What does a Medical Assistant do?
Medical Assistants offer clinical care and complete administrative tasks required for medical records documentation and insurance billing. They also serve as the patients’ primary contact points. In hospital settings, Medical Assistants typically check on patients regularly, bring them water or snacks and act as communication liaisons between patients and the nursing staff.
Medical Assistant skills and qualifications
Skills you may list in your Medical Assistant job summary include:
- Knowledge of medical terminology
- Phlebotomy skills to draw patients’ blood
- Proficiency with vital sign measurements, such as blood pressure, heart rate and temperature
- Electronic medical record experience
- Familiarity with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and other relevant laws to ensure compliance
Medical Assistant experience requirements
Depending on your preferences, you might hire Medical Assistants with no experience and offer in-house training. You might consider this option if your company prefers skills-based hiring. However, if you need Medical Assistants who can support clinical teams immediately, consider seeking candidates with experience in healthcare support roles.
Your Medical Assistant job description might require experience in medical office settings, including insurance verifications, front reception or claims billing, or inpatient or outpatient settings.
Medical Assistant education and training requirements
While secondary degrees and certifications aren’t necessary for Medical Assistants, you may consider candidates who have completed an accredited medical assistant program and earned a certification.
Certifications to look for in Medical Assistant resumes can include Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA), and Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA). Having one or more certifications can help demonstrate an applicant’s commitment to professional growth and potential relevant knowledge.
Medical Assistant salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Medical Assistant is $20.05 per hour. However, the salary depends on the employee’s experience and certifications, the state where they work and the type of facility.
Medical Assistant salary expectations
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Common salary:
20.67 HOURLY -
Typical salaries range from
9.40 -36.15 HOURLY - Find more information on Indeed Salaries
*Indeed data –
Job description samples for similar positions
Large medical organizations typically hire various types of clinical and administrative support staff. If you want to explore job descriptions for medical support roles beyond Medical Assistants, consider starting with the following:
Medical Assistant job description FAQs
What’s the difference between a Medical Assistant and a Certified Nursing Assistant?
Medical Assistants typically perform basic clinical support and administrative tasks. CNAs are more likely to perform clinical tasks and help patients with activities of daily living. However, the exact nature of these roles depends on how their employer defines them.
Who does a Medical Assistant report to?
In hospital settings, Medical Assistants typically report to a Charge Nurse or Floor Supervisor. In office and small clinic settings, they may report to Physicians or Office Managers.
What traits make for a good Medical Assistant?
In addition to having relevant clinical and administrative skills, successful Medical Assistant candidates should demonstrate excellent communication, independent problem-solving skills and compassion for patients. Grace under pressure and attention to detail may also be important characteristics for these professionals.
What equipment does a Medical Assistant use?
Medical Assistants typically use diagnostic equipment, such as otoscopes, stethoscopes and electrocardiogram (EKG) machines.
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