LPN vs. Medical Assistant: Which Path is Right for You?
Healthcare support staff are vital to the smooth operation of medical facilities. Medical Assistants (MAs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) are two of the most common roles. Both contribute to patient care and overall healthcare delivery, but their responsibilities and required training differ significantly.
This article provides a comprehensive comparison of the MA and LPN roles to help you make an informed decision about your healthcare career. We’ll explore the responsibilities, education requirements, licensing procedures, salary expectations, and career advancement opportunities for both professions.
While LPNs focus primarily on direct patient care (like administering medications and monitoring vital signs), MAs handle a mix of clinical and administrative tasks (such as scheduling appointments and taking patient histories). Both require post-secondary education and offer career growth potential. But which path is best for you?
The demand for qualified healthcare professionals is growing, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Both MA and LPN roles offer opportunities for stable employment and meaningful contributions to the well-being of others. Let’s dive into the details to help you choose the right path.
Medical Assistant vs. Licensed Practical Nurse: Defining the Roles
Both medical assistants (MAs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) play important roles in patient care, but their responsibilities, training, and work environments differ significantly.
Medical Assistant (MA)
Medical assistants are multi-skilled allied health professionals who support doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers in medical offices and clinics. Their duties generally fall into two categories: administrative and clinical.
On the administrative side, MAs schedule appointments, manage patient records, handle insurance paperwork, and perform other clerical tasks to keep the office running smoothly. Clinically, they take vital signs, prepare patients for examinations, assist with minor procedures, and sometimes even administer medications (depending on state regulations).
Most MAs work in doctors’ offices, clinics, and outpatient care centers. While some may find positions in hospitals or other healthcare facilities, the majority are employed in ambulatory care settings.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Licensed practical nurses provide direct patient care under the supervision of registered nurses (RNs) or physicians. Their work is more hands-on and focused on the medical needs of patients.
LPNs administer medications, monitor patients’ conditions, assist with daily living activities (like bathing and dressing), and perform basic medical procedures such as wound care, catheterization, and injections. They play a vital role in observing and reporting changes in a patient’s health status.
LPNs are commonly found in hospitals, long-term care facilities, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Some also work in home healthcare, providing skilled nursing services to patients in their own residences, or in physician’s offices, assisting with patient care and procedures.
Education and training pathways
Medical assistants and licensed practical nurses follow different educational paths to enter their respective fields.
Medical assistant education
To become a medical assistant, you’ll typically need to complete a training program that ranges from nine months to two years. These programs usually cover a broad range of skills, from administrative tasks like scheduling and billing to clinical procedures like taking vital signs and assisting with examinations. Some programs also include training in basic laboratory procedures.
To enroll in a medical assistant program, you’ll generally need a high school diploma or a GED.
If you’re interested in enhancing your career prospects, you might consider pursuing an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in medical assisting. An associate’s degree can open doors to more advanced positions and higher earning potential.
Licensed practical nurse education
LPN programs are generally longer than medical assistant programs, typically lasting 12 to 18 months. These programs focus on nursing care and patient care, with a strong emphasis on clinical skills and knowledge.
LPN programs involve a combination of classroom instruction, laboratory practice, and clinical rotations in healthcare settings. During clinical rotations, you’ll gain hands-on experience providing patient care under the supervision of registered nurses and other healthcare professionals.
If you aspire to become a registered nurse (RN), you can pursue an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). An ADN program will provide you with the additional education and training needed to take the NCLEX-RN exam and become licensed as an RN.
Licensing and Certification: Ensuring Competence and Credibility
Both medical assistants and licensed practical nurses can pursue certifications and licenses that show they’ve met certain standards of knowledge and skill. Here’s a look at how each field handles credentialing.
Medical Assistant Certification
There are a few different certifications available for medical assistants. The Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) are two of the most common.
The requirements to earn these certifications depend on the certifying organization, but they usually involve graduating from an accredited medical assistant program and passing a standardized exam.
It’s worth noting that while certification isn’t required in every state, having one can definitely boost your chances of landing a job and potentially increase your earning power.
Licensed Practical Nurse Licensing
To become a licensed practical nurse, you’ll need to meet specific licensing requirements. This typically means graduating from an approved LPN program and then passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN).
