What Medical Assistants Can and Cannot Do: Duties, Limits, and Legal Guidelines
Oct 30, 2025
As a medical assistant, you play a central role in outpatient care. You balance clinical duties with administrative responsibilities, helping healthcare providers deliver timely, efficient, and compassionate service. But unlike nurses or doctors, we work within clearly defined legal and professional limits.
At FHCA Orlando, we guide you through these boundaries so you can confidently perform your duties while staying safe and compliant. This article outlines what you can do, what’s off-limits, and how our training prepares you for a successful career.
Table of Contents
- Understanding the medical assistant role
- What medical assistants can do
- What medical assistants cannot do
- Training that clarifies legal scope
- Career outlook for medical assistants
- What medical assistants can and cannot do FAQs
- Ready to start a career with purpose?
Understanding the medical assistant role
You’ll serve as key support staff in physicians’ offices, urgent care centers, and specialty practices. One of your greatest strengths is versatility: you check in patients, prep exam rooms, assist during procedures, and manage documentation and scheduling.
This combination of clinical and administrative work allows you to streamline patient flow and make the office run efficiently. We make sure you understand both aspects of the role so you can step into your career ready to contribute from day one.
Day-to-day responsibilities
Most days start with preparing for appointments, reviewing charts, and making sure rooms are stocked and sanitized. As patients arrive, you’ll handle check-ins, take vital signs, and gather health histories. Throughout the day, you’ll assist providers with exams, update electronic health records (EHRs), schedule follow-ups, and answer patient questions about office procedures.
These responsibilities are detailed in this breakdown of medical assistant daily tasks.
What medical assistants can do
Medical assistants are trained to perform a wide range of duties—always within the legal scope of practice defined by your state and supervising provider.
Administrative tasks
- Greeting and checking in patients
- Managing scheduling and appointment reminders
- Verifying insurance and collecting payments
- Entering data into electronic health records (EHR)
- Answering phones and coordinating referrals
These front-desk tasks ensure the clinic runs smoothly and the patient experience starts on the right foot.
Clinical tasks (with supervision)
Medical assistants may perform certain clinical duties under the direction of a licensed provider. This means that:
- The supervising provider must be physically present or immediately available.
- The task must be delegated appropriately based on the assistant’s training.
- The assistant may not independently decide to perform or modify any clinical procedure.
With those safeguards in place, medical assistants may perform tasks such as:
- Taking vital signs and health histories
- Preparing patients for exams
- Collecting and labeling lab specimens
- Performing routine tests like EKGs or vision screenings
- Assisting during minor procedures
- Sterilizing equipment and maintaining infection control standards
- Administering medications (oral, topical, or injectable), when authorized
These activities must always follow the supervising provider’s instructions and align with state regulations and clinic protocols.
What medical assistants cannot do
Despite their broad skill set, medical assistants must respect strict boundaries to avoid legal or ethical violations. The tasks below are not permitted, even with provider supervision, unless the assistant holds additional licensure.
Prohibited tasks
- Diagnosing conditions or interpreting symptoms
- Prescribing medication or recommending treatment plans
- Initiating or managing IV therapy
- Performing invasive procedures (e.g., sutures, wound closure)
- Interpreting lab results or delivering medical advice
- Making clinical decisions independently
At FHCA Orlando, we ensure you understand these limitations so you always practice safely and legally.
Training that clarifies legal scope
To confidently carry out the tasks they’re permitted to perform, medical assistants must complete a formal training program. These programs combine classroom instruction with hands-on practice to build both competence and confidence.
Why certification matters
Most employers in Florida prefer or require medical assistant certification. Credentials like the CCMA or RMA confirm that the candidate has completed an approved program and passed a national exam.
FHCA Orlando offers students a clear roadmap. Those considering this path can explore the steps to become a medical assistant to understand training and certification requirements.
Legal considerations in Florida
Florida law defines what medical assistants can do. For example, administering injections is only allowed after proper training and under direct supervision. Accurate documentation and strict adherence to protocols are essential.
By training with us, you’ll gain experience that ensures compliance with state regulations while preparing you for national certification.
Career outlook for medical assistants
Medical assistants are in high demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 12% growth in employment from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth creates about 112,300 job openings annually, largely due to expanding outpatient services and the aging population.
Common work settings
While hospital roles are limited, most medical assistants work in:
- Primary care clinics
- Specialty offices (cardiology, dermatology, OB/GYN)
- Urgent care centers
- Diagnostic laboratories
- Outpatient surgical centers
For those exploring career options, this medical assistant job description offers a helpful overview.
Career growth and specialization
With time and experience, medical assistants can move into supervisory roles such as:
- Lead medical assistant
- Clinical coordinator
- Office manager
You can also pursue specialized certifications in areas like phlebotomy, EKG, or medical billing. Many students use their medical assistant foundation to transition into nursing or allied health programs. We help you explore all these career options so you can plan your path forward.
To explore future options, students can read should I become a medical assistant.
What medical assistants can and cannot do FAQs
Can a medical assistant give injections?
Yes, but only after proper training and with direct provider supervision.
Can a medical assistant interpret lab results?
No. Only licensed healthcare providers may interpret and communicate results.
Is IV therapy allowed for medical assistants?
No. Starting or managing IVs requires licensure that medical assistants do not have.
Are certifications required to work?
In most cases, yes. Certification improves job prospects and ensures legal compliance.
How does FHCA Orlando prepare students for the role?
FHCA combines classroom instruction with hands-on labs and real clinical exposure, equipping students with the confidence and skills they need to succeed.
Ready to start a career with purpose?
Medical assistants are essential to outpatient care, and at FHCA Orlando, we’re committed to preparing you for every step of the journey. From certification prep to hands-on training, we support you as you build a safe, competent, and rewarding career.
Get started by visiting the enrollment page, or learn more about FHCA’s medical assistant program to begin a career in healthcare.
