurance Specialist
What does a medical administrative assistant do?
Medical administrative assistants perform general administrative duties specific to the healthcare industry. General responsibilities may include answering the phone, greeting patients and visitors, ordering supplies, sorting mail, bookkeeping, and creating invoices. Tasks that might require specialized knowledge include updating and ...
What are the duties of a medical assistant?
Affirming that the nature of duties of an Electrical Assistant ... had applied for the post of an Electrical Assistant and was accordingly, sent for medical examination wherein he was declared ...
What is the job description of a medical assistant?
The responsibilities of a clinical medical assistant may include:
- Preparing Patients for Examinations
- Taking Medical Histories
- Assisting the Physician During Examinations
- Explaining Medical Procedures to Patients
- Calling in Prescriptions to Pharmacies
- Collect Laboratory Specimens
- Sterilize Medical Instruments

What is the difference with a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant?
The primary difference between a medical assistant and a medical office administrator is that medical assistants play a more direct role in patient care. A medical assistant carries out various clinical tasks such as measuring vital signs, taking blood pressure, drawing blood and administering pregnancy tests.
What can you as an administrative medical assistant do?
Scheduling and Confirming Patient Appointments. Billing Patients, Processing Payments and Insurance Claims. Compiling and Recording Medical Charts. Managing Medical Files with Coding Expertise.
What are the 3 types of medical assistants?
Medical assistants may work in a diverse range of specializations, but there are three primary types: clinical, registered/certified, and administrative. There are some similarities between the three kinds, but you will notice some distinct differences between the daily duties and responsibilities of each.
What is another name for medical administrative assistant?
medical secretariesMedical administrative assistants, also known as medical secretaries, perform administrative functions for a hospital or clinic using their knowledge of medical terminology and applications.
Do medical administrative assistants wear scrubs?
In some cases, working in the more compact environment of a doctor's office means that medical administrative assistants are required to wear scrubs. Scrubs are a type of medical uniform that includes a top and pants that are both made of easily washable material.
What state pays the most for medical administrative assistant?
Highest paying cities for Medical Administrative Assistants in United StatesNew York, NY. $21.50 per hour. 35 salaries reported.Boston, MA. $21.18 per hour. 21 salaries reported.Chicago, IL. $20.13 per hour. 20 salaries reported.San Diego, CA. $19.83 per hour. ... Atlanta, GA. $19.49 per hour. ... Show more nearby cities.
What is the highest level of medical assistant?
The Top Medical Assistant CertificationsThe Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)The Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)The National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)Specialty Certifications.
What is the hourly wage for a medical assistant?
14.71 USD (2015)Medical assistant / Median pay (hourly)
How long does it take to become a certified medical assistant?
nine months to two yearsAlthough the exact amount of time can vary, it typically takes nine months to two years for most aspiring medical assistants. Becoming a medical assistant involves a number of steps, including graduating from high school, acquiring medical assistant training, and obtaining certifications.
What does a medical administrator do?
These administrators communicate with clients and insurance companies, collect data from patients to assist in managing their accounts, and oversee the ordering of medical and office supplies. Medical office administrators also typically manage a staff, which includes hiring and coordinating payroll activities.
What are three opening tasks for administrative medical assistant?
Administrative duties include:Answering the phones and talking to patients.Scheduling patient appointments.Greeting patients.Updating and filing patient forms and medical records.Using software for appointments and medical records.Arranging lab services, hospital admissions, and referrals.
What is the passing score for the CMAA exam?
390/500 or higherWhat is the passing score for the CMAA exam? Like the NHA's CCMA exam, a candidate must achieve a scaled score of 390/500 or higher to pass the CMAA exam.
What is a medical assistant?
In very small medical practices, a medical assistant might take on clerical tasks, too. For example, in a private physician’s office, a medical assistant might check in patients, schedule appointments, and provide clinical patient care.
What are the skills needed to be a medical administrative assistant?
Medical administrative assistants are often the first person people see when they come into the office. They’ll need to be friendly with strong communication skills to succeed in the role. Since they’re responsible for tasks like scheduling and record keeping, strong organizational skills are also a must.
How much does a medical assistant make in 2020?
