Medical Assistant vs EMTs: What are the Differences?

If you’re interested in healthcare career, you might be considering becoming a Medical Assistant (MA) or Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). There is some overlap with their duties and responsibilities, though the work settings are vastly different. Before making a big decision about your career, take a few minutes to look at each of these positions and see the similarities and differences. This will help you make an informed decision about what path you should take.

What is a Medical Assistant?

A medical assistant is a healthcare professional who supports physicians, nurse practitioners, and other healthcare providers in a medical facility. They are responsible for clinical and administrative tasks which help the medical team provide patient care. Their work includes scheduling appointments, taking vital signs, updating patient records, preparing patients for examinations, assisting with patient procedures, and many non-invasive clinical tasks which can be delegated and supervised by a physician.

Where Do Medical Assistants Work?

Medical assistants most often work in physicians’ offices, outpatient care centers, clinics, hospitals, and offices of specialized health providers.

What Duties Do Medical Assistants Have?

Medical assistants can work in any setting where there are licensed physicians. They are not allowed to practice medicine, or do invasive procedures, but they are able to do many clinical and administrative tasks, including:

• Scheduling patient appointments
• Greeting patients and checking them in
• Preparing patients for examinations; preparing rooms for exams
• Updating and managing patient medical records
• Taking vital signs, like pulse and blood pressure
• Inputting and updating patient insurance information
• Collecting patient samples
• Drawing blood for testing under a physician’s supervision or with a CPT I certification (depending on state regulations)
• Removing sutures and staples
• Giving EKGs
• Administering injections or giving medications per physician’s instructions and as regulated by state law
• Helping physicians with medical examinations
• Changing wound dressings
• Performing basic laboratory exams
• Giving patients pre-measured doses of medication as reviewed by physicians

What is an EMT?

An Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) is a medical professional and a first responder to emergency situations and 911 calls. They arrive at accident scenes, natural disasters, life-threatening incidents and stabilize patients before they are transported to the hospital. An EMT provides critical care such as CPR or other basic life support to help patients after cardiac arrest, major injuries, trauma from accidents, respiratory issues, and other critical scenarios. They make sure the patient is stable as they are transported to a hospital.

Where Do EMTs Work?

EMTs work in pre-hospital environments such as ambulance services, fire departments, public and private hospitals, outpatient care centers, and private medical emergency services. An EMT is part of a team called to the scene of an emergency, such as accidents, natural disasters, and medical emergencies.

Because medical emergencies happen around the clock, an EMTs work schedule may vary widely. They can work days, nights, weekends, and may also do shifts that are longer – up to 10 or 12 hours.

What Job Duties Does an EMT Have?

An EMT provides immediate care in crisis situations before patients can be transported to a hospital. Due to the nature of the work, the emotional and physical stress on an EMT can be quite substantial. Some of their work responsibilities include:

• Responding to emergency calls as they are dispatched to the scene
• Basic life support procedures, including CPR, chest compressions (during cardiac arrest), and using defibrillators
• Clearing airway obstructions
• Splinting broken bones
• Controlling bleeding from injuries; bandaging wounds
• Assisting in childbirth when needed
• Transport patients to the hospital or trauma center
• Sterilize the ambulance interior and clean equipment
• Write patient care report for the hospital so they have necessary information
• Restock medical supplies in ambulance

Although EMTs can provide some important medical care, there are some advanced procedures that they are restricted from doing, that are typically performed by paramedics.

EMTs must make quick decisions in stressful situations. The demands of this job are high, but you get to save lives.

Similarities

Medical assistants and EMTs have some things in common:

• Working with patients. Both work directly with patients and provide support.
• Pay range is similar. In California, the annual salary is within about 1k of each other, in the total US, the annual salary is about 2k difference between them.
• Education and training requirements. Both are entry-level medical positions that take less than a year of training. Certification is not required for medical assistants by the State, but it is highly recommended. EMTs must be certified.

