How long does the training take?

Typically no schooling after high school, then a few months to a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

Do you need a degree for this work?

No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.

Where can you train for this work?

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

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Medical secretaries and administrative assistants: pay, training and the programs that lead there

Office & admin · SOC 43-6013

$45,930US median pay, 2025

+4.8%Projected growth, 2025–35

89,200Openings per year

On the jobUsual way in

How you get in

Most people are hired and trained on the job, so school is optional. A program can still help you stand out.

High school diploma or equivalent (a program is optional for this job)
Moderate-term on-the-job training
Work in: medical secretaries and administrative assistants

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.

Program	Code	Schools
Medical Administrative/Executive Assistant and Medical Secretary	CIP 51.0716	262
Medical Office Assistant/Specialist	CIP 51.0710	203
Medical Insurance Specialist/Medical Biller	CIP 51.0714	191
Medical Reception/Receptionist	CIP 51.0712	38
Medical/Health Management and Clinical Assistant/Specialist	CIP 51.0711	25
Veterinary Administrative/Executive Assistant and Veterinary Secretary	CIP 01.8204	1
Veterinary Administrative Services, General	CIP 01.8201	0

See the 599 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does the training take?: Typically no schooling after high school, then a few months to a year of training on the job. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do medical secretaries and administrative assistants make?: The US median is $45,930 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree for this work?: No. Most people are hired and trained on the job; a program is optional.
Where can you train for this work?: 599 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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