Medical assistants and medical administrative assistants make very similar salaries. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that medical assistants earned a median annual salary of $35,850 in 2020. Medical administrative assistants, classified as “secretaries and administrative assistants” by the BLS, earned a median annual salary of $37,350 in 2020.
Is a medical assistant a good fit for a medical assistant?
Think about your comfort with medical procedures, needles, blood, and more. If you’re excited about the idea of tackling those duties, a medical assistant career might be a great fit. Conversely, if you’d prefer to handle organizational tasks and avoid clinical work, a role as a medical administrative assistant would be better for you.
Do I need a medical assistant license?
Some states have what’s called a partial licensing requirement, meaning that you don’t need a license to work as a medical assistant in the state, but you do need to obtain licensing to perform certain tasks.
What is a clinical medical assistant?
The main focus of a clinical medical assistant is the clinical aspects of a health practice, which may include preparing patients for medical examinations, documenting vital signs and medical histories, assisting physicians, performing minor treatments and providing in-person or over-the-phone home care instructions.
What is a MOA in medical office?
SJVC’s 9-month, Certificate-level Medical Office Administration ( MOA) program offers required training for an administrative support position in the front office of a medical facility. Click to learn more about SJVC’s Medical Office program.
What are the duties of an administrative medical assistant?
Some common responsibilities for administrative medical assistants include: Checking in patients. Making and answering phone calls.
What are the different types of medical assistants?
What are the types of medical assistants? Although there are many types of medical assistants, most of them fall into one of two major categories, which are administrative medical assistants and clinical medical assistants. A third category also exists that encompasses several other subtypes of assistants:
What is the role of medical assistant in 2021?
Clinical medical assistants and administrative medical assistants both perform tasks to help doctors focus on their medical duties. Understanding the difference between these two positions can help you determine which might work best for you.
How does a clinical medical assistant work?
Clinical medical assistants. Clinical medical assistants work directly with patients by gathering patient information and performing simple procedures. Clinical medical assistants often meet with patients to begin their visit to the doctor's office and take the patient's vitals, medical history and current symptoms.
How does a clinical assistant help patients?
Clinical assistants get to support patients in a direct, one-on-one way. Although administrative assistants often see patients in person, their support often happens indirectly by maintaining a working office environment.
Where do medical assistants work?
Administrative medical assistants typically work at the front desk in doctors' offices and other medical treatment facilities. These assistants perform most of the office duties for doctors and other medical professionals. An assistant completing administrative tasks for them allows the doctors to focus on their primary medical objectives ...
Do medical assistants need certification?
Certification. Typically, neither position requires certification. However, both types of assistants may choose to earn a certification to help improve your chances of employment, increase your pay and help you gain more responsibility. Several certifications exist for general medical assistants.
What is a medical assistant?
Medical assistants typically work in doctor’s offices, clinics, and other types of healthcare facilities. Their role is a mixture of administrative tasks and therapeutic medical care services. For example, as a medical assistant, you would complete the following tasks:
What is a medical administrative specialist?
A medical administrative specialist is an allied health professional that usually works in a clinic setting. This is a client-facing role that also requires individuals to complete a wide range of administrative tasks that ensure the medical office runs smoothly.
Start Your New Career at Bryan University
If you need help deciding on your career path or you’re ready to explore your program options for allied health, contact Bryan University by calling (855) 862-0755 or contact us online.
What is a medical assistant?
Medical assistants do just that- assist. They usually work in outpatient settings, helping with everything from administrative to clinical, patient-care roles. Most often, medical assistants can be found taking patients’ vitals, administering medications under the doctor’s direction, collecting information, and scheduling appointments.
What is a medical office administrator?
Similar to a medical assistant, a medical office administrator can work in a variety of settings such as public health clinics, hospitals, doctor’s offices, and even insurance companies. As a medical office administrator, you’ll be the first point of contact for patients, managing the front desk and undertaking other managerial roles.
Why choose a medical career?
With so many roles in the medical field, why choose to be a medical assistant or medical office administrator? Well, the need for these roles is growing. With an aging population and higher demand for healthcare, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the allied health field will continue to grow well into this decade, by nearly 23 percent.
What is a medical assistant?
