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Medical Assistant Job Description: All Key Roles & Duties

8 min read · Updated on May 16, 2024

How do you read a Medical Assistant job description and use the knowledge to craft a compelling resume?

The purpose of a Medical Assistant job description is to let you know a position is open and what you'll be expected to do if you're hired. Right?

Well, yes! But there's more to it. 

It's not just about ticking boxes and matching keywords; it's about matching your skills and career achievements with what employers want. Here, you'll learn how to dissect a Medical Assistant job description so you can properly tailor your resume and win interviews. 

Understanding the Medical Assistant job description

Think of the Medical Assistant job description as a blueprint for what is expected of you. Then, expand your thinking to understand that it's a complete framework you can use to align your skills and experiences to employer needs – well, the good ones are, anyway. 

The main parts

For the companies who take the time to write comprehensive Medical Assistant job descriptions, you should expect to find a set format.

The first thing you'll see is, obviously, the title of the role

After that will be a paragraph about the company, though this is sometimes left off

The next paragraph will be a brief introduction to the role itself

Then, you'll see a list of bullet points that define what you'll do on a daily basis

The final piece of the job description is qualifications – how much experience and education you need, plus the soft skills they want you to possess

The really great Medical Assistant job descriptions will give details about how to apply and may even include some Equal Employment Opportunity language. Though, most will simply have an APPLY button at the top. 

Let's take a look at an example Medical Assistant job description. 

Medical Assistant job description

Assist in examination and treatment of patients under the direction of a physician. Interview patients, measure vital signs (i.e., pulse rate, temperature, blood pressure, weight, and height) and record information on patients' charts. May be required to draw and collect blood samples from patients and prepare specimens for laboratory analysis. Prepare treatment rooms, inform patients of costs for care being provided, and guide them to appropriate resources for further information. 

Responsibilities:

Welcome patients by greeting them in person or on the telephone

Verify patient information by interviewing patient, recording medical history, confirming purpose of visit

Prepare patients for the health care visit by directing and/or accompanying them to the examining room

Perform preliminary physical tests; take blood pressure, weight and temperature; report patient history summary

Secure patient information and maintain patient confidence by completing and safeguarding medical records; completing diagnostic coding and procedure coding; keeping patient information confidential

Counsel patients by transmitting physician's orders and questions about surgery

Educate patients by providing medication and diet information and instructions; answering questions

Schedule surgeries by making arrangements with the surgical center, verifying times with patients and preparing charts, pre-admission and consent forms

Maintain safe, secure and healthy work environment by establishing and following standards and procedures and complying with legal regulations

Keep supplies ready by inventorying stock, placing orders, verifying receipt

Keep equipment operating by following operating instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining supplies, performing preventive maintenance and calling for repairs

Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities and reading professional publications

Enhance practice reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests and exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments

Complete records by recording patient examination, treatment and test results

Generate revenue by recording billing information of services rendered, completing insurance forms and responding to insurance and other third-party inquiries

Maintain patient confidence and protect operations by keeping patient care information confidential

Serve and protect the physician or healthcare provider practice by adhering to professional standards, policies and procedures, federal, state and local requirements and Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) standards

Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities, reading professional publications, maintaining personal networks and participating in professional organizations

Enhance health care practice reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests and exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments

Qualifications:

Requires a high school diploma and medical assistant certificate 

0-2 years of experience in a related field 

Knowledge of commonly used concepts, practices, and procedures within a particular field

Rely on limited experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals

Perform a variety of tasks

Rely on instructions and pre-established guidelines to perform the functions of the job

Work under immediate supervision of a supervisor or manager

How does understanding the Medical Assistant job description factor into your career?

When you learn how to dissect the job description, you become equipped with valuable information that can help you advance your career. 

Make a list of your skills and proficiencies

The first thing you need to do – before you ever get to the point of writing your resume – is make a list of skills you possess that help prove you're one of the best Medical Assistants out there. 

Carefully consider a blend of clinical and administrative duties.

Clinical Duties: These could involve assisting with medical procedures, conducting basic laboratory tests, and caring for patients before, during, and after exams.

Administrative Tasks: This side of the job covers scheduling patient appointments, maintaining detailed health records, managing billing information, and ensuring the smooth operation of the office.

How about a list of Medical Assistant top skills & proficiencies for some inspiration?

Professionalism

Customer Service

Inventory Management

Written and Verbal Communication

Clinical Skills

Health Promotion and Maintenance

Procedural Skills

Documentation Skills

Inventory Control

Dependability

Supply Management

Organization

Customer Focus

Confidentiality

Bedside Manner

Medical Teamwork

Recognize common terminologies and phrases

Yes, you'll want to tailor your resume to each Medical Assistant job description you come across, but you will see some commonalities. Pay special attention to terms like 

Patient care

Clinical support

Healthcare administration

Regulatory compliance

These aren't just jargon; they are crucial areas in which you will need to showcase expertise.

Tailor your resume

Once you have your list of skills and have found all the common phrases different companies use in their Medical Assistant job descriptions, write your resume. You'll most likely want to choose the reverse chronological resume format because, let's face it, the world of healthcare is nothing if it's not traditional – simply put, it's what hiring managers will expect to see.

