Exploring Pathways for Advancing Your Medical Assisting Career
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- Being a medical assistant opens many potential paths for career advancement.
- There are many pathways for medical assistants that are not nursing.
- Administrative positions may be perfect for those who prefer to not work with patients
Medical assisting is an excellent entry-level healthcare career with multiple opportunities for advancement. Whether you prefer to work with patients as a clinician or technologist, or aspire to leadership or administrative positions like medical coder, you have many options.
This page introduces the pathway of medical assisting to various nursing careers, the pathway of medical assisting to healthcare administration, and the pathway to non-nursing clinical positions. Use this page to plot your next career move.
How to Become a Medical Assistant
Becoming a medical assistant is an excellent way to begin your career in healthcare.
The first step will be earning a high school diploma or GED certificate. Next, you’ll enroll in a medical assisting program which can come in several forms:
- An associate degree in medical assisting program at a community college
- A diploma or certificate medical assisting program at a community college
- A diploma or certificate medical assisting program at a vocational school
An associate degree in medical assisting will take two years of full-time study. Certificate and diploma programs can take from nine to 12 months.
Becoming certified as a medical assistant isn’t required in every state, but many employers prefer certified medical assistants. Being certified can make you a more competitive candidate.
The American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) offers a 180-question exam that a medical assistant can take to demonstrate mastery of both knowledge and skill.
The National Healthcareer Association also offers medical assistants two certifications: one in clinical work and one in administrative work. Once your education is complete, you can expect to earn an average annual salary of $40,700, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Required Education: Certificate Program
- Recommended Education: Associate Degree
- Education Timeline: 1-2 years
- Average Annual Pay: $40,700 (BLS, May 2022)
Popular Online Medical Assisting Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Advancing Your Career Within Medical Assisting
Medical assistants can find ways to advance their career without going back to school. Like any profession, gaining valuable on-the-job experience is key to career advancement over time. Some medical assistants might also choose to focus on positions in a certain specialty area (e.g.: long term care, dialysis, primary care, cardiology) that allow for the sharpening of specific sets of skills. Excellent references and a stellar work history are also very important when it comes to career advancement.
Pathway One: Medical Assisting to Nursing
When a medical assistant is interested in nursing as a professional career path, many doors of opportunity can open. A natural career progression for a medical assistant might include becoming a licensed practical nurse (LPN), and later pursuing higher degrees and levels of accomplishment and responsibility, including roles such as as an RN or NP.
Career | Required Education | Average Annual Pay | Difference Compared to Medical Assistants |
---|---|---|---|
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) | LPN/LVN Program | $55,860 per year | +$15,160 |
Staff Registered Nurse (RN) | ADN | $89,010 per year | +$48,310 |
Nurse Practitioner (NP) | MSN | $124,680 per year | +$83,980 |
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | MSN | $98,050 per year | +$57,350 |
Nurse Educator | MSN | $84,180 per year | +$43,480 |
Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN)
Becoming an LPN is the shortest educational route for a medical assistant to begin a career as a professional nurse.
Medical assisting and LPN duties differ. LPNs provide hands-on nursing care, usually under the supervision of RNs or MDs, while medical assistants provide more basic care and clerical duties.
The skills you learn as a medical assistant lend themselves well to success as an LPN, including basic hands-on care, patient communication, and patient education. LPN programs are usually 12-18 months long and, like medical assisting programs, require a GED certificate or high school diploma. Successful completion of the program and earning a passing score on the NCLEX-PN exam are the final step in becoming licensed.
- Required Education: Licensed practical nurse or licensed vocational nurse (LPN/LVN) program
- Recommended Education: Same
- Education Timeline: 1-2 years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $15,160 per year (BLS, May 2022)
Staff Registered Nurse (RN)
To become a registered nurse (RN), you must complete an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN). An ADN program will take an average of two years, and a BSN an average of four years. Those with an ADN or BSN are all RNs and have the same level of clinical skill. A BSN opens up opportunities for roles in management. Of note, some hospitals choose to hire only BSNs, and many prefer to hire BSNs.
Experience in medical assisting is a good entry-level introduction, and as a registered nurse, you build upon the basic skills of a medical assistant.
- Required Education: Associate degree in nursing (ADN)
- Recommended Education: Bachelor’s of science in nursing (BSN)
- Education Timeline: 1-4 years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $48,310 per year increase compared to medical assistants; $33,150 increase compared to LPNs (BLS, May 2022)
Advanced Nursing Positions
Advanced nursing positions require a master’s or doctorate in nursing and are excellent opportunities to use high-level nursing expertise and knowledge.
Nurse practitioners are clinicians who provide skilled patient care in many settings, including primary and acute care.
Clinical nurse specialists use their expertise as consultants, educators, researchers, and leaders, while nurse educators are essential for the growth of the profession. These roles are worth considering for nurses seeking to take their careers to the most advanced level possible.
Nurse Practitioner (NP)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who are able to assess patients, order tests, diagnose diseases, and prescribe medications.
