Medical Assistants
O*NET files this work under Medical Assistants: people who perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Interest ratings put Conventional on top at 5.8 out of 7 and Social second, so the code is CSR and the day leans toward orderly work with data, records and clear procedures. The preparation level is medium preparation, typically one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. O*NET’s skill data points to social perceptiveness, speaking, and active listening as the ones to build. You may also need to interview patients to obtain medical information and measure their vital signs, weight, and height. If you want orderly work with data, records and clear procedures, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
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.
Main 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.
- Prepare treatment rooms for patient examinations, keeping the rooms neat and clean.
- Collect blood, tissue, or other laboratory specimens, log the specimens, and prepare them for testing.
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness
- Speaking
- Active Listening
- Reading Comprehension
- Critical Thinking
- Service Orientation
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like clear rules and getting the details right.
- You get energy from helping other people move forward.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on social perceptiveness and speaking.
May not suit you if
- You get restless with routine, records and exact procedures.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code CSR takes the three highest, and Conventional comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
- Chiropractor Assistant
- Clinical Medical Assistant
- Doctor's Assistant
- Health Assistant
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.