Related reading: How to Make a Resume: Beginner's Writing Guide with Examples

Then, you'll go through your new resume and inject keywords that aren't so common among different job descriptions. This is called tailoring your Medical Assistant resume. Basically, you're ensuring that it is customized with the right keywords, using the language and verbiage you find in the Medical Assistant job description. 

Professional development

You may also find it interesting to know that another way the Medical Assistant job description factors into your career centers around ongoing professional development . When you review the skills and experiences required for the jobs you want to apply to, you'll be able to identify areas for growth. 

For example, if you see a lot of Medical Assistant job descriptions requesting proficiency with a particular electronic medical record system, but your skills using that system aren't quite up to par, you could take an online course to boost your knowledge. That course would be something you could put into the EDUCATION section of your resume, boosting your qualifications. 

Common mistakes to avoid when interpreting job descriptions and tailoring resumes

Whether you spend several days or a couple of weeks carefully crafting your resume, there are some errors that can derail your job search efforts. 

Avoid overlooking soft skills, especially in a field that requires teamwork and compassionate care. Soft skills will often win the day and earn you an interview if the hiring manager has two candidates with similar hard skills. 

Honesty is key. It can be easy to give in to the temptation of inflating your qualifications, like saying you have experience in the psych ward when all you did was a one-week rotation during clinicals. 

Don't skip the tailoring part. It is so easy to send your resume out to hundreds of companies and hope something sticks, but it's more efficient to customize it and actually get a phone call for an interview.

Dissecting the Medical Assistant job description is a strategic move

Searching for a job in today's market can, in and of itself, feel like a job. However, when you use a little strategy and properly dissect the Medical Assistant job description to align your skills and qualifications with what employers are looking for, you'll set yourself up for success. Remember to avoid pitfalls and go out and get that job you want.

Once you've written your Medical Assistant resume, a great next step is to let the resume-writing experts at TopResume give it a free once-over for you . You'll get comprehensive feedback on anything that needs to be done to help your resume stand out from the crowd.

Recommended reading:

7 Key Updates for a Strong Healthcare Resume

How to Build a Strong Medical Resume

Your Guide for Getting a Career in Healthcare

Related Articles:

How to Maximize Your Resume Action Words to Wow the Employer

Senior Project Manager Skills: Add to Improve Your Resume!

Guide to Writing a Great Resume with No Work Experience

See how your resume stacks up.

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Medical Assistant Resume - Examples & Guide for 2024

Medical assistants play a crucial role in protecting our lives.

And you’ve got everything it takes to do so.

In fact, you love taking care of your patients.

Taking care of your resume is a different story.

Thankfully, we have created this guide to assist you with every step in building a medical assistant resume. 

• An example of a finished medical assistant resume that works
• How to write a medical assistant resume that’ll fill up your interview diary
• How to make your medical assistant resume stand out [with top tips & tricks]

Before we get into the details, here’s a medical assistant resume example , created with our very own resume builder :

Looks first-class, right?! The good news is that you can create one just like this.

Just follow the steps below.

How to Format a Medical Assistant Resume

Before you can wow the recruiter with your skills and experiences, you need pick the best format.

You see, there will be a correct format for your specific situation.

Choosing the correct format will allow the recruiter to easily see your best attributes. 

The most common resume format is “ reverse-chronological ”, and it’s not surprise. Essentially, this format puts your best attributes up-top. We recommend starting with this format.

The following resume formats also get our approval:

• Functional Resume – If you have the relevant skills, but not much of a work history, this resume format is recommended. It’s ideal for trained medical assistants that are new to the field or have gaps in their employment history
• Combination Resume – Combining both “Functional” and “Reverse-Chronological”, this format focuses both on skills AND work experience. In opposition to the functional resume, you can use a combination resume if you have a wealth of work experience

Once your format has been selected, you need to decide on your resume layout .

Use a Medical Assistant Resume Template

Creating a resume seems easy.

Just fire-up Microsoft Word and start typing, right?!

Well, not quite.

Using Word can result in a resume layout that falls apart with just a small alteration. 

Want to skip formatting issues? Use one of our resume templates that can easily be personalized for a medical assistant position.

What to Include in a Medical Assistant Resume

The main sections in a medical assistant resume are:

• Contact Information
• Work Experience
• Certificates

Want to go a step further? You can also add these optional sections:

• Awards & Achievements
• Volunteer Experience
• Personal Projects

Interests & Hobbies

That’s an impressive list, but what should you write for each section?

Read on to find out.

Want to know more about resume sections? View our guide on What to Put on a Resume .

How to Correctly Display your Contact Information

Now, this is a simple section, but there are a few important things to remember. 

An incorrect contact section can result in the recruiter not able to offer you the job – disaster! 

The contact information resume section should include:

• Professional Title – In this case, “Medical Assistant”
• Phone Number – Check, check, and then check again
• Email Address – Use a professional email address ([email protected]), not your childhood email ([email protected])
• Location - Applying for a job abroad? Mention your location
• Jessica May - Medical Assistant. 101-358-6095. [email protected]
• Jessica May - Medical Assistant. 101-358-6095. [email protected]

How to Write a Medical Assistant Resume Summary or Objective

Here’s a fact for you - recruiters read each resume for just a few seconds.

With hundreds of resumes to review, can we blame them?

