42 Medical Assistant Resume Skills That Get Interviews
Clinical Skills, EHR Proficiency & ATS Keywords Hiring Managers Actually Search For
Building a medical assistant resume that gets callbacks? With 12% job growth projected through 2034 and over 112,000 annual openings (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024), competition is fierce. This guide breaks down exactly which medical assistant resume skills employers prioritize—from vital signs and phlebotomy to EHR systems and billing codes—plus copy-ready bullets that prove you're ready for the front lines of patient care.
What Skills Should a Medical Assistant Put on a Resume?
In this guide, you'll discover the clinical competencies, administrative skills, and soft skills that separate top candidates from the rest. Medical assistants wear many hats—taking vitals, drawing blood, scheduling appointments, processing insurance claims—and your resume needs to reflect that versatility. We've organized everything by skill category and experience level, with achievement-focused examples you can adapt for your next application.
Strong Job Market
Tip
Medical Assistant Skills by Experience Level
Entry-level to senior: what to include at each career stage
Entry Level / New Medical Assistant (0-1 years)
Focus on certification, foundational clinical skills, and willingness to learn. Your externship experience counts—highlight specific tasks you performed.
- 1CMA, RMA, or CCMA certification (or in progress)
- 2Vital signs measurement and documentation
- 3Basic phlebotomy and specimen collection
- 4EHR navigation and patient documentation
- 5Medical terminology and anatomy knowledge
- 6Infection control and safety protocols
- 7Patient scheduling and phone etiquette
- 8CPR and Basic Life Support certification
Experienced Medical Assistant (2-4 years)
Demonstrate independence and expanded clinical skills. You should be handling complex procedures and mentoring new staff.
- 1Advanced phlebotomy (difficult draws, pediatric)
- 2EKG administration and basic interpretation
- 3Medical billing and coding (ICD-10, CPT)
- 4Prior authorization and insurance verification
- 5Minor procedure assistance and wound care
- 6Patient education and chronic disease support
- 7New staff training and mentorship
- 8Quality improvement participation
Senior Medical Assistant / Lead (5+ years)
Leadership and specialized expertise. You're trusted with complex clinical situations, staff supervision, and operational improvements.
- 1Clinical team leadership and supervision
- 2Workflow optimization and process improvement
- 3Specialty certifications (ophthalmology, podiatry)
- 4EHR implementation and super-user training
- 5Compliance monitoring and audit support
- 6Revenue cycle optimization and coding review
- 7Emergency response and triage protocols
- 8Clinical quality metrics tracking
Try an example:
Enter your job title to discover relevant skills
Hard Skills for Medical Assistant Resumes
Technical skills with resume examples and ATS keywords
💡 Tip:Include volume metrics when possible—how many patients you assess daily demonstrates you can handle high-paced clinical environments.
💡 Tip:Success rate and volume matter. If you have a high first-stick success rate or handle difficult draws, highlight it.
💡 Tip:Name the specific EHR systems you've used—Epic, Cerner, and eClinicalWorks are most common. Employers filter resumes by system familiarity.
💡 Tip:Mention specific injection types and any immunization-focused experience (flu clinics, pediatric vaccines). This is a high-value skill.
💡 Tip:Billing skills are increasingly valuable—mention specific code sets (ICD-10, CPT) and any claim denial reduction achievements.
💡 Tip:Show you can optimize schedules—reducing no-shows, managing waitlists, or improving patient flow demonstrates operational value.
💡 Tip:Diagnostic testing skills set you apart. Mention specific equipment and any interpretation assistance you provide.
💡 Tip:Emphasize accuracy and patient safety. Medication errors are a major concern—show you understand proper protocols.
💡 Tip:Highlight sterile technique and infection control. These skills are especially valued in surgical and specialty practices.
💡 Tip:While foundational, accurate use of medical terminology in your resume itself demonstrates competency.
💡 Tip:Infection control is non-negotiable. Mention OSHA compliance, proper PPE usage, and any safety committee participation.
💡 Tip:Telemedicine skills are increasingly valuable post-pandemic. Mention platforms you've used and patient support provided.
