A certified medical assistant has completed an accredited program in medical assisting, which usually requires both classroom education and a supervised externship in a healthcare setting to gain hands-on experience in the field. They provide administrative support to healthcare professionals and perform basic clinical duties. Certified medical assistants greet patients, schedule appointments, prep examination rooms, record patient medical histories, take vital signs, assist with examinations, collect blood samples, and add information to patient medical records. They work part-time or full-time at hospitals, medical practices, urgent care clinics, and other healthcare facilities.