Medical assistant is one of the broadest entry-level healthcare jobs, and certification is often part of the hiring bar. BLS says most states don’t require it, but employers may prefer or require it. For a career changer, the practical choice is between two credentials. NHA’s Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) accepts graduates of any medical assistant training program, or people with supervised work experience. AAMA’s Certified Medical Assistant, written CMA (AAMA), is built around accredited programs. Choose your training program with that difference in mind, because the program you pick decides which exam you can sit.
This guide is desk research from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NHA, AAMA and Washington State Department of Health pages checked on October 5, 2026. Exam fees change, so check them on each certifying body’s site.
What medical assistants do
BLS says medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, and that their duties vary by location, specialty and employer. Typical duties in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (page last modified August 27, 2026) include recording patient histories, measuring vital signs, helping physicians with exams, scheduling appointments, preparing lab samples and entering information into medical records. Giving injections or medications happens only as directed by physicians and as permitted by state law.
Many assistants lean toward either clinical or administrative work, though some do both. Some spend a lot of time standing or walking between patients, while others sit at a computer most of the day. Most work full time, and some work evenings, weekends or holidays in facilities that are open around the clock.
The outlook in numbers
| BLS measure | Medical assistants |
|---|---|
| Median annual wage, May 2025 | $45,690 |
| Lowest and highest 10 percent | Less than $36,050; more than $59,310 |
| Jobs in 2025 | 833,900 |
| Projected growth, 2025 to 2035 | 13 percent (much faster than average) |
| Openings per year, on average | About 109,700 |
| Typical entry-level education | Postsecondary nondegree award |
Physician offices employ 56 percent of medical assistants, followed by hospitals (17 percent), outpatient care centers (10 percent) and offices of other health practitioners (8 percent). Pay differs by setting: BLS puts the May 2025 median at $48,560 in outpatient care centers, $46,910 in hospitals, $45,520 in physician offices and $38,400 in offices of other health practitioners.
CCMA vs CMA (AAMA) side by side
| CCMA (NHA) | CMA (AAMA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Education route | High school diploma or equivalent, plus an MA program finished in the last 5 years | Student or graduate of a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited MA program |
| Work-experience route | 1 year of supervised MA work in the last 3 years, or 2 years in the last 5 | No; the alternative pathway still requires a qualifying program |
| Exam | 150 scored questions plus 30 pretest; 3 hours | 200 questions (180 scored); 160 minutes in four segments |
| Where you test | Your school, a PSI test center or live remote proctoring | A PSI test center or live remote proctoring |
| Passing | Scaled score of 390 (scale of 200 to 500) | Scaled score of 405 |
| Renewal | Every 2 years with 10 continuing education credits | Every 60 months by continuing education or exam |
The CMA (AAMA) fits if you are choosing a program now and can attend one accredited by CAAHEP or ABHES. Students can register once classroom coursework is done, and “recent graduates” are those who apply within 12 months of graduating. Graduates of other postsecondary programs can apply through AAMA’s alternative pathway, which requires the equivalent of two semesters with at least 560 contact hours, a practicum of at least 160 hours (or 1,000 hours of work afterward), and documented injections and blood draws.
The CCMA fits if your program isn’t accredited, or if you are already working as an uncertified assistant. NHA’s exam leans heavily clinical: 84 of its 150 scored items fall under clinical patient care, including phlebotomy and EKG testing. NHA reports that 96 percent of employers in its 2025 Industry Outlook require or encourage certification.
Retake rules differ too. NHA requires a 30-day wait between attempts and allows three attempts before a one-year wait. AAMA allows up to six attempts within 12 months with no waiting period, though each attempt needs a new application and fee.
Training length and routes
BLS says medical assistant programs at community colleges, vocational and technical schools, and universities take about 1 or 2 years and lead to a certificate or an associate degree. They include courses such as medical terminology, anatomy and pharmacology, and typically a supervised practicum or internship.
The other route is on the job. BLS says assistants without postsecondary education can learn through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship, which may take several months depending on the facility. That route keeps the CCMA open through NHA’s work-experience option, but it rules out the CMA (AAMA) unless you later complete a qualifying program.
