LPN vs. CMA

A CMA is a certified medical assistant. Most medical assisting programs are task-oriented and train their graduates for employment in doctors' offices, clinics, and urgent care centers. The average medical assistant is paid $8 to $12 per hour; some earn more than $12 and some earn less than $8. Medical assistants can be placed into a group of healthcare workers known as unlicensed assistive personell, which simply means they're not licensed by any state. They're working under someone else's license, such as one belonging to a physician or nurse.

An LPN is a licensed practical nurse. Most practical nursing programs focus on a mixture of nursing tasks, critical thinking, and utilizing the nursing process to execute patient care. LPNs are trained to work in hospitals, doctors' offices, clinics, rehab, nursing homes, hospice, mental health, home health, and other areas of healthcare. The average LPN earns $14 to $21 per hour; some earn over $21 and some earn under $14. LPNs are issued nursing licenses by the state and, therefore, must practice within their defined scope or risk losing this license.

I completed a medical assisting program in 2000 and an LVN program in 2005. I must say that there's a starkly huge difference between the two programs. The easiest way to state the contrast is the fact that many CMAs end up returning to school to become LPNs. However, I have never heard of an LPN returning to school to become a CMA. The reality is that a nursing license paves the way for higher wages and more opportunities for specialization and advancement.