With the recruiter simply glancing over the page, you need to instantly capture their attention to keep them reading.  

To do this, use a resume summary or objective .

These are both powerful introductions that show what you’re really capable of doing.

But what is the difference between the two sections?

A resume summary is a 2-4 sentence summary of your professional experiences and achievements.

Certified medical assistant looking to use patient care skills to support service at Medical-X. 5+ years of experience includes working in a fast-paced care clinic to triage patients, take vital signs, and assist with all areas of patient care. Top achievements include managing EHR documentation for all visits, which gave 18% less errors than average.

A resume objective is a 2-4 sentence snapshot of what you want to achieve professionally.

Motivated medical assistant seeking to support patient care at Medical-X. Experience includes a placement at a fast-paced private clinic. Proven skills include EHR, inventory management, and empathy.

So, which one is best, summary or objective?

Generally, we recommend that those with experience as a medical assistant should use a resume summary. An objective is suited to those who have the skills, but lack experience in the medical field (graduates, career changers, or those still studying).

How to Make Your Medical Assistant Work Experience Stand Out

Recruiters want to know that their new medical assistant will do a good job.

The best way to give confidence to the recruiter is to show work experience.

We recommend the following structure:

• Position name
• Company Name
• Responsibilities & Achievements

Medical Assistant

San Jose Clinic

06/2016 - 09/2020

• Worked in a fast-paced care clinic to triage patients, take vital signs, and assist with all areas of patient care
• Managed EHR documentation for all visits, which gave 18% less errors than average
• Assisted patients with their daily needs, which resulted in 98% positive feedback in patient surveys
• Played a vital role in implementing the practice’s quality assurance program, which ensured compliance with HIPAA, CLIA and OSHA regulations

To separate your application from the other candidates, you should highlight your achievements instead of your daily tasks. 

Instead of saying:

“Managed documents”

“Managed EHR documentation for all visits, which gave 18% less errors than average”

Simply, the first statement is way too vague. It shows you were in charge of documentation, but it doesn’t show if your work benefited the practise or not. 

The second statement shows that your work resulted in 18% less errors. Hard figures that show your talents – impressive!

Use Action Words to Make Your Medical Assistant Resume POP!

you want to separate your resume from the competition, which means using power words to make your achievements stand out , such as:

• Coordinated
• Implemented

How to Correctly List your Education

Next up on your appointment list –

Your education section!

There’s no magic medicine here, just simply enter your education history in the following format:

• Degree Type & Major
• University Name
• Years Studied
• GPA, Honours, Courses, and anything else you might want to add

B.S. in Healthcare Management

Boston State University

2012 - 2016

• Relevant Courses: Public Health, Introduction to Healthcare Informatics, Research Methods in Healthcare, Occupational Psychology

Now, you may have some further questions that need answering. Here are the answers to some of the most frequent questions that we get:

• What if I haven’t completed education yet?

Regardless of whether you’re a graduate or still studying, you should still mention every year of education to date

• Should I include my high school education?

The general rule is to only include your highest education. So, include your high school education if you don’t have a relevant degree

• What do I put first, my education or experience?

Experiences are the priority, so those go first. If you’re a recent graduate, you will likely need to start with education

Need more advice? Check out our guide on how to list education on a resume .

Top 12 Skills for a Medical Assistant Resume

It goes without saying, but the recruiter wants a highly-skilled medical assistant.

In fact, they will be looking for certain skills as they flick through your resume.

If you don’t list the correct ones, your resume may be chucked into the bin like a used face mask. 

Here are some of the most common and desirable medical assistant skills...

Hard Skills for a Medical Assistant:

• Patient Assessment
• Clinical Research
• HIPAA Compliance Training
• Recording Patient Medical History
• Patient Preparation
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Administering Injections
• Appointment Scheduling
• TB Test Clearance
• Insurance Billing
• Equipment Sterilization
• Medical Supply Inventory
• EHR Software
• ICD 10 Codes
• Phlebotomy 

Soft Skills for a Medical Assistant:

• Detail-Orientated 
• Communication
• Time-Management

Generally, try to keep the soft skills to a minimum. You see, any graduate can say they have creative skills, but not many are skilled with EHR Software.

Here’s a more comprehensive list of 150+ must-have skills this year .

What Else Can You Include?

Your medical assistant resume has been taken care of!

Well, nearly…

Your resume needs to stand out!

Acing the above sections should be enough to get you shortlisted, but adding extra sections can be the major factor in whether you become the new medical assistant or not.

Awards & Certifications

Has your work ever been rewarded with an award?

Have you completed any courses to make you a better employee?

Whatever it is, proudly display any achievements in this section.

Here’s an example:

Awards & Certificates

• “Foundations of Assisting in Home Care” - Coursera Certificate
• “Newborn Baby Care” - Coursera Certificate
• “Critical Thinking Masterclass” - MadeUpUniversity

Now, there’s a low chance that you will need to speak a second language.

However, being able to speak multiple languages is always impressive to recruiters, so feel free to add a language section if you have space.

Rank the languages by proficiency:

• Intermediate

Now, why would the recruiter want their medical assistant to have hobbies?

Well, they aren’t looking for any hobbies in particular, but a hobbies section reveals what kind of person you are. 

Hobbies show that you’ll be a good part of the team, especially if you enjoy social activities. 