Medical Assistants. Medical assistants deal directly with other health care professionals in treating injuries and diseases. If you have a desire to work in the health care field, this is an excellent place to begin.
What is the job of a medical office assistant?
Unlike medical assistants, medical office assistants work in an office environment with responsibilities such as answering phones, checking patients in, scheduling appointments, filing and processing insurance claims, handling patient payments, and maintaining office supplies and inventory.
What are the skills needed to be a medical assistant?
Some of the most sought-after skills someone in the medical assistant profession needs include patient care, preparing injections, CPR, measuring vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, and breathing rate), patient preparation, and EKG. You will find medical assistants in hospitals, doctors’ offices, clinics, labs, and urgent care facilities.
What is medical office administration?
The Medical Office Administration program prepares students with the skills and training necessary to provide excellent administrative support while working and playing a key role in running an efficient, productive office in a variety of medical and business environments.
Do medical assistants leave patients?
Although many medical assistants help with clerical tasks, most medical office assistants leave the patients to the medical assistants. The medical office assistant focuses on the clerical tasks instead of the clinical tasks in a medical facility. If playback doesn't begin shortly, try restarting your device.
Clinical Medical Assistant vs Medical Assistant
A Clinical Medical Assistant is a Medical Assistant who specializes in clinical work. Medical Assistants’ general duties typically consist of the following tasks:
What does a Clinical Medical Assistant do?
Clinical Medical Assistants are vital members of a healthcare team. To work as a medical assistant means that you could be at the forefront of patient care and perform fundamental administrative and clinical duties.
How long is Clinical Medical Assistant school?
We offer both daytime and evening classes for the Clinical Medical Assistant program at Blue Cliff College. You can earn your Clinical Medical Assistant diploma in 9 months in our day program. We also offer an evening program that takes 15 months to complete.
How to become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant?
It takes a special person with quality training to succeed as a Clinical Medical Assistant. A Clinical Medical Assistant is a very important member of a healthcare team.
Enroll in the Clinical Medical Assistant program at Blue Cliff College
Start your professional journey with Blue Cliff College in the next 45 days! Classes start every 6 weeks. With a short 9 month (daytime) program, you’ll be prepared to make the professional change to being a Clinical Medical Assistant in under one year. There are few things as rewarding as a career you love in the growing field of health care.
What is a registered medical assistant?
A registered medical assistant is a medical professional who has earned one of two medical assistant credentials. The first pathway to becoming a registered medical assistant is through the American Medical Technologist (AMT) certification exam.
What is a certified medical assistant?
A certified medical assistant is a medical professional who has completed the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) certification process.
Differences between a registered medical assistant and a certified medical assistant
The primary difference between an AMT registered medical assistant and an AAMA certified medical assistant is the title, as both certifications cover the same concepts.
Work environment for a registered medical assistant or certified medical assistant
Professionals with a registered medical assistant credential or certified medical assistant credential are qualified to work in a variety of medical institutions. Common working environments for a credentialed medical assistant may include:
Important skills for a registered medical assistant or certified medical assistant
Important skills to possess as a certified medical assistant or registered medical assistant include:
Job duties for a registered medical assistant and certified medical assistant
The primary duties of a medical assistant can vary based on several factors, including the type of facility employing them, the size of the team working on a project and the medical assistant's experience and any specialized training they completed. Common responsibilities for medical assistants include:

What Does A Medical Assistant do?
- The duties of a medical assistant will change from practice to practice but, as a general rule, their responsibilities mix administrative and therapeutic tasks to support both the physicians and the practice manager. Below are some of the more common functions a medical assistant might b…
What Does A Medical Administrative Assistant do?
- The role of the medical administrative assistant is mainly clerical and they are not called on to participate in clinical procedures. They are, however, responsible for a range of administrative tasks to ensure the office they are managing functions smoothly. These tasks do vary, but typically include the following: Compiling Medical Records And Charts– One of the primary resp…
Which Role Would I Suit?
- Both our medical administrative assistant school and our medical assistant programoffer our students the skills and training they will need to find a career in one of the fastest growing job markets in the US. Our course allow our students the opportunity to choose between the more hands-on medical assistant or the administrative responsibilities of the medical administrative a…