I don't know much about the MA, what I here, it doesn't pay well, and some clinics, require LVN or RN's to give shots, and treatments, because they are licenses. The difference between a MA and a LVN is that LVN's can give administer medications, and if they get IV certified, they can start a IV. I think MA's can administer some medications, and is limited to certain type of procedures. The LVN is a License Vocational Nurse. The MA is a Medical Assistant. The MA workes beside doctor. A License Vocational nurse, can work in a clinic setting, and in a hospital setting, along side a Register Nurse. Schooling is about one year, if you go to a Junior College, yes, you will have to take seperate classes to enter the LVN program, if you go to a private college, the prequisistes is combined inside the program. It is more expensive though. Good Luck!!

Thank you for your response. I am taking a 21 month course for MA at YTI Career Institute. I am learning all that you have said that you do but the school is saying that you can do a lot with the training. I wasn't sure if they were being totally honest with what they were saying.

I am also a medical assistant. I t does not pay well so do not be conned into takeing a MA course that takes more than a year there is no reason. You will not get paid any more money if you are a CMA or RMA over someone who is just an MA meaning uncertified. And please do not take one of the Associate degree MA programns. It makes no since in the time it takes you to do that you could be an LPN and widen your job possibilities. I am currently in my clinicals for my LPN and wished i had just done that in the first place.

I am an LPN, wasn't really sure of the difference, but I've worked with many MA's....who were very competent, and even taught me some things. I just wanted to leave a note for those reading this thinking of becoming an LPN. Go straight to RN school. Yes, it's longer & harder but the pay is at least twice what an LPN makes. I did the LPN so I could hurry and start making some money. I was under the impression that I'd make more money than I do, shame on me for not doing my homework. Now I just have to kick start myself to the community college to start my RN. I have to start at the bottom, nothing from LPN school transfers, except the valuable experience. Good luck to all. And thanks to all the MA's.

Hello I'm currently taking up Medical Assistant for a Associate Degree at Barstow Community College. I'm have way done there, but in the summer semester I will be learning the procedures for front and back office and then I have clinicals to do also. I had always wanted to work in the medical field. But I throught of being a RN nurse but I probably wont go that far cause my mom dont think I can done it, she said that you really have to be focus when it comes to it. And study but so far I went to nursing aid school for CNA I have successfully complete the course but not yet tooken the state exam. Any advice on being all most done with the medical assistant or becoming like a LPN.

I hope this help millions. I am from Maryland, and I relocated to NC to finish school. I am a LPN. One of my classmates asked the instructor is a MA considerable to a LPN. NO! Yes, it is true, MA's usually work in doctor's offices and urgent care clinics, as they do in MD. My children's Dr's office was full of them, and they were often called nurses. They did vaccines, lab draws, height, weight, vitals and charting. However, when compared to a LPN it is not the same. A LPN has the first year of nursing school under her/his belt, hence the title NURSE! LPN's learn the history of nursing, the nursing process, care plans, full physical assessments, not just the medication end of things. As well as when learn Pharmacology in it's entirety. Nurse's I know you know the 5 Rights of Med Administration, as well as Onset, Peak and Duration. So as far as basic clinical skills yes the MA learns what an LPN and RN learns, but not everything. Did I forget to mention, that we may insert NG tubes, suction & clean trachs, insert foleys, and we are governed by our State's Nurse Practice Acts. I am not downing the MA field of work at all, just staing the huge differences.

I am a Certified and Registered Medical Assistant. I went to school 20 years ago for 18 months with a 4 month(s) clinical (out of school in the clinical setting) experience. At times, it has been difficult to find a decent paying job, but that is dependent on where you live. Since, for the most part, you work in an office setting, you have more M-F, 8-5 type hours. After working my rear off for a number of years, sometimes doing more than a RN or LPN and making quite a bit less money, I decided to go to nursing school for my RN. After 1 1/2 years into the program, finishing all the pre-req's and going through the acceptance program (must meet high GPA's, etc), I had to quite nursing school due to a divorce. I am a single mother of 3 and working "normal" hours is crucial. I am back working as a CMA and love my job, am getting paid pretty well and work great hours. I did learn a lot in nursing school that has carried over into my Medical Assisting, but most is learned in the clinic setting from experience! I've worked w/ LPN's and RN's, sometimes my knowledge and experience has outweighed certainly newly graduated RN's and in some ways, not so newly graduated RN's, but certainly equivalent to if not better than most LPN's. In the scope of practice, MA's work directly under a physician/provider's direction. We take vital signs, pt hx, assist with procedures, sterile set-up, immunizations, injections, (can start IV, but not the push), refill meds (with approval from provider), same goes for verbal orders for testing, labs, nursing homes/care, suture removal, staple removal, casting, splinting, x-rays (with training), phlebotomy and labwork, etc...as well as front office duties, insurance, phones, appt setting etc...RN's are being almost totally faced out of the office/clinic setting. It is rare to find an office looking for an LPN to hire, but it does occur. If you become an RN, expect to work in a hospital setting and start off with varied shifts etc. The primary reason for me not cont w/ the RN program now...the hours. I will cont w/ schooling so as to not "waste" all the nursing/medical classes that I've taken, however, will choose another field in medicine. Good-luck....if you are single and child-free...go the RN route...if not, carefully consider your options and children!

