Medical Assistant Resume Skills and Keywords

What skills should I put on a medical assistant resume?

The top skills to put on a medical assistant resume are Epic Systems and Microsoft Office, along with medicine and dentistry, administrative knowledge, and therapy and counseling. Employers also look for dependability, attention to detail and integrity, which are best shown through results in your bullet points rather than listed.

• Epic Systems
• Microsoft Office
• Medicine and Dentistry knowledge
• Administrative knowledge
• Therapy and Counseling knowledge
• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Integrity

What software should medical assistants know?

Medical assistant job postings most often ask for Epic Systems and Microsoft Office. Many medical assistants also use medical, categorization or classification and document management software; which products matter depends on the employer, so list the specific products a posting names and you have used.

• Epic Systems
• Microsoft Office

Leave off Microsoft Windows Vista Business, Microsoft Windows XP Professional, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange, Email software and Web browser software: employers assume you know them.

What hard skills do employers want in medical assistants?

Medical assistants need medicine and dentistry, administrative knowledge, therapy and counseling, and English language far more than most workers. Name these in your resume summary and prove each one with a bullet that shows you using it.

• Medicine and Dentistry · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Administrative · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Therapy and Counseling · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• English Language · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.
• Customer and Personal Service · Needed far more than in most jobs
  Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Social Perceptiveness · Needed more than in most jobs
  Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Compared with the average rating across all jobs in Department of Labor data.

What soft skills do medical assistants need?

The most important soft skills for medical assistants are dependability, attention to detail and integrity, followed by cautiousness and cooperation. Show them through results in your bullet points rather than listing them as single words.

1. Dependability: A tendency to be reliable, responsible, and consistent in meeting work-related obligations.
2. Attention to Detail: A tendency to be detail-oriented, organized, and thorough in completing work.
3. Integrity: A tendency to be honest and ethical at work.
4. Cautiousness: A tendency to be careful, deliberate, and risk-avoidant when making work-related decisions or doing work.
5. Cooperation: A tendency to be pleasant, helpful, and willing to assist others at work.

What keywords should a medical assistant resume include?

A medical assistant resume should include the exact tool names, skills and job title from the posting. For medical assistants, common keywords include Epic Systems, Microsoft Office, Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) and Chiropractor Assistant. Applicant tracking systems and recruiters scan for these words, so use them wherever they truthfully describe your experience.

How do I write medical assistant resume bullet points?

Start each medical assistant bullet point with a past-tense verb and a core task, such as “Cleaned and sterilized instruments and dispose of contaminated supplies,” then end it with a measurable result: what changed, by how much, and for whom. These starters come from the job’s most important tasks.

What are other job titles for a medical assistant?

Other job titles for a medical assistant include Certified Medical Assistant (CMA), Chiropractor Assistant, Clinical Medical Assistant, Doctor's Assistant and Health Assistant. Government job data groups them as “Medical Assistants.” Search for these titles too, and use the posting’s exact title on your resume when it fits your experience.

• Certified Medical Assistant (CMA)
• Chiropractor Assistant
• Clinical Medical Assistant
• Doctor's Assistant
• Health Assistant
• Ophthalmic Assistant
• Ophthalmological Assistant
• Optometric Assistant
• Outpatient Surgery Assistant
• Registered Medical Assistant (RMA)
• Autopsy Assistant
• Bilingual Medical Assistant
• Cardiology Medical Assistant
• Chiropractic Assistant
• Client Services Coordinator
• Clinic Assistant
• Clinic Medical Assistant
• Dermatology Medical Assistant
• Doctor Assistant
• Family Medicine Medical Assistant

What education do medical assistants need?

Most medical assistants need a postsecondary nondegree award to get hired. No prior work experience is usually required. On your resume, list coursework or certifications in medicine and dentistry, administrative knowledge, and therapy and counseling. In a federal survey, 45% of medical assistants said the job requires a postsecondary certificate and 21% a high school diploma.

How much do medical assistants make?

Medical assistants earn a median salary of $45,690 a year, according to May 2025 federal wage data. The lowest-paid 10% earn less than $36,050, and the highest-paid 10% earn more than $59,310. Employment is projected to grow 12.9% from 2025 to 2035, faster than the 3.5% average for all jobs, with about 109,700 openings a year.

What other jobs can medical assistants do?

Medical assistants’ skills carry over best to jobs as surgical assistants, ophthalmic medical technicians and registered nurses, which use the most similar skills and day-to-day work.