MA to LPN??????

Trauma Columnist · Oct 16, 2005

I would check with your Board of Nursing. BTW - I'm unsure what an RMA is? Some kind of medical assistant? I apologize for my ignorance, there are so many new abbreviations for jobs.

HeartsOpenWide, RN · Oct 16, 2005

can anyone tell me if a rma can challenge the board for lpn? someone had told me they heard after being certified for one year you could challenge the board........anyone have any info on this? thanks-

i know it can be done, but i am not sure on the details. when i was going to ma school my teacher was talking about how she was going to challenge the rn boards and just take the exam to become an rn without taking any classes. she had an masters in education and had been an cma for some time, so i am not sure if there are requirements to meet.

DutchgirlRN, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2005

I seriously doubt this is true. You must go to an approved school of nursing whether it be LPN or RN before you can sit for boards.

Little Panda RN, ASN, RN · Oct 16, 2005

can anyone tell me if a rma can challenge the board for lpn? someone had told me they heard after being certified for one year you could challenge the board........anyone have any info on this? thanks-

it is hard for me to believe that anyone could challenge the lpn or rn exam. i am a medical assistant going for my lpn and there is a world of difference between the two. i learned only the clinical side of the medical field when i was in medical assissting school and i have learned only the hospital side of nursing in lpn school. granted we all took a&p, micro, pharmacology and so on and so on, but the actuall hands on is different. i have learned new skills in my time in nursing school, i could not imagine trying to pass the lpn board with out lpn training behind me.

DusktilDawn · Oct 16, 2005

I know it can be done, but I am not sure on the details. When I was going to MA school my teacher was talking about how she was going to challenge the RN boards and just take the Exam to become an RN without taking any classes. She had an Masters in education and had been an CMA for some time, so I am not sure if there are requirements to meet.

I would find it hard to believe that your instructor would be successful in this endeavor (Certified Medical Assistant, correct?). Because of her education she may have been exempt or given credit for certain course requirements. Challenging the RN boards successfully, I really doubt it.

Highasthesky you may be credited for some courses, look into it.

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Oct 16, 2005

You would not want to do that anyway :the differrences in the job and responsibilites are night and day. I know in Texas for sure it cant be done and all the reading I have done the only one that can take boards without going through an approved school of nursing is in a selected few states, if your are a Military medic and that is for the LVN boards.:)

Princess74 · Oct 16, 2005

No, it can not be done. You actually have to go to nursing school and the pass the NCLEX to become a nurse.

KatieBell · Oct 16, 2005

To get permission to test, you must provide documentation that you have graduated from an accredited school of nursing. A Masters in Education is not preparation to be a nurse.

highasthesky · Oct 16, 2005

thanks so much for the replies. i enrolled in this medical assistant program because i thought it would help me get into an lpn or rn school if i did really well in it, but talking to vol state and the tenn tech center they said that working as a cna would get me in b4 ma. i was baffled to hear that, i went thru cna course and worked as one, and i didn't learn as much as i'm going to in this ma program. surely if i complete the program with good grades and recommendations it'll help me get in a nursing program....right? or am i wasting my time? thanks everyone......

Trauma Columnist · Oct 16, 2005

I think you just have to realize that when you compare an MA to an RN, you are comparing apples to oranges. They are not the same profession. I know in Illinois - this can't be done. In my opinion - I do think you should change your focus to RN pre-reqs if the RN is your ultimate goal. Good luck.

nursesaideBen · Oct 16, 2005

While I do think there is quite a difference between MAs and RNs and do think MAs are very competent nurses, yes I call them nurses because just in my opinion they are. Frequently MAs are treated inferior even though they are very well trained in clinical skills as well as administrative skills. Sadly Medical Assistants are trained primarily to work in a clinic or a Dr.'s office so the pay scale is low and they are treated inferior to nurses. Personally, I believe that being a medical assistant will prepare you for some aspects of your RN. Ultimately it is YOUR decision.