Certified Medical Assistant Salary

What is a Medical Physician Assistant?

A medical assistant works under the supervision of a licensed physician or surgeon. Therefore, the job and duties of a physician assistant vary depending on several factors, including the nature of medical practice or facility where the MA chooses to work.

Physician assistants are trained to offer a range of services, including those which are diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive nature. Thus the certified medical assistant salary will depend on their functions. However, all services rendered by a medical assistant must be under the delegation and supervision of a physician. Under this supervision, medical physician assistants take and record medical history and examine, diagnose and treat patients. They also order diagnostic tests and x-rays, interpreting the results of these tests as instructed. In the United States, medical physician assistants also prescribe medications in most jurisdictions.

A medical assistant may perform attach tasks, as well as splinting and casting. They also have to care for patients, often providing the ordered therapy, depending on the needs of doctors for whom they work. Often, physician assistants have leadership roles in medical offices or facilities as well.

Although a medical assistant must work under the supervision of a physician, he or she can actually act as the primary caregiver for a patient. This usually occurs in rural or inner city clinics where a supervising physician may be present but a few days a week. In such cases, physician assistants consult the doctor supervising the care of patients of the clinic, but offer much of this care yourself.

The responsibilities of a medical assistant are determined both by individual state law and the requirements of the supervising physician. Some states allow physicians and individuals in this area a wider scope of practice than others. Pay rates also vary depending on the state and the nature of the practice where the physician assistant chooses to work.

After completion of an approved MA program the individual must have an individual pass for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination to be certified and earn the certified medical assistant salary. The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) administers this exam.