Do you think it's better to have an LPN or RMA?

Question

I am going to school to get my Associates in Medical Specialist and just feeling like I maybe should have gotten my LPN instead.

Answer 1

There are not supposed to be too many jobs for the medical assistant (or medical biller or coder) despite what those private $$ schools say.  Not sure that LPNs are being utilized as much anymore either as an RN mentioned that here.  Between the two, lpn seems to have more opportunities.

If deciding on either field or other vo-tech career, please opt for the more affordable school such as county vo-tech school or community college, perhaps non credit course.

General career info:  http://www.bls.gov/oco and search 'licensed practical nurses', 'medical assistants' or such.

Answer 2

I have had LPNs and medical assistants working for me in my clinics for many years.  In the clinic heiarchy we always place the management of the medical assistants who work in the clinical aspects under the LPN (or RN if there is one).  I also have never seen a purpose in an associates degree for a medical assistant.  There is no state regulation or law in any of the 50 US states or it's territories which requires that a person used in a clinic as a medical assistant be registered, certified, or even a graduate of any form of training program.  Unlike most health care positions where the occupation requires some type of registration and licensing in the state to use the title, any person working as a helper in a medical clinic can be called a medical assistant.  In fact it is common for small clinics to hire persons referred to them as dependable, and train them for the specific duties, rather than hire people who have been through a formal training program with no significant references.

While many medical assistants report that they obtained their position during their externship in school, my clinics have hired approximately an average of one of every 8 students rotated through our clinic.