I think we do need to learn alot as medical assistants at least at my college, and we need to know how to do administrative and clinical tasks so we should be paid higher (not that my college taught me properly). The reason I went for medical assisting is because I did not want to do nursing. If you get a certificate for ma do you learn both sides? Im going for my associates and graduate in a few months and we need 67 credit hrs plus the hrs for the externship. My externship lasts all semester pretty much.

I have noticed that the only thing besides experience that helps you get more money is being certified. A certified MA can make more than a MA that is not. A nurse makes so much more and you learn a lot more in school. Even if a MA that has an associate degree in Medical Assisting goes back to school to be a nurse, they still have to take a lot of clinical classes and classes on how to recognize different signs of disease.

Your Professional Title/Credentials: CCMA

Are You Still In School? No

Are You Working? Yes