In this Article
By: Kendall Upton
Anyone considering moving into a healthcare career is bound to come across medical assistants and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) as possibilities for entry-level roles. While both jobs may appear similar and have fewer educational requirements compared to more advanced clinical positions, these two careers do vary significantly.
By taking the time to understand the differences between medical assistants and LPNs, you can empower yourself to discover the best path forward for your healthcare career.
Job scope comparison
Key points: LPNs can perform a wider range of clinical duties, whereas medical assistants perform a mix of basic clinical duties and administrative tasks.
Medical assistants support both the clinical and administrative operations in healthcare facilities.
LPNs—who are called licensed vocational nurses or LVNs in some areas—provide basic clinical care under the supervision of physicians and/or registered nurses (RNs).
“Licensed Practical Nurses/Licensed Vocational Nurses are a specialized field who represent the entry into the nursing practice profession,” the National Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (NALPN) states in their nurse practice standards.
Both perform a variety of basic clinical duties, including but not limited to:
In addition to the clinical duties listed above, medical assistants often take care of routine administrative tasks like greeting patients, preparing exam rooms, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments and more.
“Medical assistants are the most versatile allied health professionals. They are cross-trained to perform clinical and administrative responsibilities,” the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) states.
One of the main differences between medical assistants and LPNs, therefore, is that medical assistants perform a mix of clinical and clerical duties—and some specialize in administrative tasks entirely—whereas LPNs focus almost exclusively on direct patient care with an expanded scope of practice.
So what can LPNs do that medical assistants cannot?
States decide scope of practice laws for LPNs, medical assistants and other healthcare professionals. That means that the difference between what they can and can’t may vary. Be that as it may, here are some common examples of differences between their scope of practice:
Always check with your state’s healthcare laws and regulations to determine the scope of practice laws for LPNs and medical assistants where you live.
Education requirements
Key points: Medical assistants typically must complete a medical assisting program, while LPNs must complete a practical nursing program.
Some medical assisting jobs do not have any specific education requirements beyond a high school education and on-the-job training. That said, most jobs prefer or require applicants to complete a formal medical assisting program, such as a certificate, diploma or associate degree. Completion of a medical assisting program is also required if you intend to pursue most medical assisting certifications, which employers may want to see.
LPNs, on the other hand, must complete an approved practical nursing program. These are usually certificate or diploma programs that take about a year to complete, which is a similar time commitment compared to most medical assisting programs.
Certification and licensure
Key points: Medical assistants have the option to obtain certification from several different industry organizations. LPNs must be licensed by their state to practice.
Since it’s in the name, it should come as no surprise that LPNs must be licensed to practice. To get licensed, you must complete an approved practical nursing program, pass the National Council Licensure Examination for practical nurses (NCLEX-PN) and apply for licensure in your state. Individual states may set additional requirements, but the basic requirements are more or less the same no matter where you live.
There are no licenses for medical assistants. However, there are several voluntary certifications available, such as:
- Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) from the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
- Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) or the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant (CMAA) from the National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
- Clinical Medical Assistant Certification (CMAC) from the American Medical Certification Association (AMCA)
The eligibility requirements for each certification vary but typically consist of completing a medical assisting program and passing an exam.
Generally, it’s a good idea for medical assistants to consider getting certified. Some employers require it, so you’d be limiting your job prospects without it. In fact, 72% of employers surveyed in the NHA’s 2025 Industry Outlook report said that they require certification for medical assistants. Plus, it can help make you a more competitive job candidate overall and could even lead to higher earnings.
Salaries and job outlook
Key points: LPNs have a higher median annual wage compared to medical assistants, but medical assistants have a stronger job growth outlook.
Due to the slightly more advanced nature of their clinical tasks, it’s not surprising that LPNs tend to earn more than medical assistants. In fact, LPNs have a median annual wage of $62,340 according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), compared to only $44,200 for medical assistants.
Plus, medical assistants have a smaller range of annual salaries from $35,020 in the 10th percentile of earners to $57,830 for the 90th percentile earners. For LPNs, that same range is $47,960 to $80,510 per year.
Still, individual salaries can vary greatly due to factors like geographic location, type of employer, experience, certifications and more.
Despite not earning as much, medical assistants do have a stronger job outlook. According to the BLS, the employment of medical assistants is expected to grow 12.5% through 2034, compared with only 2.6% for LPNs.
Which career is right for me?
If you’re still scratching your head about how to decide which career path is best for you, asking yourself the following questions may help point you in the right direction:
What you’ll do:
Do you envision a healthcare career that focuses on direct patient care, or one that has a balance of clinical duties and behind-the-scenes administrative tasks?
Work environment:
What kinds of healthcare facilities do you want to work in? Though both professionals can work in just about any healthcare setting, some places are more common for one than the other. For example, the top employers for LPNs are nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities), hospitals and home healthcare, according to the BLS. The top employers for medical assistants, meanwhile, are physician offices, hospitals and outpatient care centers.
Education and training:
The time commitment for medical assisting versus practical nursing programs is similar, so they’ll both get you into the workforce in about the same amount of time. But if you’re considering a career as a registered nurse later on, it may be easier for LPNs. There are many LPN-to-RN programs which build upon an LPN’s existing nursing education to get them ready to take the NCLEX-RN exam. Medical assistants, on the other hand, would need to pursue an associate or bachelor’s degree in nursing from scratch.
Salary and job growth:
Is earning power an important factor for you? If so, you’ll most likely be able to find higher paying jobs as an LPN than a medical assistant. What about job stability? Medical assistants have a higher anticipated growth rate than LPNs, which could mean greater overall job demand.
Medical assistants and LPNs both have their pros and cons depending on your career preferences and goals. No matter which path you choose, the good news is that both offer a flexible entry into the healthcare field. Whether you opt for the versatility of a medical assistant job or the nursing introduction offered by the LPN route, you’re helping build the foundation for a flourishing healthcare career.