If you would rather train for a narrower first job, compare this path with the phlebotomy guide or the CNA guide. For chairside work in a dental office, see the dental assistant guide.
State rules: check before you enroll
BLS says some states require medical assistants to graduate from an accredited program, be licensed or certified, or meet other prerequisites, and it tells readers to contact their state licensing agency. AAMA notes that scope-of-practice laws for medical assistants vary by state, and that some states don’t mention medical assistants by name at all. AAMA’s state scope of practice laws page collects the rules it tracks, state by state.
Washington shows how much a state can add. Its Department of Health issues a medical assistant-certified credential. The exams it recognizes include both the CMA (AAMA) and NHA’s clinical medical assistant exam, and the exam must have been passed within five years before the first application. Washington also has a medical assistant-registered credential, under which a newly hired assistant who applies within seven days of employment may work for up to 60 days while the application is processed.
Pay by state
BLS state data for May 2025 shows the five states with the most medical assistant jobs, then the highest and lowest medians among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
| State | Jobs | Median annual wage | Lowest 10% earned less than |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 117,060 | $49,660 | $39,290 |
| Texas | 75,340 | $39,520 | $31,200 |
| Florida | 66,110 | $43,680 | $35,880 |
| New York | 40,710 | $48,000 | $37,280 |
| Ohio | 28,950 | $42,810 | $36,050 |
| Washington (highest median) | 19,500 | $59,290 | $46,540 |
| Mississippi (lowest median) | 3,340 | $35,360 | $29,210 |
A state median includes experienced assistants, so a first offer may come in lower. Our guide to salary by state for healthcare roles shows how to weigh these figures against local costs.
A practical order of steps
- Look up your state’s rules through your state licensing agency or AAMA’s state page.
- Read 10 local postings and note whether they ask for the CMA (AAMA), the CCMA or “any national certification.”
- If postings name the CMA (AAMA), pick a CAAHEP- or ABHES-accredited program.
- Use the certifying body’s published exam outline as your study checklist.
- Put the renewal cycle on your calendar the day you pass.
If you are still comparing healthcare paths, our healthcare certificate jobs guide sets medical assistant work beside CNA, phlebotomy and coding.
FAQ
Is the CCMA or the CMA better?
Neither is better everywhere. The CMA (AAMA) requires an accredited program or AAMA’s alternative pathway, while the CCMA accepts any medical assistant program or supervised work experience. Check which one local postings and your state name.
Do medical assistants need a license?
Most states do not require certification, according to BLS, but some require an accredited program, a license or certification, or other prerequisites. Washington, for example, issues its own medical assistant credentials.
How long does medical assistant training take?
BLS says postsecondary medical assistant programs take about 1 or 2 years. Some people instead learn on the job, which BLS says can take several months.
Can I take the CCMA without going to school?
Yes, if you have a high school diploma or equivalent and at least 1 year of supervised medical assisting work in the last 3 years, or 2 years in the last 5, according to NHA.
How often do the credentials need renewing?
NHA certifications renew every two years with 10 continuing education credits. The CMA (AAMA) must be recertified every 60 months by continuing education or exam.
Sources
- BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook: Medical Assistants (last modified August 27, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025 state data
- NHA: Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA)
- NHA: CCMA test plan (PDF)
- NHA: Candidate handbook (PDF)
- AAMA: Eligibility for the CMA (AAMA) exam
- AAMA: Alternative pathway
- AAMA: CMA (AAMA) exam application and policies (PDF)
- AAMA: CMA (AAMA) fact sheet (PDF)
- AAMA: State scope of practice laws
- Washington State Department of Health: Medical assistant recognized exams
- Washington State Department of Health: Medical assistant credentialing information
See Also
Keep planning your next move with How to Become a Dental Assistant: Training, DANB Certification, State Rules and Pay, Sterile Processing Technician vs Surgical Technologist: Training, Certification and Pay, and Career Change Tradeoffs: Stability vs. Growth for a Smarter Pivot.
To compare another path, cost, or salary trade-off, read Sybex CompTIA A+ Study Guide Review: Check the Sixth Edition and Both Exams and Certificates for Remote Work: Check the Actual Role Before Enrolling next.