Is being a travel medical assistant a good fit for you?

A travel medical assistant is a strong fit if you thrive on change, enjoy traveling, and want above-average pay for short-term contracts. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, medical assistant jobs in the U.S. are projected to grow by about 13% from 2025 to 2035. Within that field, there are traditional MAs (medical assistants) and travel MAs. Let’s look at what travel medical assistants do and whether it’s the right career choice for you.

What is a travel medical assistant?

A travel medical assistant is a healthcare professional who performs the duties of a standard medical assistant, but on short-term contracts in medical settings experiencing staffing shortages. Travel medical assistants typically work in hospitals, clinics, urgent care centers, and specialty practices.

Like traditional MAs, travel medical assistants are responsible for both clinical and administrative tasks.

Their general clinical tasks include:

• Patient intake: recording vital signs, checking medications and allergies, documenting medical history
• Diagnostic work: collecting lab specimens, conducting vision and hearing tests, performing venipuncture (drawing blood)
• Assisting physicians and nurses with minor procedures
• Preparing rooms so they’re clean, sterilized, and stocked with necessary medical equipment

Their general administrative tasks include:

• Scheduling appointments, managing check-ins, and following up with patients
• Updating electronic health records
• Checking insurance eligibility and handling billing and payments

Medical assistants typically hold a certification that allows them to take on a wider range of roles, as many places require MAs to be certified. The Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) certification, awarded after passing the CCMA exam and meeting educational or work requirements, is a highly recognized and versatile credential. It’s a great choice among medical assistant certifications, specifically because it prepares people for roles across different healthcare settings and offers flexible pathways to certification.

Travel medical assistants vs. traditional MAs

The two roles perform very similar duties, but travel medical assistants work on short-term contracts (typically about 8 to 13 weeks) rather than staying long-term. As a travel medical assistant, you need to adapt quickly to new environments.

Are you fit for this job?

To decide whether this job is right for you, consider these questions, which highlight the traits and qualities travel medical assistants need.

Do you adapt well to frequent change?

Switching jobs means quickly adjusting to new environments, people, and work conditions. You should be able to thrive wherever you are and build relationships quickly. Otherwise, by the time you finally settle in, you may have to move on again. On the bright side, all the different places you work will help you build a network in healthcare.

Can you be away from home for long periods?

Depending on where the job is, you may spend a good chunk of time away from family and home. The upside is that you get to experience new cities and states as part of your work.

Do you have strong interpersonal skills?

Travel medical assistants work on both the clinical and administrative sides, so they interact with many patients each day. That takes strong people skills to make patients feel directed, respected, and at ease.

Are you detail-oriented?

A travel medical assistant collects patient data and enters it into a computer. In medical settings, a missed detail could cause serious harm to a patient.

Benefits of being a travel medical assistant

Beyond the strong job outlook projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the role offers several other advantages.

Job flexibility

You aren’t tied to one location or environment for long. You get to take on different assignments, often choose the medical offices you work for, and sometimes even set your own schedule.

Good compensation

Travel healthcare professionals typically earn higher hourly rates than permanent staff because they relocate so frequently. They also often receive tax-free housing stipends, since finding a place to live in a new city can be challenging. If you don’t spend the full stipend on housing, you keep the difference.

Exploration

You get to explore not just new workplaces but the surrounding city during your time off: local restaurants, hikes, and attractions. If you love traveling and seeing new places, exploring a new city every few months could be a real perk.

Getting certified as a CCMA

Before pursuing roles as a medical assistant, it’s highly recommended to seek out certification, as it adds professional credibility and enables you to practice around the U.S.

The CCMA is a well-known certification for medical assistants, offering flexible pathways for students and professionals. It encompasses both clinical and administrative responsibilities and prepares assistants for roles in outpatient clinics, urgent care centers, hospitals, and other settings. To qualify, all CCMAs must have a valid high school diploma or equivalent. There are two different routes to meet the eligibility requirements for the CCMA certification.

• Finish a medical assistant training or education program
• Have at least one year of supervised experience in medical assisting in the last three years, or two years of supervised experience within the past five years

You can enroll in a training program before finishing your high school diploma or GED, but you’ll need to provide proof that you intend to complete your degree within a year of starting the course.

After that, you can take the CCMA exam, which consists of 180 questions and lasts three hours (150 scored questions plus 30 unscored pretest questions) and covers key medical, procedural, and patient safety topics. The passing score is 390 out of 500, and the exam costs $165. Once you pass, you can add your certification to your resume, qualify for roles that require certification, and pursue various positions in healthcare settings.

Final thoughts

If you enjoy new experiences and variety, becoming a travel medical assistant might be up your alley. The job comes with challenges, such as constantly adapting to new living and work environments, but it also offers good compensation, opportunities for exploration not found in most other medical jobs, and a chance to build a wide professional network.

As you decide whether this job is for you, weigh your lifestyle, personal goals, and career goals, and consider whether the structure, pros, cons, and skills of this role serve you.