Medical Assistants

At a Glance

Median Salary
$33,722

Local Jobs
1,147

Entry-Level Education
Certification

Occupation Profile

Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

By The Numbers

Median Annual Earnings

$33,722

Median Annual Earnings are the midpoint earned by 50 percent of workers who are the lowest paid and 50 percent of workers who are the highest paid in a particular occupation

Local Jobs

1,147

Jobs are any position in which a worker provides labor in exchange for monetary compensation (note: one individual may hold multiple jobs)

Entry-Level Education

Certification

This is the most common education level requested in entry-level job listings.

Daily Tasks

Interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height.
Clean and sterilize instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies.
Record patients’ medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.
Explain treatment procedures, medications, diets, or physicians’ instructions to patients.
Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.
Help physicians examine and treat patients, handing them instruments or materials or performing such tasks as giving injections or removing sutures.
Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.
Greet and log in patients arriving at office or clinic.
Perform general office duties, such as answering telephones, taking dictation, or completing insurance forms.
Prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician.
Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.
Change dressings on wounds.
Schedule appointments for patients.
Inventory and order medical, lab, or office supplies or equipment.
Contact medical facilities or departments to schedule patients for tests or admission.
Operate x-ray, electrocardiogram (EKG), or other equipment to administer routine diagnostic tests.
Set up medical laboratory equipment.

Occupational Skills

What skills are necessary for Medical Assistants?

Hard Skills

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Electrocardiography
Electronic Medical Record
Intravenous Therapy
Medical Assistance
Medical Records
Nursing
Patient Preparation
Phlebotomy
Vital Signs

Soft Skills

Clerical Works
Communications
Computer Literacy
Customer Service
Multilingualism
Multitasking
Quality Control
Scheduling
Verbal Communication Skills
Writing

Hard skills are specific, learnable, measurable, often industry- or occupation-specific abilities related to a position.

Soft skills can be self-taught and usually do not necessitate a certain completed level of education. They are essential in many industries and occupations.

Education Programs

Coastal Bend College

Medical Billing Specialist with Electronic Health Records

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	444	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

Medical Billing Specialist

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	310	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

ICD-10 Medical Coding

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	200	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

CMAA with Medical Billing and Coding

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	530	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

CMAA with Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist + Medical Terminology

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	354	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA)

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	160	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

CCMA + Certified Electronic Health Records Specialist (CEHRS)

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	674	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Coastal Bend College

Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
Certificate	Cert	540	Yes	No

Braden Becknell

Coastal Bend College

361-354-2768

bbecknell@coastalbend.edu

Texas A&M Kingsville

Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
CTE	cred	hrs	Yes	No

Brenda Ballard

Texas A&M Kingsville

Clinical Medical Assistant with Spanish (CCMA)

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
CTE	cred	hrs	Yes	No

Brenda Ballard

Texas A&M Kingsville

Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
CTE	cred	hrs	Yes	No

Brenda Ballard

Texas A&M Kingsville

Clinical Medical Assistant

Type	Credential	Hours	Online	Financial Aid
CTE	cred	hrs	No	No

Brenda Ballard

Texas A&M Kingsville