list of medical assistant duties for resume

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Medical Assistant Job Description: All Key Roles & Duties

8 min read · Updated on November 07, 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.

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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.

medical assistant reverse-chronological resume

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:

cover letter structure for medical assistant

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