What is the difference between Medical Assistant and CNA?

What is the difference between a cna and a certified patient care assistant?

• Are they the same thing or do I need to be a cna before I can be a pca(patient care assistant)? I live in Ohio, if that matters. Please give me any information you can.

• Answer:

  i am assuming that both cna and pca are they same thing . i just got a job as a pca in louisville ky and thats was one of the requirements... must have cna exprience but i don't. what it was i have gone to school to be a clinical assistant and i still got hired. to be honest, there is not BIG difference between medical assistant, clinical assistant, PCA, or CNA. they are all pretty much the same except each one can do more than the other or get paid more than the other. but to answer your question specifically... PCA and CNA are pretty much the same but depending on who you are going to be working for and what kind of medical background u you have cause in some cases, you do have to be a CNAb4 becoming a PCA. u get me alittle bit? i kno i may be confusing but i hope this helps at least a little.