Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Medical Assistants (MAs) are two roles often lumped together.
It may seem like they’re the same, but these two have distinct responsibilities and functions.
Keep on reading to learn more about each position and determine which one is right for you.
Similarities and Differences of CNAs and MAs
Both CNAs and MAs support the healthcare team to help run the healthcare facility smoothly.
So let’s understand the similarities and differences of each role in healthcare.
| CNA | MA | |
| Role | Provides basic care and helps patients with activities of daily living | Completes administrative and clinical tasks |
| Supervisor | Senior nurses | Doctors and physicians |
| Responsibilities |
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| Common Workplaces |
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| Education |
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| Certification and Licenses |
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| Title | Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) |
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| Valued Qualities |
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| Career Advancement | CNA to…
| MA to…
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| Job Outlook | 8% projected employment growth by 2030 | 18% projected employment growth by 2030 |
| Salary | $30,310 average annual salary | $37,190 average annual salary |
Information retrieved from Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2021
Which Role Is Right for Me?
Whether you want to become a CNA or an MA it depends on your preference.
You can be a CNA if you want to…
- Provide more hands-on nursing care to patients
- Advance to a nursing (RN or LPN) position
Or you can be an MA if you…
- Like to do more administrative duties and less physical labor
- Are more comfortable dealing with technology
Whichever your future career may be, know that both CNAs and MAs play important jobs in healthcare.
If you are looking for a job in the medical field that does not involve patients, consider becoming a sterile processing technician.
As such, you’ll have plenty of job opportunities that await you.
