What is certified medical administrative assistant
Isabella Harris
Updated on April 11, 2026
What do medical administrative assistants do? According to NHA, medical administrative assistants primarily work in the “front office” of a medical practice or healthcare facility. Their duties may include coordinating practice correspondence, maintaining files and scheduling appointments.
What is the difference between a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant?
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.
Which pays more medical assistant or medical office assistant?
Pay Differences Medical assistants earned less than administrative assistants at a mean $33,580 per year, or $16.15 per hour, as of May 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Around 57 percent worked in doctors’ offices to average an annual $33,570, or $16.14 per hour.
What is the role of a certified medical administrative assistant?
Medical administrative assistant duties may include greeting patients, scheduling appointments, filing insurance claims, and answering incoming calls. Day-to-day office functions are part of a medical administrative assistants’ tasks.What is the highest pay for medical assistant?
Best-Paying States for Medical Assistants The states and districts that pay Medical Assistants the highest mean salary are Alaska ($45,630), District of Columbia ($44,530), Washington ($43,760), Massachusetts ($41,780), and Minnesota ($41,710).
How do I get CMAA certified?
- Apply for your exam. Create a free NHA account online, anytime, and submit your Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) exam application through your account portal.
- Set a date. …
- Prepare, prepare, prepare. …
- Take the exam. …
- Get your results.
How long is a CMAA certification good for?
How long is your CMAA application good for? Once you have passed the CMAA exam, your certification will be active for two years.
How much do MOA make an hour?
Job TitleSalaryThe Alex Community Health Centre Medical Office Assistant salaries – 2 salaries reported$31/hrPristine Health Clinic Medical Office Assistant salaries – 2 salaries reported$17/hrDoctor’s Office Medical Office Assistant salaries – 2 salaries reported$22/hrHow much do administrative assistants make?
How Much Does an Administrative Assistant Make? Administrative Assistants made a median salary of $37,690 in 2019. The best-paid 25 percent made $47,510 that year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $30,100.
What comes after medical assistant?Medical assistants can advance to RN by earning an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing, then passing the NCLEX-RN. Often, medical assistants can earn credit for previous coursework and professional healthcare experience, accelerating their transition to a new career.
Article first time published onIs being a certified medical assistant worth it?
3. It pays great and it’s stable. Being in a high-demand industry has advantages: It’s a very stable career, and the pay trends high. The average wage for a medical assistant is currently $32,946, and ranges between $30,377 and $35,570.
Who makes more money medical assistant or phlebotomist?
Medical assistants earn, on average, $15.61 per hour, whereas phlebotomists earn $17.61 per hour. However, unlike phlebotomists, medical assistants are able to earn more as they gain experience and become specialized in area of medicine, like pediatrics or cardiology.
Is CMAA exam online?
On test day, students have 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete the exam. Students can take the exam either at your school or at a designated testing center. The exam is often administered via an online portal but may be given on paper depending on circumstances.
What are the top 3 skills of an administrative assistant?
- Communication (written and verbal)
- Prioritization and problem-solving.
- Organization and planning.
- Research and analysis.
- Attention to detail.
- Customer service.
- Phone Etiquette.
- Discretion.
What is the highest paying administrative job?
- Medical coding manager. …
- Senior executive assistant. …
- Facilities manager. …
- Senior data entry specialist. …
- Executive assistant. …
- Medical executive assistant. …
- Call center manager. …
- Certified professional coder.
Is it hard to be a medical office assistant?
Careers in the Medical field are some of the most rewarding, both on a personal and a financial level. At the same time, these careers are also very demanding: they require years of education, practical experience and hard work.
Why did you choose medical office assistant?
If you choose to become an MOA, you will build lasting relationships with regular patients, meet new people on a daily basis, and provide compassionate care to various members of your community. With the right training, you can join the MOA field and start helping people achieve their very best health.
Is medical office administration a good career?
Strong job prospects In Alberta, the job outlook for Medical Office Assistants & Unit Clerks is considered to be above average, with an expected annual growth rate of 3.9 per cent from 2016 to 2020.
How much does a medical assistant make 2021?
The average medical assistant salary in 2021 is $36,930 a year, which breaks down to $3,080 a month or $17.75 an hour. A number of factors affect average salary.
How long is medical assistant school?
Most medical assistant certification programs take about nine to twelve months to complete through a vocational school or community college. Some community colleges offer 2-year programs in which the end result is an associates degree.
Which state pays medical assistants the most?
RankStateAverage Annual Salary1Alaska$45,4902Washington$41,3403Minnesota$40,3204Massachusetts$40,270
Can a medical assistant draw blood?
The simple answer is no, medical assistants don’t draw blood, not unless they’ve received additional training. A medical assistant certificate that only covers traditional medical assistant skills doesn’t provide the training needed to draw blood.
Can a medical assistant start an IV?
Medical assistants are not allowed to administer medications or injections into the IV line.
What are the pros and cons of medical assistant?
- Job growth. The medical assisting job outlook is much better than the national average of 4 percent. …
- Short training. …
- Gaining expertise. …
- Variety in job duties. …
- Working with people. …
- Clean work environment. …
- Specializations. …
- Medical Assistant Career Advancement.
Why do medical assistants make so little?
It’s just an entry-level point in healthcare. Most of the time they don’t have nearly the amount of responsibility as a nurse. (And in general, clerical jobs don’t pay well.) If you have the academic skill, I’d recommend doing an LPN program and you can make almost twice the amount.
What is the hardest thing about being a medical assistant?
The medical assistant workday also includes plenty of structure and routine so as not to be too overwhelming. Outside of the day-to-day responsibilities, the most difficult parts of being a medical assistant are related to the unexpected clinical and administrative “emergencies” that can arise during a shift.
Are medical assistants in demand?
Employment of medical assistants is projected to grow 18 percent from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. About 104,400 openings for medical assistants are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
How many hours a day do medical assistants work?
An MA may work full-time or part-time and usually in an office setting in hospitals, clinics, outpatient care centers, and so on. They may work in the morning, afternoon, and evening shifts. Most MAs generally work for at least 40 hours per week but may put in overtime or work on weekends if necessary.
What do medical assistant do?
Medical assistants often take medical histories and record vital signs of patients. Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks in the offices of physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities. Their duties vary with the location, specialty, and size of the practice.
How many times can you take the CMAA exam?
How many times can I take the exam? Initial candidates for the CMA (AAMA) Exam are allowed three exam attempts. Candidates recertifying by exam are allowed three attempts. Each attempt will require a new exam application and fee.