Clinical Experience for PA and Pre-medical Students.

A role as a Clinical Medical Assistant, Patient Care Technician, or Phlebotomist will allow aspiring Physician Assistants, and pre-med students to gain paid hands-on clinical experience that will satisfy program application requirements. Students typically take a gap year to complete the required training for such roles and gain employment. CMA and PCT roles offer a variety of settings for aspiring medical professionals to work in. Students can commit to a specific specialty early in their career or join a float pool and explore many areas of medicine. Medical school is a serious time and financial commitment. This experience will set the stage for your clinical appetite. It will help you decide if a career as a physician assistant or medical doctor is right for you.

What settings will I work in?

Medical assistants work in outpatient environments also known as ambulatory care settings. This includes primary and specialty care physician offices, surgical centers, private practices, or large medical groups. Hospital-based physician practices are common and allow medical assistants the opportunity to cross over into hospital-based roles. Medical Assistants are qualified to work as Patient Care Technicians, however, technicians will need additional training and to sit for a national exam to work as Medical Assistants. Patient care technicians work in inpatient settings. This includes; Hospitals (General medical and surgical wards, Emergency departments, Intensive care units (ICUs), and Rehabilitation units), nursing homes, long-term care (LTC), assisted living facilities, and dialysis centers. Students should gain employment in settings that align with their future goals.

Medical Assistant vs Patient Care Technician.

Patient care technician roles are less comprehensive than medical assistant roles. Patient care techs focus primarily on point-of-care testing, specimen collection, assisting with daily living activities, and data entry. Medical assistants focus on direct patient care including point-of-care testing and specimen collection, charting, medication management, a variety of clinical screenings, direct provider support, assisting in minor surgical procedures, injections, wound care, and care coordination. Medical Assistants are in high demand in response to the aging population and the medical assistant shortages we are experiencing across the country.

Smart Start School of Allied Health offers an accelerated program that prepares students for a career in medical assisting in 16 weeks. Visit the Career Training page to learn more about the program.