Most NPs have a master’s degree in nursing (MSN), although an increasing number are now choosing to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). For RNs with a BSN degree, an NP program will generally take 2 years to complete.
The NP role is an advanced clinical role that builds upon the skills and knowledge of the registered nurse.
- Required Education: MSN
- Recommended Education: Doctor of nursing practice (DNP)
- Education Timeline: 1-2 Years
- Experience Required: At least 5 years of nursing experience
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $83,980 per year compared to medical assistants; $35,670 more per year than staff registered nurses (BLS, May 2022)
Clinical Nurse Specialist
A clinical nurse specialist (CNS) is an expert APRN who can function in multiple roles. A CNS can educate patients and their families about disease processes and treatments, teach and train other nurses in the healthcare setting, conduct research, play a role in healthcare leadership, or serve as a consultant on best practices and optimal patient care. Becoming a CNS involves earning the minimum of an MSN through an accredited nursing graduate school program, although a DNP is strongly recommended.
- Required Education: MSN
- Recommended Education: DNP
- Education Timeline: 1-2 Years
- Experience Required: At least 5 years of nursing experience
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: BLS does not collect the data on clinical nurse specialists specifically, but according to Payscale data from October 2023, they make about $57,350 more per year than medical assistants or $9,040 more per year than staff RNs.
Nurse Educator
Nurse educators work in colleges and universities and provide high-quality education to nursing students at all levels, including LPN, RN, BSN, MSN, and doctoral programs such as the Ph.D. or DNP. Nursing education brings new nurses into the profession and also helps working nurses advance their careers by furthering their education. Some nurse educators may continue working in the clinical space, while some may choose to focus their careers solely on education.
The nurse educator role involves designing curriculum, serving as a mentor or role model, and motivating and evaluating student performance. Nurse educators must be excellent communicators dedicated to using their expertise to promote students’ learning, growth, and professional advancement.
- Required Education: MSN
- Recommended Education: DNP
- Education Timeline: 1-2 Years
- Experience Required: At least 5 years of nursing experience
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $43,480 more per year compared to medical assistants; $4,830 less per year than staff registered nurses (BLS, May 2022)
Popular Online RN-to-BSN Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Pathway Two: Medical Assisting to Healthcare Administration
Working in the clinical space can be physically and emotionally challenging, and some prefer to avoid the stressors of patient care by pursuing non-patient facing opportunities.
For medical assistants interested in administrative rather than clinical roles, the following are options in healthcare administration that are worth exploring.
Career | Required Education | Average Annual Pay | Difference Compared to Medical Assistants |
---|---|---|---|
Medical Biller and Coder | Certificate | $51,090 per year | +$10,390 |
Coder Manager or Medical Billing Manager | Bachelor’s degree | $59,320-$76,580 per year | +$18,620-$35,876 |
Medical and Health Services Managers | Bachelor’s degree | $127,980 per year | +$87,280 |
Medical Biller or Coder
Becoming a medical coder or biller generally requires earning a certification such as certified coding associate (CCA), certified medical biller (CPB) or certified professional coder (CPC). In order to be more competitive in the job market, a medical assistant with an interest in coding might pursue an associate degree in medical coding.
Once certified, the clinical knowledge of a medical assistant may be helpful in communicating to potential employers your understanding of the healthcare industry. As a medical coder, you'd know how the complexities and importance of accurate coding can drive reimbursement and a facility’s bottom line.
- Required Education: Certificate program in medical billing or coding
- Recommended Education: Associate degree in medicall billing or coding
- Education Timeline: 1-2 Years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $10,390 per year compared to medical assistants. BLS does not track the average salary of medical billers and coders specifically. They’re considered medical records specialists. (BLS, May 2022)
Coding Manager or Medical Billing Manager
For those with deeper interest in medical billing and coding on the leadership side, management is another career option. A bachelor’s degree in medical billing and coding can open up possibilities such as managing medical practice administration, or having a staff of coders and others reporting to you.
To advance within the world of healthcare administration and management, a master’s in business administration (MBA) provides a wealth of knowledge about the business and financial side of healthcare, including the regulatory issues that directly affect physician and provider reimbursement.
- Required Education: Bachelor of medical billing
- Recommended Education: Master’s in Business Administration (MBA)
- Education Timeline: 4-6 Years
- Experience Required: At least 5 years of medical billing and coding experience
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: BLS does not collect the data on clinical nurse specialists specifically, but according to Payscale data from October 2023, coding managers make about $76,580 more per year than medical assistants, or $25,490 more per year than medical records specialists. Medical billing managers make about $18,620 more annually than medical assistants or $8,230 more annually than medical records specialists (Payscale, October 2023).
Medical and Health Services Managers
Practice managers oversee the daily operations of healthcare facilities or practices. This role provides steady and effective leadership on both the clinical and the operations side of medical facilities. Communication skills, attention to detail, conflict resolution, and problem-solving are essential for this (and any) leadership position.
