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Establishes minimum eligibility and certification/documentation rules, explains restrictions such as prohibitions on inpatient hospital employment and on diagnosis, treatment, or invasive assessments. Lists permitted supportive duties in clinical offices, including medication administration under verification, vital sign collection, specific tests, specimen handling, and assisting examinations and procedures.",{"@graph":69,"@context":123},[70,84,106],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":35,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/medical-assistants-scope-of-practice-clarified/502912/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/medical-assistants-scope-of-practice-clarified/502912.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Oliver","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-10","2026-10-03",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":105},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":107,"mainEntity":108},"FAQPage",[109,115,119],{"name":110,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":112},"What supervision is required for a medical assistant’s routine tasks?","Question",{"text":113,"@type":114},"A supervising physician (or authorized clinician) must be physically present at the treatment facility when the medical assistant performs routine medical tasks and procedures. Responsibility for the patient’s care ultimately remains with the supervising clinician.","Answer",{"name":116,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What certification and documentation requirements apply to medical assistants?",{"text":118,"@type":114},"Medical assistants must be at least 18 years old and receive a certificate showing satisfactory completion of required training. The employer must retain copies of the certificate and maintain documented records of the training, including content, duration, and demonstrated competence signed and dated by the physician/podiatrist/instructor.",{"name":120,"@type":111,"acceptedAnswer":121},"What activities are medical assistants generally not allowed to do?",{"text":122,"@type":114},"Medical assistants may not diagnose, treat, or perform tasks that are invasive or require an assessment. They also cannot be used to replace highly trained licensed professionals, and they may not be employed for inpatient care in a licensed general acute care hospital.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":125,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":127,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":129,"site_id":62},502912,1791667375,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":132},{"doc_id":129,"user_id":133,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":34,"category_name":35,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":105,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":81,"language":140,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":144,"read_time":39,"preview_page_count":4},8796095461610,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","Medical Assistants Scope of Practice Clarified  \nMedical assistants are unlicensed individuals who, according to Business and Professions Code section 2069, perform basic administrative, clerical and technical supportive services – usually in a physician’s office--under the direct supervision of either a supervising physician or podiatrist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife.  \nThe person in the supervising role must be physically present at the treatment facility when the medical assistant is performing routine medical tasks and procedures. Although the supervising physician may delegate – in writing – supervision of the medical assistant to a physician assistant, nurse practitioner or certified nurse-midwife, the physician is ultimately responsible for the patient’s treatment and care.  \nMedical assistants must be at least 18 years old. Before he or she can perform technical supportive services, the medical assistant must receive a certificate from the training institution or instructor indicating satisfactory completion of required training. A copy of the certificate must be retained by the employer of the medical assistant. The training may also be administered by a licensed physician or podiatrist, or by a registered nurse, licensed vocational nurse, a physician assistant or a “qualified medical assistant” certified by a certifying organization recognized by the Medical Board of California (Board) and holding appropriate credentials to teach medical assistants. Certification in writing showing all training received, the content and duration of the training, and that requisite competence was demonstrated by the medical assistant is required. The physician, podiatrist or instructor must sign and date the certification. The documented record of all training received must be maintained by the employer.  \nBy law, a medical assistant may not be employed for inpatient care in a licensed general acute care hospital. Judging from the number of questions received by the Board every day, there is confusion about exactly which tasks medical assistants are allowed to perform. The bottom line is that medical assistants may not diagnose, treat or perform any task that is invasive or requires an assessment. Additionally, the Board has said that it is illegal to use medical assistants to replace highly trained licensed professionals. Further, medical assistants are there to assist and perform support services in the physician’s office appropriate with their training, which cannot be compared with licensed nurses or other health professionals who must meet rigorous educational and examination requirements.  \nIt is difficult, if not impossible, to create a comprehensive list; however, properly trained medical assistants who have demonstrated competence, and whose training and competence have been properly documented in their records by supervising physicians, may perform the following:  \n• Administer medication orally, sublingually, topically, vaginally or rectally, or by intramuscular, subcutaneous and intradermal injection (injections require additional training) . Provide a single dose to the patient for immediate self-administration. In every case, the physician must verify the correct medication and dosage and authorize the administration. The physician must be physically present in the treatment facility when the drug is administered. The verification of medication can also be delegated to a podiatrist, physician assistant, nurse practitioner or registered nurse.  \n• Call in refills to a pharmacy under the direct supervision of the physician or podiatrist as long as refills are exact and have no changes in dosage or quantity. The refill must be documented in the patient’s chart as a standing order and be patient specific.  \n• Collect and record patient data such as temperature, blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate, height and weight, and basic information about presenting and previous conditions.  \n•","cbCaibCYpW3KofNm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibCYpW3KofNm","pdf",403799,"English","# Medical Assistants Scope of Practice Clarified\n## Supervision and responsibility\n## Eligibility, certification, and documentation\n## Prohibited activities and limits\n## Permitted tasks in an office setting","[{\"question\":\"What supervision is required for a medical assistant’s routine tasks?\",\"answer\":\"A supervising physician (or authorized clinician) must be physically present at the treatment facility when the medical assistant performs routine medical tasks and procedures. Responsibility for the patient’s care ultimately remains with the supervising clinician.\"},{\"question\":\"What certification and documentation requirements apply to medical assistants?\",\"answer\":\"Medical assistants must be at least 18 years old and receive a certificate showing satisfactory completion of required training. The employer must retain copies of the certificate and maintain documented records of the training, including content, duration, and demonstrated competence signed and dated by the physician/podiatrist/instructor.\"},{\"question\":\"What activities are medical assistants generally not allowed to do?\",\"answer\":\"Medical assistants may not diagnose, treat, or perform tasks that are invasive or require an assessment. They also cannot be used to replace highly trained licensed professionals, and they may not be employed for inpatient care in a licensed general acute care hospital.\"}]","Medical Assistants Scope of Practice Clarified | PDF",1791045944]