Here’s which hobbies & interests you may want to mention.

Include a Cover Letter with Your Resume

What’s the perfect way to assist your resume?

A well-written cover letter!

You see, a cover letter takes your application to that next level. 

Unlike a generic resume sent to every company, a cover letter shows the recruiter that you care about working for their company.

To create a cover letter that gets results, we must ensure that it is structured correctly. Here’s how to do that:

You should complete the following sections:

Personal Contact Information

Your full name, profession, email, phone number, location.

Hiring Manager’s Contact Information

Full name, position, location, email

Opening Paragraph

The recruiter won’t spend much time reading your application. As such, the first paragraph should briefly mention:

• The position you’re applying for
• Your experience summary and best achievement to date

With the recruiter interested, you can get deeper into the following specifics:

• Why you chose this specific company
• What you know about the company
• How your skills are relevant for the job
• Which similar industries or positions have you worked in before

Closing Paragraph

Just like a conversation, you shouldn’t finish abruptly. You should:

• Conclude the points of the application
• Thank the recruiter for the job opportunity
• Finish with a simple call to action to continue the conversation at a later date. A simple “At your earliest opportunity, I’d love to discuss more about how I can help company X” will work

Formal Salutations

End the letter in a professional manner. We recommend something like, “Kind regards” or “Sincerely”

For more inspiration, read our step-by-step guide on how to write a cover letter .

Considering a different position in the medical field? We have more resume examples for you:

• Nurse Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Dentist Resume

Key Takeaways

So, this marks the end of the guide.

But this also marks the start of your new job.

Just follow the advice in this guide to create a job-winning medical assistant resume.

Let’s quickly recap the main talking points:

• Format your medical assistant resume correctly. Use the reverse-chronological format, and then follow the content layout recommendations
• Start your resume with a summary or objective to hook the recruiter
• Highlight the best achievements from your work history, rather than your responsibilities
• Attach a convincing cover letter to make your application stand out

Suggested Reading:

What Are Your Career Goals - How to Answer w/ [Examples]

101 Best Career Tips From Industry Experts [2024 Edition]

Best Resume File Type - PDF vs Word [+Templates]

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Medical Assistant Resume Examples and Templates for 2024

Medical Assistant Resume Templates and Examples (Download in App)

Most popular medical assistant resumes.

• Entry-Level Medical Assistant
• Medical Laboratory Assistant
• Medical Office Assistant
• Dermatology Medical Assistant
• Resume Text Examples

How To Write a Medical Assistant Resume

• Entry-Level
• Senior-Level

Entry-Level Medical Assistant Resume Example

Medical Laboratory Assistant Resume Example

Medical Office Assistant Resume Example

Dermatology Medical Assistant Resume Example

Medical Assistant Text-Only Resume Templates and Examples

Joseph Corbin (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio Philadelphia, PA 12345

A Certified Medical Assistant with two years of experience delivering exceptional patient care in acute care environments. Adept at collaborating with RNs, physicians, and administrative teams to improve clinical operations and efficiency.

Professional Experience

Medical Assistant, West Chester Pediatrics, West Chester, PA October 2022 – present

• Schedule all patient appointments for a high-volume pediatrics office with six full-time physicians and two nurse practitioners, amounting to up to 40 appointments per day
• Interface effectively with diverse patient populations, communicate with empathy and understanding, and contribute to a 95% patient satisfaction rating for the practice
• Obtain patient vitals, including blood pressure, temperature, and diagnostic information, and maintain medical records using EHR software

Medical Assistant, Medical Offices of Simmons and Cohen, Philadelphia, PA May 2021 – October 2022

• Managed patient appointments and scheduling for a physician’s office with over 120 active patients, which included maintaining electronic medical records
• Collected patient insurance information and authorized services, provided information on co-pays to new patients, and interfaced with insurance agencies to resolve issues

Certifications

• Certified Medical Assistant, American Association of Medical Assistants, 2021
• Patient relations
• Calendar management
• Appointment scheduling
• Health care support
• Office management

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Medical Assistance Temple University, Philadelphia, PA September 2019 – May 2021

This medical assistant resume is effective because it highlights the candidate’s ability to thrive in high-volume clinical environments. Achieving a 95% patient satisfaction score under these circumstances is much more challenging, and these additional insights will help the applicant stand out during the hiring process.

Cameron Malfara (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio Miami, FL 12345

A Certified Medical Assistant with over eight years of experience as a clinician and administrative support staff member. Adept at collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality care to diverse patient populations, including both geriatric and pediatric patients. Extensive knowledge of EHR and scheduling software.