Differences

Even though both medical assistants and EMTs are medical professionals, there are a few things that are quite different about their jobs.

• Work Environment. EMTs work in the field, and medical assistants primarily work in a medical office or hospital. An EMT responds to emergency calls and 911 dispatches, and stabilizes patients in extreme injury or medical situations. They work in ambulance services, fire departments, and some hospitals and clinics. Medical assistants work primarily with scheduled appointments in a medical office. There are some medical assistants that work in clinics, outpatient clinics, and hospitals. Sometimes medical assistants work in urgent care, but the majority work in medical offices.
• Scope of Practice Allowed. Medical assistants can perform clinical and administrative tasks, and they are allowed to do certain things (in most states) like giving an EKG, administering vaccines, drawing blood (under physician’s supervision or with CPT I), and collecting patient samples. They are not allowed to do any procedures designated as invasive.
  
  EMTs do mostly clinical tasks and are not allowed to do certain procedures that are reserved for paramedics. They can do CPR and basic life support, use a defibrillator, splint broken bones, bandage wounds, and stop bleeding.
• Patient Conditions. EMTs work with patients in critical or emergency situations, making sure they are stable as they go to a hospital. Medical assistants mostly work with patients who are scheduled for a doctor's appointment for routine or preventative services, or walk-in patients in less critical situations.
• Schedule Predictability. Medical assistants have a very structured workflow, especially in a medical office. They see patients on a consistent schedule and can spend a certain amount of time with each patient. Most medical assistants work weekdays on regular business hours. Some days may get busier or the schedule may get tight, but this is manageable for a well-organized team and MA.
  
  EMTs on the other hand, have a more unpredictable schedule and workday. Some shifts may be in the day, evening, on weekends, or there may be long shifts. You aren’t certain how busy your day will be. You might be overwhelmed with patients and emergencies one day and it may be relatively quiet the next.

Salary and Job Outlook

In California, as of May 2024, medical assistants and EMTs were very close to the same mean annual salary and mean hourly wage according to data from the BLS.

Medical Assistant and EMT salary comparison (May 2024 via Bureau of Labor Statistics)^[1]

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2023 and 2033, jobs for medical assistants will increase by 15% and for EMTs by 6%.

Medical assistants in May 2024, nationwide earned a mean annual salary of $44,200 and a mean hourly wage of $21.25.

In California, as of May 2024, medical assistants earned a mean annual salary of $52,770  and a mean hourly wage of $25.37.

EMTs in the US as of May 2024 earned a mean annual salary of $46,350 and a mean hourly wage of $22.28.

In California, as of May 2024, EMTs earned a mean annual salary of $51,820  and a mean hourly wage of $24.92.

Education Requirements

For both medical assistants and EMTs, students must have a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent to enroll in training. Medical assisting programs usually take 6 to 12 months to complete; EMT training programs usually take 4 to 6 months to finish.

Medical assistants will learn:

• Medical terminology
• Basic anatomy and physiology
• Fundamentals of medical billing and coding
• Medical office workflows
• Administrative skills for medical facilities
• Clinical practices, including a hands-on externship

EMTs must complete a state-approved program, pass a certification exam, and get certified with the State.

Some of the things you would typically learn as an EMT include:

• Emergency medical procedures
• Patient assessment and triage
• CPR and basic life support
• Trauma and airway management

After completing the program, EMTs must register with the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) and pass an exam to become certified. Most states also require you to pass a background check and get certified with the State. They will verify your NREMT certification.

Certification Processes and Requirements

Medical assistants are not required in the State of California to be certified to work in a healthcare facility, though it is encouraged. For insurance reasons, many malpractice carriers require employees in a physician’s office to be certified for their positions.

To become certified as a medical assistant, you must:

·         Complete an accredited training program. Most training programs take several months to complete – the program at Campus Sacramento is about 9 months. A good program will teach you medical terminology, administrative and clinical training, and include a hands-on externship.