A master’s in healthcare administration (MHA) is an educational path that opens up many possibilities if you seek to make a difference as a healthcare leader. Prior knowledge of direct patient care is definitely a plus in this type of position since it provides insight into how a practice runs from the clinical perspective.
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Recommended Education: MHA degree
- Education Timeline: 4-6 years
- Experience Required: Less than 5 years of experience in nursing or medical billing and coding
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $87,280 per year compared to medical assistants, $76,890 compared to medical records specialists, and $29,480 compared to charge nurses (BLS, May 2022)
Popular Online Healthcare Administration Programs
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Other Career Opportunities for Medical Assistants
Medical assistants can choose from many clinical career paths outside of the nursing field. Medical assistants can leverage their skills in hands-on care, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication with patients and families to be highly successful in the following careers.
Career | Required Education | Average Annual Pay | Difference Compared to Medical Assistants |
---|---|---|---|
Radiology Technologist | Associate degree | $70,240 per year | +29,540 |
Medical Laboratory Technician or Technologist | Associate degree | $59,130 per year | +$18,430 |
Respiratory Therapist | Bachelor’s degree | $74,310 per year | +33,610 |
Dental Hygienist | Dental hygienist program | $84,860 per yea | +$44,160 |
Physician’s Assistant | Master’s degree | $125,270 per year | +$84,570 |
Radiology Technologist
X-ray technologists perform diagnostic tests such as X-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Since ordering physicians and the radiologists who interpret the results rely on the accuracy of these tests, the role of the X-ray technologist is central to obtaining correct diagnoses.
Attention to detail, the ability to give clear instructions, and the capacity to be patient and compassionate with patients undergoing testing, are all key for X-ray technologists’ success.
Becoming an X-ray technician requires an associate or bachelor’s degree in radiologic technology, followed by certification.
With 6% projected job growth between 202 and 2032, X-ray technologists will continue to be in demand.
- Required Education: Associate degree in sonography
- Recommended Education: Bachelor’s degree in radiology
- Education Timeline: 1-4 Years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $29,540 per year compared to medical assistants (BLS, May 2022)
Medical Laboratory Technician or Technologist
Becoming a laboratory technician means being a valuable member of the healthcare team. This role takes samples of patients’ blood, urine, tissue, and other body fluids in order to help physicians understand patients’ symptoms or disease state.The doctor relies on the lab technician to correctly and accurately obtain laboratory samples in order to proceed with the correct treatment.
Technicians who can perform tests with accuracy and reliability will be highly successful. Lab technicians must be able to put patients of all ages at ease, explain the process of obtaining test samples, and treat patients with kindness, dignity, and respect throughout the testing process.
- Required Education: Associate degree in health science
- Recommended Education: Bachelor’s degree in health science
- Education Timeline: 1-4 years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $18,430 per year compared to medical assistants (BLS, May 2022)
Respiratory Therapist
Respiratory therapists (RTs) work with patients of all ages who have issues related to breathing. A bachelor’s degree in respiratory therapy is highly recommended, although some RTs find work with an associate degree. However, a master’s degree will put the therapist at a significant advantage in competitive job markets.
RTs can work with patients ranging from premature babies in the NICU to those who are very elderly. Some RTs work with patients in sleep labs, whereas others prefer the high-adrenaline area of ground and air transport in ambulances, helicopters, or fixed-wing aircraft.
Individuals who love science coupled with direct patient care will thrive in respiratory therapy.
- Required Education: Bachelor’s degree
- Recommended Education: Master’s degree
- Education Timeline: 1-4 years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $33,610 per year compared to medical assistants (BLS, May 2022)
Dental Hygienist
To become a dental hygienist, the individual must earn an associate or bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene.
Since dental hygienists work in very close quarters with dental patients who are often anxious and frightened, they need a calming and friendly bedside manner and be able to quickly establish rapport. Dental hygiene is highly detailed work that requires patience, excellent hand-eye coordination, strong communication skills, and physical stamina.
- Required Education: Dental hygienist program
- Recommended Education: Same
- Education Timeline: 3 Years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $44,160 per year compared to medical assistants (BLS, May 2022)
Physician Assistant
A physician assistant (PA) is a master’s-prepared healthcare provider who, like a nurse practitioner, is able to assess patients’ symptoms, order tests and labs, diagnose diseases and conditions, and prescribe medications.
Unlike nurse practitioners, PAs do not enjoy full practice authority in any U.S. states or territories, thus they always require a level of physician supervision based on each state’s regulations.
To become a PA, it is necessary to earn a master’s degree from an accredited PA program. Since PAs are specifically hands-on clinicians, skills in physical assessment, communication, and collaboration are crucial, as well as other knowledge and skill sets learned in the course of a PA graduate program.
- Required Education: Master’s degree
- Recommended Education: Same
- Education Timeline: 4-6 Years
- Experience Required: None
- Difference in Average Annual Pay: $84,570 per year compared to medical assistants (BLS, May 2022)
Page last reviewed on October 21, 2023