LPN or Medical Assistant?

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Right now I'm trying to decide between applying to an LPN program or starting a medical assistant program. My end goal is to work in a doctor's office. Would I have a better chance of a Dr's office job as a medical assistant or as an LPN? Also, is there a huge difference in pay? If it helps I live near Atlanta. 

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Hey there! I have a friend whom is an M.A and she had told me that the works decent hours and she has no trouble finding openings but has told me that her pay sucks. 

The thing is though I believe it's just how far you would want to go in your career. With LPN you can bridge to an RN.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

The thing is there is also no real upward mobility career opportunities. You might become a senior/lead MA or an office manager, but that's about it.

LPNs are hired in medical offices.

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Specializes in RN Student/ER Tech.

It depends on your goals. I chose MA because it was a short program and less expensive. I could start working in healthcare and earning money while taking my prerequisites and applying to RN school. I didn’t want to put my prerequisites on hold because I’d hate to go back for prereqs after I’m an LPN.


you’d have a better chance getting hired in Drs offices as an MA because we’re trained to do administrative and clinical tasks and we’re cheaper to hire. As an MA in an urgent care I get paid the about the same as my LPN coworker, I think she makes 50 cents more. An LPN that works in LTC, agency, home health, or corrections gets paid more than an MA that works in drs offices and other clinical settings. 
 

Job opportunities depend on your location but I had 3 opportunities available before I got certified. Since covid, many doctors offices are doing telehealth 

If your end goal is to work in Drs offices I would 100% go for LPN because MAs don’t get paid enough for all the things they expect us to do.

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Thanks for all the input, everyone! I've decided to try to get into an LPN program, and hopefully one day bridge to RN.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Good luck to you.

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