Certified medical assistant vs. patient care technician: Which career is the right fit for me? We often hear this question at NTX Training Institute, and many people who are thinking about working in healthcare ask themselves the same type of question.
While there’s no one answer for every person, understanding each role’s responsibilities can help you decide which path best suits your goals and skills. Let’s take a look.
Here’s the difference between the two career paths.
Both certified medical assistants and patient care technicians have a chance to help patients in a hands-on way, but there’s a difference in how the roles operate on a day-to-day basis.
It can be summed up like this: A certified medical assistant (CMA) has responsibilities in both the exam room and the front office, while a patient care technician (PCT) works only with patients.
Certified medical assistants (CMAs) work in administration and patient care.
Certified medical assistants spend about equal time in the exam room and the front office. On the clinical side, they perform a range of tasks, including taking patients’ vital signs, documenting medical histories, and administering medications.
Certified medical assistants also help keep medical offices running. They greet patients when they arrive, assist with scheduling and insurance paperwork, and keep many of the office’s records up to date.
Patient care technicians provide direct patient care—particularly for the elderly.
PCTs focus on working with patients, usually alongside registered nurses. Their responsibilities include assisting patients with restroom use, serving meals, changing bedding, and monitoring vital signs.
In general, PCTs are more likely to work in places like assisted living facilities or home health services.
Certified medical assistants and patient care technicians both work with patients.
It’s important to note that the work performed by CMAs and PCTs is more similar than it is different. While patient care technicians spend more time in the exam room, certified medical assistants perform many of the same duties.
Both CMAs and PCTs have the chance to do the following:
- Take vital signs
- Draw blood
- Perform EKGs
- Ask patients medical questions
- Prepare patients for medical procedures
Certified medical assistant vs. patient care technician: Which is the better career move?
If you want a balance between patient care and administrative work, becoming a certified medical assistant could be the best path for you. You’ll still have plenty of opportunities to connect with patients, especially during intake and procedures.
On the other hand, if you prefer to focus exclusively on hands-on care with patients and want to be involved in helping the elderly, a PCT role may be more fulfilling.
Remember that both paths offer rewarding opportunities to help people and make a difference in their health. However, when it comes to salaries, certified medical assistants have the chance to earn considerably more—about $19 per hour on average and up to $50,000 per year for experienced CMAs.¹ Patient care technicians earn on average $17 per hour.² That seems close. The issue is career mobility.
Certified medical assistant positions have opportunities for advancement because there are more job roles and responsibilities they can provide. Opportunities for patient care technicians are limited to patient care and, generally, limited to elder care, as well.
Opportunities for certified medical assistants are on the rise.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job opportunities for certified medical assistants are expected to increase 15% by 2033.³ That growth translates to almost 120,000 new openings each year. Patient care technicians are also in-demand as the Boomer generation grows older. So, both careers are growing. It comes down to your career goals and the salary you need to live a happy, healthy life.
We can help. Start your healthcare career with NTX today.
If you think a career as a certified medical assistant could be right for you, contact NTX Training Institute to get started on your journey. Send us an email today to learn more about our programs.
References
- Medical Assistant Salary in Texas: Hourly Rate (Mar, 2025) [Internet]. ZipRecruiter. 2025 [cited 2025 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Medical-Assistant-Salary–in-Texas
- Patient care technician salary in Texas [Internet]. Indeed.com. 2024 [cited 2025 Feb 28]. Available from: https://www.indeed.com/career/patient-care-technician/salaries/TX
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Medical Assistants: Occupational Outlook Handbook: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [Internet]. BLS.gov. 2024 [cited 2025 Feb 28].
