If you are looking for a lucrative healthcare career that’s in high demand and has quick entry into the workforce, chances are, you’ve come across two similar professions.The Certified Medical Assistant and the Licensed Practical Nurse. While both have their own role in the healthcare industry, they do have similar job duties and knowledge but there are a few differences you should understand. Read below to learn the difference in job expectations, education, and pay.

MEDICAL ASSISTANT 

Medical assistants typically work in primary care and outpatient care settings like urgent care, cardiologist office and healthcare clinics just to name a few. The majority of medical assistants work standard business hours comparable to other “nine-to-five” jobs. Most job opportunities do not require weekends or holidays though this depends on the job offer. 

 Job Expectations

Patient care tasks for medical assistants include patient intake such as clarifying medical concerns, medical diagnosis, and medications taken. They also administer medications such as oral medications, injectable medications like vaccines or inhalable medications like breathing treatments. They are responsible for conducting blood draws, EKG’s, collecting lab specimens like urine, mouth swabs for DNA, or throat swabs for strep throat just to name a few. Medical Assistants may obtain vital signs, assist with procedures like sutures of lacerations and even provide patients with education for procedures. As you can see, medical assistants have a wide range of education and they are a very integral part of the outpatient care team. Other day to day tasks of a medical assistant may include administrative skills such as medical billing, appointments, calling lab results to patients, bookkeeping and following up on insurance claims. 

Required Education

One attractive feature of medical assistant education is that many programs consist of flexible classes including hybrid online classes. Much education can be completed from the comfort of your home with flexible clinical opportunities for hands-on experience. Most programs are short consisting of 4-9 months in length depending on the weekly hours of the program.

Expected Pay

On average, Medical Assistants have an annual salary of about $37,190 annually which is about $18-$23 per hour according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a little less than that of LPN’s mostly due to the level of education as medical assistants programs are much shorter than the LPN program and the scope of practice is not as wide as an LPN. Graduates of a medical assistant program will be eligible to take a national certifying exam to certify them as a medical assistant. 

Many medical assistants go on to grow in their healthcare careers. Some medical assistants go on to become office administrators and others may become nurses. Your opportunities are limitless as a medical assistant as they are versed in both clinical and administrative settings. The route for administrative growth is an opportunity for medical assistants that does not require further education and increases pay significantly. 

Job Need

Medical Assistants have a higher job outlook than LPNs. Medical assistant careers are projected to grow 16% from 2021 to 2031. There will be about 123,000 job openings over the next ten years due to the high need for medical assistants especially in rural areas. This is more than twice the amount of openings of LPNs, as they are expected to have about 58,000 job openings over the decade, a 6% increase. 

Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) 

Licensed Practical Nurses, also called Licensed Vocational Nurses, often work in the inpatient setting with individuals who need long-term care. These facilities are usually continuing care environments like nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and assisting living homes. Some LPN’s do work in the outpatient setting as well in doctors offices. LPN’s work more non-traditional hours. Many work the infamous 3 days per week, working twelve hour shifts. It is not uncommon for nurses to work overnight shifts, on holidays, weekends, shifts as short as four hours and as long as sixteen hour shifts

Job Expectations

LPN’s are trained and tasked with responsibilities which require a bit more analytical judgement. These tasks do include a lot of the tasks that medical assistance have like drawing blood, obtaining specimen samples and administering medications and injections. However in the state of Georgia, LPN’s are also able to start IV’s and administer IV medications whereas medical assistants cannot. LPN’s often do NOT complete many administrative tasks like medical assistants do as they work mostly with patients and may be required to see more acutely ill patients. They are trained to complete complex dressing changes, inserting urinary catheters, and as mentioned give IV medications.  

Required Education

Because the role of the LPN is more clinical, education tends to be in person. Some accelerated full time programs can be as quick as ten months, with typical program lengths being 12-18 months. No matter how long your program is, all practical nursing candidates must be licensed to practice nursing. In order to obtain licensure, a candidate must pass the NCLEX-PN exam, which is governed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Expected Pay

Licensed Practical Nurses tend to have higher pay than medical assistants. According to the bureau of labor and statistics, the average pay of LPNs is $48,070 per year or about $23-$25 per hour in Georgia.  

Many Licensed Practical Nurses go on to become Registered Nurses. There are many bridge programs that allow LPNs with a year or more of experience to take accelerated courses toward their associate and bachelor nursing degrees. 

Job Need

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the need for LPNs is expected to be about 58,000 job openings from 2021-2031, which is a 6% increase. This is higher than the national average increase for most jobs however medical assistants and registered nurses are currently in high demand. 

Ready to Become a Medical Assistant? 

Would you like to become a medical assistant? H.E.R.O Institute is your go-to for healthcare education in Georgia. We offer 4 month long training programs for day classes and 8 month long programs for those who wish to study at night. Our hybrid option allows you to work and learn at the same time! Just attend class twice a week and log in online at your leisure to take your online course lectures. We accept students from anywhere in Georgia. 

H.E.R.O Institute’s CMA certification is available through  NATIONAL HEALTHCAREEER ASSOCIATION (NHA).

CLICK HERE to learn more about all of H.E.R.O Institute’s state approved programs like phlebotomy technician, patient care technician and more! 

This article was written by Victoria Randle MSN, NP-C, Director of  H.E.R.O Institute located in Austell, GA.

References:

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, September 8). Licensed practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses : Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/licensed-practical-and-licensed-vocational-nurses.htm

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2022, October 25). Medical assistants : Occupational outlook handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved October 31, 2022, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm