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Author: Cody DeBos, RN, BSN
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Cody DeBos, RN-BSN, is a pediatric registered nurse and healthcare writer with eight years of professional experience. He's authored hundreds of articles for healthcare organizations including the Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, The Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), and Sentara Health. Cody specializes in making complex health topics accessible to a wider audience.
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Sarah Mattie has over five years of experience writing and editing for postsecondary education websites. She specializes in creating clear, accessible content and overseeing writers and editors. While earning her master’s degree at Emerson College, Sarah contributed articles to communication publications and wrote a thesis on the use of theatre in TESOL. Her work focuses on delivering accurate and engaging information that meets readers’ needs and supports their academic and career goals.
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How to Become a Pediatric Medical Assistant: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re drawn to healthcare and enjoy working with children, becoming a pediatric medical assistant (MA) may be the perfect fit. The role blends clinical skills, administrative tasks, and hands-on patient interaction — often with infants, toddlers, kids, and teens. It’s also one of the quickest ways to enter pediatric healthcare, with training that can be finished in under a year.

The following professionals lent their expertise to this article:

A person with medium-length hair and glasses smiles while standing outdoors in front of a tree and wooden fence. Wearing a striped shirt, they are surrounded by a lush, grassy area that adds to the serene ambiance of the scene.
Author: Cody DeBos, RN, BSN
A person with medium-length hair and glasses smiles while standing outdoors in front of a tree and wooden fence. Wearing a striped shirt, they are surrounded by a lush, grassy area that adds to the serene ambiance of the scene.
Cody DeBos, RN, BSN Arrow up right
Cody DeBos, RN-BSN, is a pediatric registered nurse and healthcare writer with eight years of professional experience. He's authored hundreds of articles for healthcare organizations including the Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, The Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), and Sentara Health. Cody specializes in making complex health topics accessible to a wider audience.
Areas of Expertise
Check HealthcareNursingPediatric Nursing
HealthcareNursingPediatric Nursing
Editor: Sarah Mattie, MA
A woman with shoulder-length wavy brown hair and a warm smile, wearing a dark button-up shirt, poses in front of a light, neutral background.
Sarah Mattie, MA Arrow up right
Sarah Mattie has over five years of experience writing and editing for postsecondary education websites. She specializes in creating clear, accessible content and overseeing writers and editors. While earning her master’s degree at Emerson College, Sarah contributed articles to communication publications and wrote a thesis on the use of theatre in TESOL. Her work focuses on delivering accurate and engaging information that meets readers’ needs and supports their academic and career goals.
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Check HealthcareOnline Learning
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Pediatric MAs support pediatricians, nurses, and families. On any given day, you might help calm a toddler before a vaccine, record vitals during a wellness visit, assist with developmental screenings, or help parents navigate insurance. The pace is fast, rewarding, and deeply people-centered.

This step-by-step guide walks you through the education, certification, training, and specialized skills needed to start a career as a pediatric MA.

Step 1

Complete a Medical Assisting Program

Before you can begin working as a pediatric MA, you’ll need to complete a medical assistant program. Most students choose one of the following:

  • Certificate or diploma (9-12 months)
  • Associate degree (about 2 years)

The path you choose depends on your timeline, budget, and long-term goals. All formats provide the foundational skills required to enter the workforce.

Certificate and Diploma Programs

Certificate and diploma programs are designed to get you into the workforce quickly. They typically take 9–12 months and cover:

  • Basic patient care
  • Medical terminology
  • Phlebotomy
  • Administrative and front-office tasks

Example: U.S. Career Institute – Online Medical Assistant Certificate Program

Associate Degrees

Associate degree programs take closer to two years and include both MA coursework and general education classes. They often offer:

  • Expanded clinical skills
  • Writing and communication coursework
  • Opportunities for pediatric electives or clinical experiences
  • Stronger preparation for career advancement

Example: Herzing University – Medical Assisting Online Associate Degree Program

Step 2

Earn a National Medical Assistant Certification

After completing your MA program, earning a national medical assistant certification can make you more competitive — and some employers require it. Certification demonstrates competency in both clinical and administrative duties.

Here are the most recognized options:

Common MA Certification Options

CMA (AAMA): The Certified Medical Assistant credential from the American Association of Medical Assistants. You must complete an accredited MA program and pass the CMA exam.

RMA (AMT): The Registered Medical Assistant credential from American Medical Technologists. Eligibility requires an accredited program with at least 720 instructional hours, including 160 externship hours.

CCMA (NHA): The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant from the National Healthcareer Association. Focuses heavily on clinical skills. Eligibility includes completion of an MA program or a high school diploma/GED plus supervised experience.

NCMA (NCCT): The National Certified Medical Assistant credential. Offers five eligibility pathways, including one for current high school students attending NCCT-authorized schools.

Step 2

Gain Experience in a Pediatric Setting

Certification helps you secure a job, but hands-on pediatric experience is what solidifies your specialization. Working directly with children prepares you for the unique challenges of pediatric care.