Need stronger action verbs? Browse our Action Verbs Library for powerful words that make your achievements stand out.
Soft Skills Every Medical Assistant Needs
Interpersonal abilities that strengthen your resume
💡 Tip:Medical assistants are often patients' first point of contact. Show you can communicate complex information clearly and compassionately.
💡 Tip:Medical assistant roles require constant juggling. Quantify your ability to handle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
💡 Tip:Medical assistants work closely with physicians, nurses, and front desk staff. Show you're a team player who enhances clinic operations.
💡 Tip:Healthcare errors can be life-threatening. Emphasize your accuracy record and any quality improvement contributions.
💡 Tip:Healthcare environments are unpredictable. Show you can stay calm under pressure and adapt to changing situations.
💡 Tip:Healthcare demands the highest ethical standards. Highlight HIPAA compliance and patient confidentiality commitment.
Writing your professional summary? Our AI Resume Summary Generator creates compelling summaries that highlight your key skills.
ATS Optimization Tips for Medical Assistants
- List certifications with full names: 'Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)' not just 'CMA'
- Include specific EHR systems: 'Epic', 'Cerner', 'eClinicalWorks'—employers filter by system experience
- Use 'phlebotomy' and 'venipuncture' interchangeably—ATS may search for either term
- Match the job posting language: if they say 'medical billing experience', use that exact phrase
- Include both ICD-10 and CPT if you have coding experience—these are high-value ATS keywords
- Quantify clinical volume: '40+ patients daily' is more searchable than 'high-volume experience'
- Mention specialty experience: 'dermatology', 'cardiology', 'pediatrics'—specialty clinics filter for this
Resume Mistakes Medical Assistants Should Avoid
Common errors that get skills sections rejected
Listing clinical skills without context
Saying 'phlebotomy' tells employers nothing. They want to know volume, success rate, and patient populations you've worked with.
Add specifics: 'Performed 25+ venipunctures daily with 95% first-stick success rate including difficult pediatric draws'
Omitting EHR system names
Employers often filter resumes by EHR experience. If you've used Epic, Cerner, or eClinicalWorks, your resume needs to say so explicitly.
Create a 'Technical Skills' section listing specific systems: 'Epic | Cerner | eClinicalWorks | Surescripts'
Forgetting certification details
CMA, RMA, CCMA, and other certifications are minimum requirements for many positions. Bury them and ATS may miss them.
List certifications prominently with issuing organization and date: 'CMA (AAMA) — Certified 2022, Valid through 2027'
Using generic job descriptions
'Assisted physicians with patient care' could describe any medical assistant. It doesn't differentiate you.
Add metrics and specifics: 'Assisted 3 physicians with 80+ daily patient encounters, reducing average exam time by 10%'
Leaving out administrative skills
Many employers want 'back office' AND 'front office' skills. Focusing only on clinical work undersells your value.
Balance clinical and administrative: Include scheduling, billing, prior authorization, and phone triage alongside clinical skills
Not mentioning specialty experience
Dermatology, cardiology, pediatrics, and orthopedics require different skill sets. Specialty experience is valuable.
Highlight specialty work: 'Medical Assistant — Dermatology' or 'Experienced in cardiology, ophthalmology, and primary care settings'
Ignoring soft skills entirely
Patient communication and teamwork matter as much as clinical skills. Pure technical resumes miss the point.
Show soft skills through achievements: 'Received 15+ positive patient reviews citing compassionate care and clear communication'
Drop your resume here
PDF or TXT
0 / 2500 characters
Adding a job description helps identify matching and missing keywords.
Try an example:
Upload or paste your resume to analyze keywords and get optimization suggestions.