Medical Assistant, St. Mark’s Medical Center, Miami, FL July 2017 – present

• Deliver clinical and administrative support to RNs and physicians, obtain patient medical history and documentation, and communicate with empathy and compassion, contributing to a 95% patient satisfaction rating
• Maintained exam rooms in accordance with OSHA standards for health and safety, sanitized exam instruments, and ensured compliance with COVID-19 safety protocols
• Collected lab samples of blood and urine and submitted labeled samples for testing

Medical Assistant, West Bay Medical Group, Miami, FL May 2015 – July 2017

• Scheduled over 50 patient appointments per day, managed cancellations, performed data entry, and oversaw calendars for a busy medical office with 20 nurses and 10 physicians
• Managed patient appointments and scheduling for a physician’s office with over 5,000 active patients, which included maintaining electronic medical records
• Oversaw basic billing and coding tasks for standard office procedures, streamlined billing processes, and reduced turnaround on payments by an average of six days
• Certified Medical Assistant, American Association of Medical Assistants, 2015
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), NPA, 2015
• Patient management
• Office administration
• Process improvement
• Medical support

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Medical Assistance Miami Dade College, Miami, FL September 2013 – May 2015

In this example, the candidate draws attention to unique aspects of their experience as a medical assistant. Demonstrating their background working as a health care professional during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic shows the applicant is capable of delivering quality medical care even during extreme situations, which is valuable to potential employers.

Aliya Jackson (123) 456-7890 [email protected] LinkedIn | Portfolio New York, NY 12345

A Certified Medical Assistant with over 10 years of clinical and administrative experience. A proven track record of supporting nursing teams and physicians in delivering patient-centered care in high-volume hospital environments. Adept at communicating with patients, maintaining medical records, and utilizing EHR software.

Certified Medical Assistant, Manhattan Medical, New York, NY November 2015 – present

• Manage five front office staff for a medical practice with over 8,000 active patients, assigned responsibilities, evaluated performance, and coordinated scheduling
• Oversee calendars and appointments for four physicians and three nurse practitioners, minimizing patient wait times to less than 30 minutes on average
• Submit billing records to insurance companies for thousands of patients each month, fielded information requests, and resolved billing issues and inaccuracies

Certified Medical Assistant, St. Anthony’s Hospital, New York, NY May 2013 – November 2015

• Supported RNs in performing examinations, delivering treatment, and providing high-quality care to patients in a hospital with over 300 beds
• Coordinated with nurses to perform non-invasive procedures, interfaced with patients, family members, and medical teams, and ensured compliance with patient-centered care standards, which contributed to a 5% increase in patient satisfaction in 2014
• Certified Medical Assistant, American Association of Medical Assistants, 2013
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT), NPA, 2013
• Clinical operations
• Medical billing and coding

Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) Medical Assistance University of Syracuse, New York, NY September 2011 – May 2013

In this medical assistant resume example, the candidate emphasizes their leadership and office administration expertise. This role requires a broad array of clinical and administrative skills, so it’s important to demonstrate each of these aspects using tangible examples from your career.

As a medical assistant, you play a vital role in delivering quality care to patients. To generate opportunities, showcase achievements demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively with physicians, nurses, and patients in fast-paced health care environments. The key to differentiating yourself from the competition is to build an impactful, accomplishment-driven resume that highlights your strongest qualifications.

Throughout our medical assistant resume guide, our expert tips will help translate your work experience into an effective marketing document.

1. Write a dynamic profile summarizing your medical assistant qualifications

Your profile is often the first thing the hiring manager sees when reviewing your resume, so it’s important to grab the reader’s attention as quickly as possible. Open with your title, years of experience, and three to four specializations that match the job posting. This will send a clear message to hiring managers that you have the ideal qualifications for the position you’re applying for, increasing your odds of landing the interview.

Example 1 - Senior-Level

A Certified Medical Assistant with over 10 years of clinical and administrative experience. A proven track record of supporting nursing teams and physicians in delivering patient-centered care in high-volume hospital environments. Adept at communicating with patients, maintaining medical records, and utilizing electronic health records (EHR) software.

Example 2 - Entry-Level

A Certified Medical Assistant with two years of experience delivering exceptional patient care in acute care environments. Adept at collaborating with registered nurses (RNs), physicians, and administrative teams to improve clinical operations and efficiency.

2. Add a compelling section featuring your medical assistant experience

To create a strong accomplishment-driven resume, you must translate your health care experience into compelling bullet points. Hiring managers want a better understanding of your unique background as a medical assistant. As you build out your professional experience section, also quantify your achievements using quality metrics such as patient satisfaction scores. This will show prospective employers that you have a proven track record of positively impacting internal teams and patients in fast-paced clinical settings.

3. Include education and certifications relevant to medical assistants

Obtaining your Medical Assistant Certification (CMA) from an accredited program is a prerequisite for employment in over 26 states. You can also consider pursuing a specialization (SCMA) if you plan on working in a specific health care unit, such as cardiology or pediatrics. Another way to increase the strength of your application is to acquire certifications in phlebotomy or medical billing and coding, as these are valuable in both the clinical and administrative aspects of the role.

• [Certification Name], [Awarding Organization], [Completion Year]
• Certified Medical Assistant, AAMA, 2019
• Registered Phlebotomy Tech (RPT), 2018
• [Degree Name]
• [School Name], [City, State Abbreviation] [Dates Enrolled]
• Associate of Applied Science (A.S.S.) Medical Assistance
• University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA September 2020 – May 2022

4. List medical assistant-related skills and proficiencies

Many health care organizations utilize automated tracking systems (ATS) to help narrow down their candidate pool. To separate yourself from the crowded field of applicants, incorporate various skills that showcase your expertise in both the clinical and administrative areas of health care delivery. Below are skills and keywords you may encounter during the job search:

How To Pick the Best Medical Assistant Resume Template

Due to the many options available, choosing the right resume template can be overwhelming for many job seekers. In most instances, selecting a straightforward template that avoids flashy graphics and colors is best. It’s important to understand that hiring managers will interview candidates based on their experience and qualifications, so prioritize readability and organization over presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions: Medical Assistant Resume Examples and Advice

What are common action verbs for medical assistant resumes -.

