If you’re considering starting a new career in the medical field in a relatively short time frame, there are a few jobs you can consider. Medical assistant training programs are usually one year or less, and Phlebotomy programs are typically a few months long. If you want to start working soon, but you also want to consider your long-term options, which should you choose?
There are numerous factors to consider, but let’s look at the facts so you can make an informed decision.
Medical Assistant Overview
Medical assistants typically work in physician’s offices, hospitals, clinics, and outpatient care centers. In physician’s offices, your work schedule will usually be weekdays during regular business hours.
Most medical assistants do a mix of clinical and administrative duties, including:
- Greet patients and schedule follow up appointments
- Checking patients into appointments
- Taking vital signs
- Vaccine injections (in most states)
- Updating and organizing electronic health records
- Preparing patients for exams
- Stocking and prepping exam rooms
- Assist physicians with non-invasive procedures
- Drawing blood (with a CPT I certification or under physician supervision)
- Other non-invasive procedures not restricted by state regulations
Phlebotomist Overview
Phlebotomists work in hospitals, diagnostic and medical labs, donation centers, ambulatory healthcare centers, physician’s offices, and outpatient care facilities. The work schedule may vary depending on the facility, but working weekends is more common than as a medical assistant.
These are some of the tasks phlebotomists do:
- Draw blood for diagnostic testing
- Work in blood or plasma donation centers
- Blood draws for medical research
- Collect, label, test, transport blood to blood banks, laboratory testing, or medical facilities
Similarities and Differences Between the Two
Both phlebotomists and medical assistants work in healthcare facilities, but what other similarities and differences do they have?
| Similarities | Differences |
|---|---|
| Both work directly with patients. | Phlebotomists must be certified; medical assistants are not required to be certified by the State but it is encouraged. |
| Both require training | Phlebotomists primarily do blood draws, medical assistants do clinical and administrative tasks |
| Both work in medical offices, clinics and hospitals | Job growth is projected to be higher for medical assistants |
| Salary and wages in 2024 are similar | Training program for medical assistants is longer, shorter for phlebotomists |
| Education prerequisites for both is high school diploma or GED | Phlebotomists work in medical labs, medical assistants rarely work there |
| Both are important jobs for healthcare facility | Medical assistants do a greater variety of tasks, phlebotomists focus on blood collection |
Can a Medical Assistant Work as a Phlebotomist?
Medical assistants who earn their CPT I phlebotomy certification can work drawing blood. California is one of four states where a phlebotomy certification is required for medical assistants to do venipuncture and draw blood for patient samples and diagnostic testing.
Can a Phlebotomist Work as a Medical Assistant?
While the State of California does not have specific requirements for medical assistants regarding certification, insurance companies that underwrite malpractice insurance require medical assistants to be certified. It is incredibly unlikely that a candidate would be hired as a medical assistant without proper certification.
Training & Education
Medical assistants must undergo training that lasts many months to just over half a year. Phlebotomists must go through specific training that takes many weeks to several months. The prerequisite education to take a medical assistant or phlebotomist training program is a high school diploma or equivalent.
Career Opportunities and Pay Outlook
Both medical assistants and phlebotomists have a stable income with opportunities to advance. With experience and training, medical assistants may become medical office managers or attend nursing school to become nurses. Phlebotomy technicians can go into lab management or other medical positions with additional training.
Medical Assistants
In May 2024, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics [1] , medical assistants in the US earn a median salary of $44,200 per year and a median hourly wage of $21.25 per hour. Medical assistant job growth is projected to be 15% between 2024 and 2034.
In California, as of May 2024, medical assistants earned a mean average salary of $52,770 per year and an hourly mean wage of $25.37 per hour. California medical assistants in 2024 earned a median annual salary of $48,050 per year and a median hourly wage of $23.10 per hour. In Sacramento during 2024, medical assistants earned an annual mean salary of $61,380 and a mean hourly wage of $29.51 per hour.
Phlebotomy Technicians
Phlebotomists in the US in May 2024 earned a median annual salary of $43,660 yearly and an hourly wage of $20.99. Phlebotomists are projected by the BLS to have 8% job growth between 2024 and 2034.
In California in 2024, phlebotomists earned an annual mean salary of $55,360 and an hourly mean wage of $26.62. California phlebotomists also earned an hourly median wage of $26.66 and a median annual salary of $55,460 in 2024.in Sacramento in 2024, phlebotomy technicians earned a mean annual salary of $55,160 and a mean hourly wage of $26.52 per hour.
Should You Become a Phlebotomist or a Medical Assistant?
There are several things you should consider when deciding whether you should pursue certification in medical assisting or phlebotomy. Some vocational schools like Campus Sacramento offer a combined Medical Assisting and Phlebotomy program, which is good if you want to be able to do the largest amount of clinical tasks. Note: the following salary statistics are based on California data from the BLS as of May 2024.
| Medical Assistant | Phlebotomist | |
|---|---|---|
| Duties and Responsibilities | Clinical and administrative tasks to support physician or medical office. Preparation of patients for examination, can assist physician with exams, but not invasive procedures. Can only draw blood with CPT I certification. | Drawing blood via venipuncture, collecting, categorizing, transporting blood and plasma samples for use in diagnostic testing in laboratories and medical facilities. |
| Training and Education | Several months to just over half a year, hands-on externship, certification is encouraged but not required by the State of California | Many weeks to several months of training, including required hands-on training for specific types of blood draws. |
| Career and Job Outlook |
|
|
| Pros |
|
|
| Cons |
|
|
There are other things to consider with each career path. Phlebotomy technicians can move up into management and can also specialize in research, pediatrics, or geriatrics with supplemental training.
Medical assistants are constantly in demand and job growth is very strong right now. Career advancement is possible, but additional training is necessary if you want to become a CNA or other type of nurse.
Another factor: medical assistants may have more flexibility in the job market due to demand and their robust training. Work-life balance must also be considered. Medical assistants typically work business hours, phlebotomists may work different shifts, depending on the facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can medical assistants draw blood?
In California, Louisiana, Nevada, and Washington, medical assistants are required to have phlebotomy certification to draw blood from patients. In other states, regulations may allow medical assistants to draw blood without extra certification, as long as they have been trained, the venipuncture is under a physician’s supervision, and that licensed physician is on the premises.
Can a phlebotomist work as a medical assistant?
Phlebotomists may work as a medical assistant if they earn additional certification. Most medical malpractice insurance requires all healthcare workers in a medical office to be certified for coverage to be valid. This would mean medical assistants must be trained and certified for the job. Four states require medical assistants to be certified, regardless of malpractice insurance: Idaho, Washington, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
Can medical assistants draw blood in California?
In California, medical assistants and any healthcare professionals must have phlebotomy certification to do venipunctures and draw blood.
Get Certified as a Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, or Both at Campus Sacramento
If you’re looking to start a career in the medical industry, Campus Sacramento has certification training programs that will give you the skills to begin your healthcare career. Our Medical Assisting program will help you earn your NCMA certification in about 36 weeks. We also have a Phlebotomy certification program that will help you earn you CPT I in about 16 weeks. For students who want to earn both certifications, we have a combined Medical Assistant with Phlebotomy program that is 48 weeks long. If you want more information start dates, financial aid, and class schedule, contact our Admissions team or call 888-675-2460.
[1] Note: The data provided above are from a source unaffiliated with Campus Sacramento, formerly 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.