How to become a medical assistant

Healthcare support · SOC 31-9092

How you get in

A certificate or short program is the usual way in.

1. Postsecondary nondegree award
2. Work as a medical assistant

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

See the 1,093 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a medical assistant?

Typically a few months to two years for the certificate. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do medical assistants make?

The US median is $45,690 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a medical assistant?

Not a full degree. A certificate or short program is the usual route.

Where can you train to become a medical assistant?

1,093 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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