It’s easy to get stuck when writing the professional experience section of a resume. You may run out of action verbs to accurately convey your job responsibilities and health care achievements accurately. That being said, it’s best to differentiate your usage of action verbs to avoid redundancy, as this can negatively impact the reading experience. Below, you’ll find a list of verbs you can use to build out your professional experience section:

How do you align your resume with a job description? -

The health care industry is one of the fastest-growing verticals in the job market. And the demand for medical assistants is expected to grow by 16% by 2031, adding 123,000 jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics . Despite the positive outlook, you’ll still need to align your resume with the job description to differentiate yourself from the competition.

As you begin applying for open positions, carefully review the job description and incorporate key terms that match the needs of the organization. It’s also important to provide tangible examples of utilizing these skill sets throughout your career to make a positive impression on the hiring manager.

What is the best medical assistant resume format? -

For most job applications, use a reverse chronological format to ensure your most recent experience is featured towards the top of your document. Conversely, a functional resume approach prioritizes skills and avoids detailed bullet points. This is generally not recommended because the lack of professional achievements won’t help you differentiate yourself from the competition.

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Not every organization will ask for a cover letter. It’s good to have one on hand for the applications that require it. In addition to reinforcing accomplishments from your health care experience, mention something about the organization’s reputation or work culture. For instance, if a hospital is known for its commitment to patient-centered care, you could explain this is one of the reasons you’re applying for the job. This will show hiring managers you’ve done your research beforehand, which will increase your chances of landing an interview. For more insights, see our medical assistant cover letter guide .

Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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Medical Assistant resume examples & templates

Choosing the right resume format for a medical assistant

Include your contact information, make use of a summary, outline your medical assistant work experience: the pulse of your career, include the relevant key skills that make you a great medical assistant, detail your education & relevant medical assistant certifications, pick the right resume layout and design for a medical assistant resume, what type of salary you can expect as a medical assistant.

A medical assistant resume is the lifeblood of your job search. A clear and compelling message will get you to your goal—a great new job—stat! A low-energy, understated resume could leave you in the waiting room. Take charge of your career with a medical assistant resume that gets recruiters’ hearts pumping.

How can a resume make that much difference? By clearly and dynamically presenting your qualifications and professionalism.

As a healthcare professional, you know that patients, especially ill ones, may make quick judgments on the quality of their care. If that judgment is negative, they may not return. A resume for a medical assistant is like that first visit to a new doctor—the first impression may be the last. Don’t let a great opportunity pass you by. Make the most of every application with a resume that compels HR to take notice.

Resume guide for a medical assistant resume

Fill your prescription for success with Resume.io. Our guides and resume examples cover over 500 professions, and our resume builder makes creating a dynamic resume easier than ever.

This resume guide and corresponding medical assistant resume example will cover the following:

How to write a medical assistant resume

• How to add your professional contact information
• Using summaries to your advantage
• Adding your medical assistant experience
• Listing education and relevant experience
• Picking the right resume design/layout
• What the medical assistant market looks like and what salary you can expect

Every medical assistant resume sample will be different, as every medical assistant is unique. However, they should all contain certain common elements. Your resume should contain the following sections:

• The resume header
• The resume summary (aka profile or personal statement)
• The employment history section
• The resume skills section
• The education section

Within each section, you are adding evidence of the value you bring to each clinic, hospital or practice in which you have worked. In other words, you are selling yourself to your prospective employer. Just as each resume is different, each healthcare environment is different. To make the best case that you are the right person for the job, you need to know what the employer needs. Do your due diligence to discover the demographics of patients, their needs, what the exact role of the medical assistant is at that workplace and how your skills will fit in. Armed with that information, you can best showcase your value proposition .

The tips below offer a blueprint for focusing the message of your resume.

• Speak directly to each employer by customizing your document. You may need to reorganize the bullet points in your employment history, switch out a skill or rewrite your summary to aim at the qualities within the job description.
• Emphasize achievements rather than responsibilities. Tell what you did, but also the results of your actions. Did you reduce patient wait time? Specialize in calming nervous patients? Increase efficiency in exam room setup? Be as specific as possible, using data when appropriate.
• Be intentional with the design of your resume to project the image of a professional and organized medical assistant.
• Pay attention to keywords within the job ad to increase your chances of overcoming the ATS.

The Applicant Tracking System hurdle

Whenever you apply online, you are inputting your information into an ATS , an application designed to help HR organize and vet resumes. They use keywords and phrases pegged to the job to choose which resumes get seen by a person.

To help you pass this gatekeeper, review the job ad and insert relevant words into your resume. For example, if the job ad says:

“Must haves:

• 1 year of experience urgent care clinic
• Completion of accredited medical assistant program
• Excellent patient communication”

There are several places you can place this information. Your summary could say:

“Medical assistant with one year of urgent care experience post completion of accredited medical assistant program. Excellent communication skills with patients and colleagues, knowledge of sterilization best practices and ability to triage.”