What Pediatric Experience Looks Like

  • Working with infants, children, and teens
  • Assisting with childhood vaccines
  • Supporting developmental screenings
  • Communicating with parents
  • Collecting lab samples (blood, urine, stool)
  • Comforting or distracting anxious children
  • Performing administrative tasks

Where Pediatric MAs Work

  • Pediatric clinics
  • Family practices
  • Urgent care centers
  • Hospitals and specialty units

Step 4

Pursue Pediatric-Specific Certifications (Optional)

There’s no national certification exclusively for pediatric MAs, but additional pediatric-focused credentials can help you stand out.

Examples include:

  • AAMA Assessment-Based Certificate in Pediatrics: Covers newborn and well-child care, common pediatric illnesses, injuries, and pediatric psychology.
  • Pediatric CPR or PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support): Offered through the American Heart Association; valuable for MAs in higher-acuity settings.
  • Employer-Led Training: Many clinics offer in-house pediatric modules or encourage continuing education (CE) from organizations like the NHA.

These credentials aren’t required, but they can make you more competitive and confident in a pediatric role.

Skills and Traits Pediatric Medical Assistants Need

Caring for children requires more than clinical knowledge. These ten traits help pediatric MAs navigate busy days, emotional families, and unpredictable kids.

  • Patience
    Children (and their parents) may feel scared, anxious, or uncooperative. Patience builds trust and keeps visits running smoothly.
  • Communication
    You’ll explain procedures in kid-friendly terms while providing clear instructions to parents and caregivers.
  • Adaptability
    Kids are unpredictable. Pediatric MAs must adjust quickly to changes and interruptions.
  • Empathy
    Understanding the emotions of children and families is key to creating a safe, supportive environment.
  • Multitasking
    Calls, charting, assisting providers, comforting kids—it all happens at once.
  • Teamwork
    Pediatrics is collaborative. You’ll work closely with doctors, nurses, and families.
  • Attentionto detail
    Accurate vitals and documentation are essential, especially when caring for children whose conditions may change quickly.
  • Cultural sensitivity
    Working respectfully with families of diverse backgrounds builds trust and ensures equitable care.

Salary and Career Outlook for Pediatric Medical Assistants

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistants earn an average of $44,200 per year nationally. Pay varies more by location, experience, and workplace than by specialty.

Top-paying work settings include:

  • Outpatient care centers: $47,560
  • Hospitals: $45,930
  • Physicians’ offices: $43,880

Washington State has the highest median MA salary at $55,120, while Mississippi has the lowest at $34,800. Keep in mind: salary often correlates with cost of living. Job growth is also strong: 15% through 2033. This makes medical assisting one of the fastest-growing allied health careers.

FAQS on How to Become a Pediatric Certified Medical Assistant

How long does it take to become a pediatric medical assistant?

It generally takes 9 months to 2 years to become a pediatric MA.

Certificate and diploma programs take under a year, while associate degrees take closer to two. Additional pediatric experience or training may extend the timeline slightly but can make you a stronger job candidate.

What is the highest-paid medical assistant?

The highest-paid MAs typically work in outpatient care centers, hospitals, or high-cost-of-living states like Washington.

Specialty alone doesn’t determine salary. Location, experience, and setting matter more.

What is the role of a medical assistant in pediatrics?

Pediatric MAs support providers by preparing patients, recording vitals, assisting with procedures, administering vaccines (where allowed), and helping families with instructions and paperwork.

They balance clinical tasks with administrative responsibilities and child-centered communication.

What does a pediatric medical assistant do?

They perform the same core duties as general MAs but tailor their care to children.

This includes measuring growth, taking vitals, positioning small children for exams, assisting with vaccines, scheduling, and answering parent questions — all while keeping young patients comfortable.

Do pediatricians have medical assistants?

Yes, nearly all pediatric practices employ medical assistants.

MAs help keep clinics efficient, allowing pediatricians to focus on diagnosing and treating patients.

Keep Learning

Top Medical Assistant Programs Online with Financial Aid

Find a quality online medical assistant program...

Cody DeBos, RN, BSN AUTHOR

Cody DeBos, RN-BSN, is a pediatric registered nurse and healthcare writer with eight years of professional experience. He's authored hundreds of articles for healthcare organizations including the Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, The Institute for Healthcare Advancement (IHA), and Sentara Health. Cody specializes in making complex health topics accessible to a wider audience.

Read More About Cody DeBos

Sarah Mattie, MA EDITOR

Sarah Mattie has over five years of experience writing and editing for postsecondary education websites. She specializes in creating clear, accessible content and overseeing writers and editors. While earning her master’s degree at Emerson College, Sarah contributed articles to communication publications and wrote a thesis on the use of theatre in TESOL. Her work focuses on delivering accurate and engaging information that meets readers’ needs and supports their academic and career goals.

Read More About Sarah Mattie
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