Clinical Medical Assistant vs. Medical Assistant

Medical assistants play a vital role in today’s healthcare system. They support providers by keeping clinics and medical offices running smoothly while helping patients feel cared for and informed.

Some medical assistants focus more on administrative work, while others focus more on patient care. You may hear titles like medical administrative assistant or clinical medical assistant, depending on an MA’s duties or where they work.

Medical assistants who spend most of their time on clinical tasks are referred to as clinical medical assistants.

They often have the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification, which is what our Online Medical Assistant Program here at Stepful prepares you to test for.

Clinical medical assistants differ from other medical assistants in a few key ways:

• Daily responsibilities. They spend more time on hands-on patient care and less on administrative tasks like scheduling.
• Training focus. They have often completed training programs that emphasize clinical skills and procedures, like phlebotomy or EKGs.
• Work environment. They are more likely to work in outpatient clinics and hospitals than in doctors’ offices, but they can work in any setting that sees patients.

This guide walks through the key differences and similarities between clinical medical assistants and medical assistants, such as education requirements, workplaces, salaries, and more to help you decide which is better for you.

Key Differences Between Clinical Medical Assistants & Medical Assistants

Medical assistants are typically healthcare professionals who support providers with a mix of administrative and clinical tasks.

Clinical medical assistants are a type of medical assistant whose work leans more heavily toward direct patient care and clinical duties.

It’s worth noting that a “medical assistant” and “clinical medical assistant” can be the same exact role.

Healthcare facilities use different names for roles, and it’s possible to be a “medical assistant” with primarily clinical duties, even if it’s not in the title.

With that being said, here are the typical differences between the two roles:

• Where they work. Medical assistants can work in many healthcare settings, but they most often work in doctors’ offices. Clinical medical assistants are more commonly found in outpatient clinics, hospitals, and practices where hands-on care is a priority.
• Responsibilities. Medical assistants often split their time between front-office tasks and patient care. Clinical medical assistants focus solely on patients, taking vital signs, preparing patients for procedures, and supporting providers during treatments.
• Preferred certification. Several different groups offer certification for medical assistants. Many clinical medical assistants choose the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) credential, which emphasizes clinical skills and patient interaction. Programs like Stepful’s prepare students for CCMA certification while still qualifying them for broader medical assistant positions.
• Salary potential. Pay for medical assistants varies by location, experience, and specialty. Medical assistants who work in more clinical or specialized roles may earn higher wages, especially in high-demand settings.
• Level of patient interaction. Clinical medical assistants typically spend more time directly with patients. Other medical assistants may have less patient contact if their role is more administrative.

Similarities Between Medical Assistants & Clinical Medical Assistants

While there are differences, these roles share many important similarities.

• Education requirements. Both roles typically require a high school diploma or GED and completion of a certification training program.
• Core skills. Skills for both medical assistant roles include communication, organization, attention to detail, and basic clinical knowledge.
• Salary range. Overall pay ranges overlap, with wages influenced more by location and experience than job title.
• Patient care. Both roles involve supporting patients, even if the level of hands-on care differs.
• Career advancement. Medical assistants in either role can move into specialties, leadership positions, or pursue further healthcare education.

Salaries & Job Outlook for Clinical Medical Assistants vs Medical Assistants

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2024, the median annual wage of medical assistants working in outpatient centers was $47,560 per year, while the average for doctors’ offices was $43,880.

While this data doesn’t differentiate between the two types of medical assistants, it shows that MAs at outpatient centers, where patient care is hands-on, often make more than MAs in office-based jobs.

For all medical assistants, the job outlook is strong, with an estimated 12% job growth in the next decade. This higher-than-average job growth (which is 3%) will be driven by the growing size of the older adult population that will need medical services.

Some worry that AI will reduce the load of administrative work and, therefore, mean fewer medical administrative assistants will be needed. While that is possible, clinical roles should continue to be in demand, since AI is less applicable to hands-on work.

How to Become a Medical Assistant or Clinical Medical Assistant

As an aspiring medical assistant, you will be trained in both clinical and administrative skills. However, if you are more interested in clinical work, you will want to choose a program that emphasizes hands-on skills, includes clinical hours, and prepares you for the right certification.

Here’s the path to becoming a medical assistant with clinical considerations highlighted:

1. Obtain your high school diploma or GED. This is the minimum requirement for most medical assistant training programs and entry-level healthcare roles.
2. Complete a medical assistant training program. Programs cover clinical skills, administrative tasks, and medical knowledge. Programs that emphasize hands-on learning will better prepare you for clinical roles. Stepful’s program, for example, includes an at-home clinical kit, which helps students build clinical skills before heading into real-world healthcare settings.
3. Gain hands-on experience through an externship. Most accredited training programs include an externship component. This is an opportunity to shadow a medical assistant and practice some of your skills under supervision. Externships can take place in different settings, so choosing a more hands-on placement will be important if you want to work as a clinical medical assistant.
4. Earn certification. Many employers prefer or require certification. Clinical medical assistants often take the CCMA exam offered by the National Healthcareer Association. This is the certification Stepful’s program prepares students for. Other medical assistants may choose the CMA or RMA certifications. All are certifications that are respected by employers nationwide.
5. Get hired and continue learning. Once hired, on-the-job experience helps you refine your skills. Many medical assistants specialize over time or pursue additional certifications to advance their careers.

Stepful’s 5-month online medical assistant program prepares students for all kinds of medical assisting roles. Because it includes hands-on learning, an externship, and prep for the CCMA credential, it is a great choice for students who hope to specialize in clinical care.