Also include your experience in your work history section, your program completion in your education section, and your patient communication in your skills section.

Medical assistants must be organized, neat and efficient. Those traits translate into a resume that contains crisp lines, clear section separations and clarity.

To best show off these attributes in a medical assistant resume with experience, use the reverse chronological order format. Below is an example of this format.

If you are beginning your career, or have made a career change, a functional or hybrid format may work better because either provides the flexibility to focus your resume on transferable skills or education.

Our resume builder offers many choices in different styles, all of which can be personalized. Within these styles, we also have options of all three formats available as resume examples .

Because medical assistants must present a professional and efficient image at all times in their healthcare environment, we recommend choosing one of our professional layouts .

A header that clearly states your contact information, without including unnecessary details, serves two purposes: 1. to allow HR to reach out without difficulty and 2. to add a design element to your medical assistant resume.

Here are the details you need to include (and how) plus a few to leave out:

• Full name and title. List your first and last name. Use the title of the role you are pursuing.
• Professional email address. Use a clean format like [email protected] . Don’t use a quirky, unprofessional email address.
• Phone number. List a number where you can be readily contacted, with a professional voicemail greeting.
• Location. List only your city and state . Don’t list street address or zip code. It’s both outdated and unsafe. Note 'Willing to Relocate' here if applicable.
• LinkedIn. If your LinkedIn profile is active, relevant, and shows your sales network, include it here.

Don’t include:

• Date of birth. Not necessary and could potentially lead to age discrimination .
• Personal details. Marital status, social security number, passport number , etc.

Meredith Qualley

Hospital Medical Assistant

[email protected]

(404) 462-0005

Milwaukee, WI

Medical Assistant extraordinaire

Instagram: mmmmmmmmSTAT

Do you greet each patient with a personal message such as “Good morning, Ms. Smith? I see you’re here for a physical. Anything in particular we should pay attention to?” This greeting demonstrates that you know your patients and are attentive to their needs.

The 2-3 sentence summary of your resume serves the same purpose. It demonstrates that you are familiar with the healthcare setting and are attentive to the employer’s needs, but it has the added function of highlighting the achievements and attributes that make you an excellent fit for the opening. 

Use concise phrases and strong action words such as counseled, treated, assisted, sterilized, prepped or monitored to describe your achievements.

A summary is not a repetition of your work history bullet items in sentence form. Instead, it showcases the very best of your career and illustrates your professional personality. This where you can say that you are detail-oriented and precise, but place emphasis on patient relationships or that you excel at calming nervous children. Don’t neglect administrative tasks like your efficient scheduling or data collection.

Rework your summary for each application

The summary is the perfect spot on your resume to speak directly to each employer. Choose a career accomplishment that best meshes with the skills each one seeks. Without crossing the line to misrepresentation, you may also choose to highlight different aspects of your professional personality to fit the culture and needs of the healthcare setting.

Need inspiration for your summary? Check out our related resumes: 

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You can find adaptable medical assistant resume examples summary below:

Medical assistant program graduate dedicated to providing quality and comfortable patient care. Proficient in vital sign assessment, specimen collection and assisting with exams. Solid foundation in healthcare best practices and procedures. Excellent communication skills and empathetic nature.

Versatile medical assistant with 5 years of experience in a fast-paced, multi-specialty practice with focus on empathetic treatment of patients. Skilled in clinical procedures such as EKGs, blood draws and injections and administrative tasks. Streamlined patient intake process to reduce appointment times by average of 5 minutes each. 

Skilled medical assistant with 10+ years in hospital and clinic settings. Attentive to patients’ emotional states while providing assistance to physicians and nurses. Led team of 10 assistants and trained new employees to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and protocols. Proficient in EMR management and inventory control.

Using reverse chronological order, list each job, job title, the location and the dates of your tenure in the employment history section of your medical assistant resume. Then, consider what you achieved and your value add to your employer in each position.

Your goal is to build a story of career success through bullet items that show off your successes and how they improved medical care or saved time or money for the practice. Begin each item with a strong action you took and follow it with your results. Get specific and use data and details wherever possible.

Listing job duties will make your resume sound like a generic job description. A resume needs to distinguish you from the crowd. These basic bullet items are a mere list of tasks:

• Collected patient data
• Took vital signs
• Assisted doctors with exams

Can you tell anything about the medical assistant who wrote that job description? A dynamic work history section goes far beyond listing responsibilities to enticing HR by showing how you use your skills to improve the practice and patient satisfaction.

Here are improved versions that still include the tasks performed:

• Developed online patient data and achieved 90% compliance, reducing crowding in waiting room and time before patient saw doctor by average of 6 minutes.
• Collected, recording and evaluated vital signs including blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate of average of 40 patients per day.
• Prepared exam rooms, provided necessary equipment and assisted patients in positioning and comfort.

Use the STAR method as a framework

When writing your employment successes, you may start off with the situation you faced, tell what your task was and the action you took. Follow that up with your results. If relevant, you may add a reflection.