ATS Keywords for Medical Assistant Resumes
Terms that help your resume pass applicant tracking systems
ATS Keywords
Click to copy • Include these naturally in your resume
| Category | Recommended Keywords |
|---|---|
| Clinical Skills | |
| EHR & Technology | |
| Administrative Skills | |
| Safety & Compliance | |
| Certifications | |
| Soft Skills |
Medical Assistant Resume Bullets You Can Copy
Achievement statements tailored to your experience
- Measured vital signs and performed patient assessments for 40+ patients daily in high-volume primary care practice
- Performed 25+ venipunctures daily with 95% first-stick success rate across pediatric and geriatric populations
- Administered 15+ daily injections including IM, subcutaneous, and vaccines following CDC and state guidelines
- Managed patient records in Epic EHR for 2,500+ active patients, ensuring 100% HIPAA compliance and same-day documentation
- Processed ICD-10 and CPT coding for patient encounters, achieving 98% first-pass claim acceptance rate
- Scheduled 100+ patient appointments weekly across 4 providers, reducing no-show rate from 18% to 8%
- Performed and analyzed EKGs for cardiac patients, identifying abnormalities for physician review
- Assisted with minor surgical procedures including biopsies, suture removal, and wound care
- Facilitated 20+ telemedicine visits daily, managing patient check-in and technical troubleshooting
- Trained 5 new medical assistants on clinical procedures, EHR documentation, and patient communication
- Maintained 100% compliance with OSHA bloodborne pathogen standards and infection control protocols
- Coordinated specialist referrals and prior authorizations, achieving 90% approval rate for specialty medications
Want personalized bullets? Our AI Bullet Generator creates achievement-focused bullets tailored to your experience.
Best Certifications for Medical Assistants
Credentials that boost your hiring chances
Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)
Considered the 'gold standard.' Requires graduation from CAAHEP/ABHES-accredited program. 200-question exam. Recertify every 5 years with 60 CEUs.
Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
Offers multiple eligibility pathways including work experience. 210-question exam. Recertify every 3 years with 30 CEUs.
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
National Healthcareer Association (NHA)
Popular entry-level certification. Can qualify through NHA-approved training or 1 year work experience. Recertify every 2 years.
National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA)
National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT)
Flexible eligibility including military training and work experience. Good option for career changers.
Basic Life Support (BLS)
RequiredAmerican Heart Association / Red Cross
Required by most employers. Covers CPR, AED, and choking response for adults, children, and infants. Renew every 2 years.
Phlebotomy Technician Certification
Multiple organizations (ASCP, NHA, AMT)
Valuable add-on for medical assistants. Demonstrates specialized competency in blood draws and specimen handling.
Medical Assistant Resume Skills FAQ
Focus on clinical skills (vital signs, phlebotomy, injections, EKG), administrative skills (EHR documentation, medical billing, scheduling), and soft skills (patient communication, multitasking). Include specific EHR systems you've used (Epic, Cerner) and certifications (CMA, RMA). Tailor skills to match the job posting.
Certification isn't legally required in most states, but it significantly improves job prospects and salary. The CMA (AAMA) and RMA (AMT) are most recognized. Many hospitals and specialty practices require certification. Expect $2-4/hour higher pay with credentials.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for medical assistants was $44,200 in May 2024. Salaries range from $32,000-55,000+ depending on location, specialty, and certification. Surgical and specialty practices typically pay more than primary care.
List your externship like work experience, clearly labeled as 'Clinical Externship' or 'Practicum.' Include the facility name, dates, and specific skills you practiced. Quantify when possible: 'Performed 50+ phlebotomy draws during 160-hour externship' demonstrates hands-on experience.
Excellent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12% job growth from 2024-2034, much faster than average. Approximately 112,300 job openings are expected annually. Growth is driven by aging population, chronic disease management, and expanded roles in primary care.
Use exact keywords from job postings, spell out certifications fully, include specific EHR systems by name, quantify your clinical experience, and use standard section headers. Match terminology exactly: if the posting says 'prior authorization experience', use that phrase.
Both are widely recognized. CMA (AAMA) is considered the 'gold standard' with stricter requirements—you must graduate from an accredited program. RMA (AMT) offers more flexible pathways including work experience. Most employers accept either. Choose based on your eligibility and career goals.
Epic and Cerner are most common in hospitals and large health systems. eClinicalWorks, Allscripts, and athenahealth are popular in outpatient practices. Learn the system at your workplace thoroughly, and note any additional systems you've used—cross-system experience is valuable.
Ready to Build Your Resume?
Use our AI-powered builder to create an ATS-optimized resume with these skills.
Start Building FreeEnjoyed this article?
Share it with your network
