What is the difference between a phlebotomist and a medical assistant

A phlebotomist is a trained healthcare professional responsible for drawing blood from patients and performing related duties. Phlebotomists can work in settings such as:. As a phlebotomist, your clinical duties revolve around taking blood from patients. You can also perform tasks associated with blood draws, including:.

You may work with patients sent for routine blood work, patients undergoing testing for illness or disease or blood donors giving blood for transfusions. Phlebotomists usually attend a training course that can range from four to eight months followed by becoming certified through an accredited organization, such as American Medical Technologists, National Facility for Competency Screening, American Culture of Phlebotomy Technicians or American Society for Clinical Pathology.

Though both medical assistants and phlebotomists work in healthcare settings, their daily responsibilities vary considerably. Here are some of the differences between the two professions:. While medical assistants complete a wide range of patient care and administrative tasks and can be trained in phlebotomy.

Phlebotomists have a singular focus on drawing blood. Medical assistants can work in many types of healthcare settings, including orthopedic practices, cancer clinics and pediatric offices. Phlebotomists are more limited in where they work and often find positions in testing sites and medical labs. However, unlike phlebotomists, medical assistants are able to earn more as they gain experience and become specialized in area of medicine, like pediatrics or cardiology.

Medical assistants may choose to get their associate's degree, which can require up to two years of school. Phlebotomists can typically complete a training program in just one or two semesters.

Read more: How to Become a Medical Assistant. The advantages of being a medical assistant include:. Read more: 20 of the Fastest-Growing Healthcare Jobs. The disadvantages of working as a medical assistant can include:. Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of working as a phlebotomist:. Being a phlebotomist can provide the following advantages:.

Working as a phlebotomist may come with disadvantages such as:. Find jobs. Both allow you to work with patients and to help make sure the patients get the treatment and attention they need. Both careers also have a very promising future and offer nice salaries and benefits. So which career is best for you? Medical assistants and phlebotomists can be found working in many of the same types of healthcare facilities, but they perform vastly different jobs. Before you choose one of these rewarding careers, familiarize yourself with every aspect of each job.

That will allow you to choose a career that will bring you years of happiness and satisfaction. Medical assistants may be able to find positions that offer on-the-job training, but increasing numbers of employers and states are requiring medical assistants to have formal training through an online or traditional school.

Medical assistants may choose training that ranges from the certificate to the degree level and that specializes in administrative, clinical, or general medical assisting. Training includes such courses as billing, office procedures, medical terminology, and anatomy and takes around one to two years to complete, depending upon the program chosen.

Phlebotomists must complete a certificate or diploma program in phlebotomy in order to work in this field. They can work as medical lab assistants in the hospital laboratories. They can find the job of optometric assistant and assist the optometrists.

Medical Assistants can specialize in various areas and their working canvas is quite large. But Phlebotomist itself is a specialization and their employment opportunities are less when compared to Medical Assistants. Name required. Mail will not be published required. Entrance Exams - Education and Career in India.

Difference between Phlebotomist and Medical Assistant. Phlebotomist and opportunities Phlebotomist can work in various hospitals so as to render their service in hospital laboratories.

Medical Assistant and opportunities Medical Assistants are the inevitable part of every health care organization. But Medical Assistant requires either one year certification course in Medical Assistance or degree in Medical Assistance.

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