You’ll also have to meet the specific licensing requirements of the state where you plan to work, which often include things like background checks and paying application fees.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) plays a key role in administering the NCLEX-PN, ensuring that LPNs across the country meet a consistent standard of competence.
Once you’re licensed, it’s important to maintain an active LPN license by completing continuing education courses and adhering to professional standards of practice.
Salary and Job Outlook: Comparing Earning Potential and Career Growth
When you’re trying to decide between two different career paths, it’s a good idea to look at the money you might earn and how easy it will be to find a job.
Medical Assistant Salary and Job Outlook
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for medical assistants is about $42,000. But that can vary depending on where you live, how much experience you have, and whether you have any certifications. You might make more in a big city or if you have a specialty certification.
The BLS also projects that jobs for medical assistants will grow by about 14% between 2022 and 2032. That’s faster than the average for all occupations, so it looks like there will be plenty of opportunities for medical assistants in the coming years.
Licensed Practical Nurse Salary and Job Outlook
Licensed practical nurses tend to earn more than medical assistants. The median annual salary for LPNs is around $59,730. Again, that number can change based on your location, experience, and the type of healthcare setting you work in. For example, you might make more working in a hospital than in a nursing home.
Job growth for LPNs is projected to be about 5% from 2022 to 2032. While that’s still growth, it’s not as high as the projection for medical assistants.
MA vs. LPN: Which Career is Better?
In general, LPNs earn more than medical assistants, so if money is your main concern, that might be the way to go. However, medical assistants are expected to have more job opportunities in the future. It really comes down to what’s most important to you.
Daily Responsibilities and Work Environment: A Closer Look
The daily grind looks quite different for MAs and LPNs.
A Day in the Life of a Medical Assistant
A medical assistant’s day is usually a mix of administrative and clinical tasks. You might be answering phones, greeting patients, and scheduling appointments one minute, and then taking patient histories and vital signs the next. MAs often assist doctors with examinations and procedures, give injections, administer medications, and run basic lab tests.
Most MAs work in doctor’s offices and clinics, and the hours are generally regular business hours. You probably won’t have to work many evenings or weekends.
A Day in the Life of a Licensed Practical Nurse
LPNs spend much of their time directly caring for patients. You’ll be monitoring patients’ conditions and vital signs, giving medications and treatments, and helping patients with daily activities like bathing and dressing. Wound care and catheter care also fall under the LPN umbrella, as does meticulously documenting patient care in medical records.
LPNs often work in hospitals, nursing homes, and long-term care facilities. And unlike MAs, LPNs typically work 12-hour shifts that include evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an LPN higher than an MA?
In terms of education and scope of practice, LPNs (Licensed Practical Nurses) generally have a higher level of training than Medical Assistants (MAs). LPNs complete a more extensive educational program and are licensed, allowing them to perform a wider range of clinical tasks, including administering medications and providing direct patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. MAs typically have a shorter training program and focus more on administrative and basic clinical tasks.
Who gets paid more, nurses or medical assistants?
Generally, nurses, including LPNs and RNs (Registered Nurses), earn more than medical assistants. This is due to the more extensive training, higher level of responsibility, and broader scope of practice required of nurses. Factors such as experience, location, and specialization can influence actual salary differences. While salaries can vary, nurses generally command higher wages compared to medical assistants, reflecting the advanced skills and responsibilities associated with nursing roles.
In Closing
Medical assistants and licensed practical nurses both play important roles in healthcare, but their day-to-day work, education requirements, and responsibilities are quite different. Medical assistants often focus on a mix of administrative and clinical tasks in outpatient settings, while LPNs spend more time providing direct patient care in various healthcare facilities.
When deciding which path is right for you, think about what you want to do and where you want to do it. Consider the education you’ll need, how long it will take, what the licensing requirements are, and how much you can expect to earn.
Before you choose between becoming a medical assistant or a licensed practical nurse, think about what you’re good at, what you enjoy, and what you want to achieve in your career. By carefully evaluating your strengths, interests, and long-term goals, you’ll be able to make the right choice for you.
Remember, both careers offer rewarding opportunities to make a real difference in the lives of patients and their families.