Take a look at the medical assistant  employment history resume sample below:

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at Sunrise Senior Living, Denver  June 2018 - Present 

• Provide compassionate care to elderly residents, assisting with daily living activities and personal hygiene
• Monitor and record residents' vital signs, dietary intake, and changes in health status
• Collaborate with healthcare team to develop and implement individualized care plans

Medical Assistant Externship at Health Medical Center, Denver  January 2018 - April 2018 

• Assisted physicians and nurses with patient care, including taking vital signs, preparing patients for exams, and administering medications
• Performed routine laboratory tests and documented results in electronic health records (EHR)
• Educated patients on treatment plans, medication instructions, and preventive care measures

How to write a medical assistant resume with no experience

The keys to developing a resume with no medical assistant experience lie in your transferable skills , or the skills that you have demonstrated in other jobs or positions of responsibility that apply to working in a healthcare setting.

Have you always been interested in helping others? Perhaps you babysat or helped an older neighbor with chores or shopping. That makes you empathetic, caring and communicative. If you worked an afterschool job at a fast food restaurant, you have demonstrated responsibility, ability to follow procedure and health and safety standards and time management.

Use your summary to focus on why you want to begin your career in medical assisting and the skills you learned in your certification program. Include any jobs with transferable skills in your employment history section, but consider using a functional or hybrid format to play up your education. 

At first glance, the skills section seems like an easy one to put together, but it needs to be well thought out because it tells recruiters if you have what they are looking for and what you think are the most important attributes for the job.

The best medical assistant resume skills lists blend hard and soft skills to develop a complete picture of your professional abilities as well as demeanor. Hard skills , the technical proficiencies necessary to perform your duties, may include: CPR, phlebotomy, vital sign assessment, safety and privacy regulations, knowledge of anatomy and electronic medical records systems 

Patients and medical staff may be more concerned with your soft skills . Empathy, communication , customer service, teamwork, adaptability and stress management are the soft skills that will make you a welcome face around any healthcare establishment. 

To guide you in curating this section, our resume builder suggests pre-written key skills to choose from. You may also set the proficiency range for each. This section is also fully customizable.

Here’s what the skills box looks like in our medical assistant resume template. 

Key Skills and Proficiencies

Saying you are an excellent communicator is a start, but provide examples of your skills throughout your resume. For example:

• Active listening by describing a time you helped a patient by paying careful attention to their description of their pain
• Problem-solving by telling how you resolved a scheduling error that caused a doctor to be overbooked
• Attention to safety procedures by detailing how you sterilize and clean an exam room.

The best method of discovering what your prospective employer values is to review the job description with care.

Medical assistants need a high school diploma or its equivalent and completion of  a post-graduate medical assistant program, most of which take six months to a year. The education section of a resume for a medical assistant lists these accomplishments in reverse chronological order.

If you have been on the job for a few years, you may have other accomplishments that may be listed here. They include:

• Training and certification. Certification in any medical procedures, advanced training, courses or workshops.
• Ongoing education. If you are working toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a medical subject, add your program and expected date of graduation.
• Professional development. Any professional organizations or seminars that advance your medical knowledge or administrative abilities.

For entry-level workers, consider giving more weight to your skills and education by moving your employment history section down the page.

Associate of Applied Science in Medical Assisting, Community College, Denver  August 2016 - May 2018

Your scrubs are always crisp and clean, your personal appearance neat and you greet patients with a smile. The exam rooms sparkle and every instrument is in its place. You project an image of professionalism, friendliness and organization. 

The design of your resume needs to do the same. Remember that first impression counts, so you want the hiring manager to take notice because your sleek, easy-to-read resume reflects the qualities they seek in a medical assistant.

Unless you are applying to work in a pediatric practice, avoid any images and bright colors. Color is unnecessary, but if you choose to use it, stick with a muted tone.

A medical assistant resume should stick to the basics to avoid any hint of clutter or fuss. Choose a modern, easy-to-read font for your text with an opposing, bold font for section titles. Your name should be the most noticeable text on the page. We suggest one of or many simple layouts from among the field-tested resume templates we offer.

These templates take your focus off formatting and other technical details so you can hone in on your content and get your resume out there faster.

Medical assistant text-only resume example

To obtain a position as a Medical Assistant where I can utilize my clinical skills, patient care experience, and passion for healthcare to provide exceptional support to patients and healthcare professionals. With my strong background in medical assisting and commitment to delivering high-quality care, I am excited to contribute to the success of a healthcare organization.

Employment history

• Communication Skills
• Medical Terminology
• HIPAA regulations and infection control protocols
• Electronic health records
• CPR and First Aid certified

Medical assistant job market and outlook

The aging population continues to fuel rapid growth in the healthcare industry and that includes medical assistants. Healthcare hiring hit a 30-year peak in 2023. That means more new opportunities for trained workers.

• About 105,900 new jobs for medical assistants are projected over the next decade.
• LinkedIn listed more than 17,000 medical assistant jobs in March 2024.
• Physicians are the largest employers of medical assistants.

Medical assistants earn a median salary of $38,270. Those working in outpatient care centers earned $42,820; those in hospitals earned $40,060; physicians’ offices, $37,970; and other health practitioners, $35,070.

Key takeaways for building a medical assistant resume

Medical assistants perform valuable functions in all healthcare settings To make the most of your training, your resume needs to project an image of competence, organization and empathy along with detailing your medical and administrative knowledge. Customize each application to highlight the skills and traits that best suit each job description.

Our online resume builder will help you step into the market faster so you can land your next great job.

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