Can Medical Assistants Give Injections Or Shots?

Medical assistants are healthcare workers that perform clinical and administrative tasks, primarily in doctor’s offices, hospitals, and outpatient care centers.

People often wonder if medical assistants can give shots or injections to patients. The regulations for medical assistants vary state to state. In some states like California, they must undergo specialized training to give injections to patients. Thirty-five states allow medical assistants to give injections without any special training hours or additional certification.

Let’s look at the conditions for when medical assistants can give injections for vaccines or immunizations.

Can Medical Assistants Give Injections?

Generally, yes, medical assistants can give injections and administer shots or vaccines. In many states they can do this if a doctor or registered nurse has shown them how to do the procedure and has delegated the task to them. In a handful of states, medical assistants must undergo special training or certification to give injections.

Injections are not intravenous procedures, these are subdermal procedures such as vaccines or immunizations, hormone shots, flu shots, or allergy treatments.

Medical assistants can draw blood in most states under supervision from a physician. In four states – California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington – a medical assistant must be certified for phlebotomy to draw blood from patients.

Keep in mind that medical assistants are not licensed to practice medicine, so they cannot perform any procedure that is considered invasive. In all fifty states, medical assistants work under the supervision of a licensed physician in the medical office or facility.

What is the Scope of Practice for Medical Assistants?

The scope of practice for medical assistants for each state varies according to state regulations. Medical assistants can perform administrative duties such as scheduling appointments, updating patient records, sending referrals to other medical offices, helping with patient registry and paperwork. In their clinical responsibilities, prepare examination rooms, take vital signs, collect information about patient medical history, sterilize equipment, assist a physician with an exam, and explain medication after the exam. Medical assistants cannot diagnose patients, give medical exams, write prescriptions, or give anesthesia.

In states where it is allowed, medical assistants can give injections for immunizations or vaccines under a doctor’s instruction, if they have the required training.

Medical assistants can start a peripheral intravenous catheter (IV) in 35 states without restriction. Another 7 states allow medical assistants to set up an IV only if they have completed the required training. Eight states do not allow medical assistants to start a patient IV at all: Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. Only a nurse or physician can inject medication into an IV.

Also, medical assistants cannot give Botox or collagen injections.

In Which States Can Medical Assistants Give Injections?

In many states, medical assistants give vaccination, allergy, hormone, or immunization shots under the supervision of a physician. This does not extend to injecting medications into an IV, or injecting Botox or collagen, which must be done by a nurse or physician.

There are specific states that have regulations about the requirements for medical assistants giving injections. These are the states as follows:

States Where Medical Assistants Cannot Give Injections

States Where Medical Assistants Can Give Injections Without Restrictions

Medical Assistants in California and Injections

In California, medical assistants can administer injections for vaccines and other non-invasive procedures once they complete the required training (see table above). These injections can be done under the delegation and supervision of a physician.

When medical assistants in California are injecting medications by intradermal, intramuscular or subcutaneous means, the physician or podiatrist must be on the premises during the injection.

If the medical assistant is administering flu or vaccine shots, the licensed physician must verify the dose and be present at the facility during the injection.

Injecting collagen or Botox does not fall in the scope of medical assistant duties in California. They are restricted from injecting Botox or collagen into patients entirely.

Medical assistants must not inject anesthetics into patients in California. Additionally, medical assistants cannot start or disconnect IV’s, or administer medications, or inject medications into a patient’s IV. These are all considered invasive procedures in California, and therefore fall outside the scope of practice for MA’s.

FAQs

Can Medical Assistants Give Botox Injections?

No, medical assistants are restricted from giving Botox injections. Cosmetic treatment like collagen or Botox injections must be done by a physician, or a physician’s assistant or registered nurse, if they are trained to do so, and only under a physician's supervision. Medical assistants can still work in medical offices or environments where cosmetic injections are administered.

Can Medical Assistants Give Vaccines?

Yes, medical assistants are allowed to give vaccine injections in all states where it is permitted, with the required training and under a physician’s supervision. New York still restricts medical assistants from administering vaccines or injections.

Become a Medical Assistant with Hands-On Training in Sacramento

If you want to start a career in medical assisting, you can earn your NCMA Medical Assistant certification at Campus Sacramento, formerly known as MTI College. Our medical assistant training program will give you the training you need to start your career in about 36 weeks. We also offer a Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy certification program that gives you both certifications in about 48 weeks. For more information on these programs offered at our Sacramento junior college, contact our Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.