·         Pass a certification exam. There are a few different certifying bodies and exams, the one our college uses is the Nationally Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA) Exam.

·         Maintain certification regularly. Medical assistants must re-certify every few years via a recertification exam. This is to ensure they are up to date on current practices.

Some medical assistants may also pursue advanced certifications if they want to work in specialized fields alongside specialist physicians.

EMTs in California must be certified to work for emergency services. The steps for certification are as follows:

·         Complete a State-approved program. These must include classroom instruction and hands-on training. These are usually 4 to 6 months long. Students learn CPR, trauma response, and patient transport, among other skills.

·         Pass the NREMT Exam. The National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) exam is a national exam with written and practical components.

·         Get licensed by the state. The State of California and most other states require you to pass a background check and they will verify your NREMT certification.

·         Recertify regularly. EMTs must recertify every two years by taking continuing education credits or refresher courses to keep their skills fine-tined and up-to-date.

How to Choose Which Career to Pursue

There are pros and cons to both being an EMT or a medical assistant, so consider these things if you’re deciding between these two paths.

Types of responsibilities you want to take on. Both medical assistants and EMTs are healthcare workers, but they have different day-to-day responsibilities. EMTs deal with emergency situations, while medical assistants have a more serene work environment.

How much can you potentially earn? In California, medical assistants earn a little more than EMTs, but the salaries are very close to being the same. Nationwide, EMTs earn slightly more than medical assistants, though the gap isn’t vast. Look at salary data for your state to determine the best course of action.

How long will it take to enter the workforce? Both these positions are ones you can get certifications for, but typically EMT training takes a little less time than medical assistants.

Exactly how much excitement or stress are you prepared to handle? There can be stress in any healthcare job, but EMTs are often called into life-or-death situations, while medical assistants typically work in less hectic environments.

How much patient interaction do you prefer? EMTs provide immediate response care to patients while transporting them to hospitals. These are high-stress situations, and they rarely get repeat interactions with patients. On the other hand, medical assistants often work in medical offices and have the opportunity to develop familiarity with patients over time. Seeing repeat patients allows the medical assistant to develop a bond with their patients.

FAQ

Can a medical assistant become an EMT?

Medical assistants can become EMTs if they go through an EMT training program and pass a certification exam.

Can an EMT work as a medical assistant?

California does not have a requirement for medical assistants to be certified to work in a healthcare facility, so technically, this is possible. Malpractice insurance carriers may require everyone who works in a physician’s office to be certified for their position, so it may be pragmatic for EMTs to go through a medical assisting program and certification if they want to switch jobs.

For both medical assistants and EMTs wanting to switch jobs, check your state regulations for specific requirements.

Which is higher in status, an EMT or a medical assistant?

Neither one is higher on the “food chain” or more prestigious. Both medical assistants and EMTs are entry-level healthcare professions that work directly with patients and provide care to people in the community. The pay is close in range to each other in many states and metropolitan areas.

Is it harder to become a medical assistant or an EMT?

The training programs for medical assistants tend to be a bit longer than that for EMTs, but EMTs must get more than one certification in order to work in California, and they must also pass a basic physical assessment to work, according to state regulations.

Become a Medical Assistant at Our Sacramento Junior College

If you’re looking to begin a new career in the healthcare industry, Campus Sacramento (formerly MTI College) has a training program just for you. Our 36 week Medical Assisting program will get you ready for entry level positions in clinical and administrative medical assisting. Your certification and training will open doors for jobs at doctor’s offices, clinics, hospitals and more. any questions about start dates, curriculum, or financial aid, contact our friendly Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.

^[1] Note: The data provided above are from a source unaffiliated with Campus, formerly known as MTI College, are for informational purposes only and represent the employment field as a whole. They are not solely specific to Campus graduates and, by providing the above information, Campus makes no representation, direct or implied, or opinion regarding employability.