What is a clinical assistant and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
5 min read
Quoted Expert
Candace Keck
introduction image

A clinical assistant is an individual who works in a medical setting, providing support to healthcare professionals such as doctors and nurses. They perform various tasks such as taking patient histories, recording vital signs, scheduling appointments, and cleaning medical equipment. Clinical assistants may also administer medications or injections under the supervision of a licensed practitioner. They must have excellent communication skills and be able to work well in a team environment.

What general advice would you give to a Clinical Assistant?

C

Candace KeckCandace Keck LinkedIn Profile

Clinical Assistant Professor, Website

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of medical assistants is projected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations. This positive job outlook ensures future job opportunities and career stability.
ScoreClinical AssistantUS Average
Salary
2.4

Avg. Salary $30,215

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
7.9

Growth Rate 16%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
4.7
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 8.94%

Black or African American 11.07%

Hispanic or Latino 21.10%

Unknown 4.61%

White 53.48%

Gender

female 81.61%

male 18.39%

Age - 35
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 35
Stress Level
7.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
6.4

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
8.6

Work Life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Clinical Assistant?

Pros

  • Work in a fast-paced environment

  • Develop communication skills

  • Enhance medical terminology knowledge

  • Gain exposure to various medical specialties

  • Competitive salary and benefits

Cons

  • Long and irregular hours

  • Physically demanding work

  • High levels of stress

  • Dealing with difficult patients or family members

  • Emotionally taxing work

Clinical Assistant career paths

Key steps to become a clinical assistant

  1. Explore clinical assistant education requirements

    Most common clinical assistant degrees

    Bachelor's

    49.2 %

    Associate

    19.4 %

    Certificate

    8.2 %
  2. Start to develop specific clinical assistant skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Patients28.26%
    Customer Service9.79%
    PET8.00%
    Vital Signs6.15%
    CPR2.93%
  3. Complete relevant clinical assistant training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 1-3 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New clinical assistants learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a clinical assistant based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real clinical assistant resumes.
  4. Gain additional clinical assistant certifications

    Clinical assistant certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific clinical assistant certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for clinical assistants include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research clinical assistant duties and responsibilities

    • Participate in multiple studies managing CTM activities for various therapeutic areas simultaneously including oncology, urology, transplant, and immunology.
    • Interview patients and interpret EKG recordings transmit via telephone.
    • Maintain CPR certification on yearly basis and perform errands as per the instructions of supervisor.
    • Act as a paramedic including CPR, heart defibrillator, first aid, emergency care.
  6. Prepare your clinical assistant resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your clinical assistant resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a clinical assistant resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Clinical Assistant Resume templates

    Build a professional Clinical Assistant resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Clinical Assistant resume.
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  7. Apply for clinical assistant jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a clinical assistant job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Clinical Assistant Job

Zippi

Are you a Clinical Assistant?

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Average clinical assistant salary

The average Clinical Assistant salary in the United States is $30,215 per year or $15 per hour. Clinical assistant salaries range between $13,000 and $66,000 per year.

Average Clinical Assistant Salary
$30,215 Yearly
$14.53 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do clinical assistants rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

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Clinical Assistant reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2019
Cons

Everyone’s slack falls on me and I have to do the job of 4+ people and my own work gets neglected


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2019
Cons

I do not like the old people that think all I want to do is take their money. This one old man's name was Darrel and he got mad at me and tried to fight me. I had to run away. Then another one of my Carney brothers saved my life and I will never be able to repay him for what he has done for me. I can not wait for the fair here this September in Middle Tennessee. The Rotary Club always does such a wonderful job. But the old people still suck pretty bad.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2019
Pros

To take care of people , letting them know that I care and want to help them

Cons

I love everything about medical assistant


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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