Pediatric Medical Assistant Career Guide: Salary, Skills & More
Aug 01, 2023
Pediatric medical assistants are an essential part of the healthcare industry and work closely with children under the age of 18. You'll find that pediatric medical assistants work in a similar fashion to typical medical assistants, however, the individuals they treat are determined by their age.
With that being said, we've put together a helpful guide on what you can expect when entering into a career in a pediatric medical assisting role. Not only that but the essential skills and responsibilities you'll need and have when it comes to such a role.
Table of Contents
What does a medical assistant in pediatrics do?
A medical assistant role is very much similar to those who are in pediatrics. The only difference is that they're treating a much younger demographic.
Medical assistants in pediatrics are those that assist physicians and help care for babies, children, and adolescents. They will do everything that medical assistants do, from helping with routine check-ups to visits to families directly.
There are many medical assisting tasks that they'll carry out such as scheduling follow-up appointments, checking vaccinations, and tracking growth records.
Essential skills to be a pediatric medical assistant
There are some essential skills required to become a medical assistant. The more of these soft skills that you have, the better your opportunities within this area of healthcare. Medical assistants in pediatrics will need to have the following skills.
Soft skills
Technical skills
- Compassion and empathy
- Communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving and critical thinking
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Organization and time management
- Patience and stress management
- Cultural competency
- Basic medical terminology
- Vital signs measurement
- Immunization administration
- Medication administration
- Phlebotomy (optional)
- Electronic health records (EHR)
Pediatric medical assistant responsibilities
It's important that anyone stepping into a pediatric medical assistant role knows exactly what to expect from the job itself. Medical assistants capabilities and limitations are important to be aware of, especially as they may influence whether this job is the right position for you. Here are both the pediatric medical assistant duties you'll expect to have fulfilled daily.
Administrative responsibilities
Clinical responsibilities
- Schedule appointments and follow-up appointments
- Office duties such as managing the office schedule
- Sending reminders out to patients ahead of their appointment
- Checking vaccine schedules and following up as needed
- Tracking growth records of patients
- Answering phone calls
- Collecting payments
- Taking medical history
- Preparing patients for the examination room
- Assisting the physician during the exam
- Collecting and preparing laboratory specimens
- Draw blood and take vital signs like blood pressure
- Taking electrocardiograms.
It's worth checking what limitations there might be depending on the state you practice in though as some of the clinical responsibilities may vary from one state to another for medical assisting roles.
Salary for pediatric medical assistants
The salary and job outlook for pediatric medical assistants is generally positive. However, pediatric medical assistants may earn slightly higher salaries due to the specialized nature of their work. The job outlook for medical assistants, including those in pediatric settings, is also promising. The field is expected to grow by 19% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.
This growth is largely attributed to the increasing demand for healthcare services as the population continues to age. Overall, pursuing a career as a pediatric medical assistant can be financially rewarding and provide stable job opportunities.
According to Zip Recruiter, as of Jan 30, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Pediatric Medical Assistant in the United States is $18.45 an hour.
Current Demand for pediatric medical assistants
The demand for pediatric medical assistants is currently high due to several factors. Firstly, there is an increasing number of children requiring medical care due to various health conditions and illnesses.
This leads to a greater need for trained professionals who can assist pediatricians in providing quality healthcare to children. Additionally, with the ongoing advancements in medical technology and treatments, pediatric medical assistants are also in demand to support doctors in administering tests, taking vital signs, and assisting with procedures.
How to become a pediatric medical assistant
if you're exploring the world of pediatric medical assistants and would like to pursue such a career, then it's good to know what you'll need in order to become one.
Dealing with young patients can be a different experience for medical assistants and so it's good to know it's the right move for you. Whether you become a pediatric medical assistant or just a medical assistant in general, the importance of medical assistants remains apparent.
1. Obtain a high school diploma or equivalent
First and foremost, you'll need to obtain a high school diploma or equivalent. This is standard across most roles you'll go for when it comes to the medical field and it's a must-have in order to get yourself onto a medical assisting program.
2. Enroll in a medical assisting program
Next, you'll need to enroll in a medical assistant program. Medical assistants in pediatrics, need to have the same knowledge of medical terminology and experience that's provided through these programs.
There are lots of programs out there but it's worth finding a state-approved medical assisting program specifically. FHCA is a reputable institute for providing excellence in its medical assistant programs. Many students who complete the course at FHCA, go on to have a successful career in the medical field.
3. Take the certification exam
After the program has been completed, you'll then need to take a certification exam in order to become a certified medical assistant.
Even for pediatric medical assistants, you'll still need to take the certification exam in order to become certified to practice in the state desired.
The National Healthcareer Association (NHA) offers the Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification exam. The CCMA exam is a multiple-choice exam that covers a variety of topics related to medical assisting, such as anatomy and physiology, medical terminology, patient care, and laboratory procedures. The exam is administered at Pearson VUE testing centers.
To be eligible to take the CCMA exam, you must have completed an accredited medical assisting program. You can find a list of accredited programs on the NHA website.
4. Gain hands-on experience
Once you've become a certified medical assistant, you'll want to try and get as much hands-on experience as possible. Those who are looking to hire a medical assistant will prefer to have those who already have experience working in the role, even if that's in a volunteering capacity.
5. Job search and application
There are plenty of opportunities for medical assistants in pediatrics. In order to maximize your chances of success, it's worth updating your resume and ensuring all your job applications are tweaked for each role you apply to.
Pediatric medical assistant career opportunities
There are a variety of pediatric medical assistant career opportunities. These roles are often in high demand in a variety of pediatric clinics and medical facilities. There are also alternative jobs for medical assistants that you might want to consider.
It's worth making some comparisons in the medical field when it comes to your job outlook. For example, a medical assistant vs. CNA is a similar career path and might be a worthwhile alternative to consider.
References
- ZipRecruiter. (2023). ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter. https://www.ziprecruiter.com/