I have been a Nationally Registered Certified Medical Assistant for three years. My schooling took one year. I get terrible pay and have yet to find a stable full time job. I do have a job where I work two days a week but I do not make any money. I love the people I work with, and I love working with my patients, as I have become attached to them. Yes, MAs give similar care to patients as LPNs do, but MAs get the training around the edges that "gets you through" and makes you function similar to an LPN. LPNs get a little more detailed in their schooling, as well as, RNs go even farther. As such, the reason for the wage increases. However, after three years of being an MA, I am doing what I should have done at the beginning, and I am starting LPN school in February. I have prerequisites done for college at Penn State that I can use for an RN program but PSU has a very difficult RN program to get into. Already being an LPN can be of some help entering PSU though, and you may be able to test out of some of the courses, depending on your experience. My hopes are that I find a good employer after finishing school that will allow me to continue my RN education, many hospitals in my area are really doing this due to the need for RNs, and in turn, I would work for the employer for a set number of years. I hope this helps someone out. Please don't waste your time as an MA, it isn't worth it in the long run.

First off, I would like to say to all of the LPNs who have responded, that you need to get off your high horse! CMA's have to keep up on their CEU just the same as you. CMAs do the exact same work as you in the clinical setting, and will lose their ability to practice if they screw up - just like you. MAny people, such as myself, chose to become a CMA because it fit perfectly with what I chose as my career. I did not want to be a paper pushing Rn, or a butt wiping med passer. I work with a wonderful Dr. and love my job. I am the only CMA in the office and I have never been talked down to by any of the REAL nurses, I mean LPNs.
To anyone considering the CMA course, just make sure it is what you want to do. If you are already thinking about going to schooling for further education, you might as well get the LPN right off the bat. The length of schooling, at least here in MN is the same anyway.

shanestreasure said:

I just completed a 1year course to become an LPN, and one of the girls in my class was an MA. She went to school for almost 2 years and spent $25,000 on her MA and could not get a job. So, she then turned around and spent another year to get her LPN so she can get a job. She could have her BSN by now, so don't let the school fool you because I spent about $5,000 and 1 year for my LPN, and I can work in an office, hospital, nursing home, or wherever I like.

sage4102 said:

First off, I would like to say to all of the LPNs who have responded, that you need to get off your high horse! CMA's have to keep up on their CEU just the same as you. CMAs do the exact same work as you in the clinical setting, and will lose their ability to practice if they screw up - just like you. MAny people, such as myself, chose to become a CMA because it fit perfectly with what I chose as my career. I did not want to be a paper pushing Rn, or a butt wiping med passer. I work with a wonderful Dr. and love my job. I am the only CMA in the office and I have never been talked down to by any of the REAL nurses, I mean LPNs.
To anyone considering the CMA course, just make sure it is what you want to do. If you are already thinking about going to schooling for further education, you might as well get the LPN right off the bat. The length of schooling, at least here in MN is the same anyway.

I agree with alot of the comments in the posted ad's. i am a cna and a ma. I am going back for my lpn in the fall. I know i took the long route but i am a single mom and had to work first. my children are older now but still need to work to hold things down for my family.alot of the message are up lifting to me thank you and God Bless you all. no matter would field you choose it is about serving God's people and helping them heal!

 wow i wish i had read these posts before hand i have 2 more terms left and i have been looking for a job but im having no luck where i go they say there looking for lpn and rn so im looking into seeing what i have to do to get my lpn instead of ma i so wish i new of this site but oh well. eeryone have a great day.