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Should You Become a Medical Assistant? Everything to Know in 2026

Jacquelyn Harris

Published: | Last Updated:

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Choosing a career path takes time, research, and honest self-reflection. If you’re considering medical assisting, you’re looking at one of the most accessible and consistently in-demand roles in healthcare. Before you decide, here’s what you need to know; from daily responsibilities and where you can work, to salary data and how to get started. 

Quick facts about medical assisting:

  • Certification is preferred or required by 96% of employers1 
  • Programs can be completed in as little as a few months 
  • The field is projected to grow 12% from 2024 to 2034, much faster than the national average, with approximately 112,300 openings per year2 
  • The work directly impacts patient outcomes every day 

What Does a Medical Assistant Do? 

Medical assistant responsibilities fall into two categories: administrative and clinical. Depending on your role and workplace, you may focus on one or handle both. 

Administrative Responsibilities

Administrative tasks keep a medical facility running smoothly. As a medical assistant, these duties may include: 

  • Bookkeeping and billing 
  • Responding to patient correspondence 
  • Scheduling and confirming appointments 
  • Completing and coding insurance forms 
  • Updating and filing patient medical records 
  • Greeting patients when they arrive 
  • Answering phones throughout the day 
  • Working in electronic health record (EHR) systems 

Clinical Responsibilities 

Clinical duties require you to work directly with patients and alongside doctors, nurses, and other medical staff. These may include: 

  • Changing dressings and treating wounds 
  • Administering electrocardiograms (EKGs) 
  • Sending prescription refills to the pharmacy 
  • Administering injections 
  • Performing and prepping lab tests and specimens 
  • Readying patients for exams 
  • Reviewing patient medical history 
  • Answering patient questions before their appointment 

Recommended: 10 Crucial Skills Every Medical Assistant Needs to Succeed

What Education Do You Need to Become a Medical Assistant? 

Accredited Program Required

A high school diploma or GED alone is not enough to become a certified medical assistant. You’ll need to enroll in an accredited medical assisting program at a college or university to earn your certificate or associate degree. 

During the program you’ll develop skills in medical terminology, anatomy, physiology, pathology, and infection control. You’ll also learn medical billing and coding, electronic health records, blood collection, patient vitals and measurements, and equipment sterilization. 

Medical Assisting Certification

After completing your program, you’ll be eligible to sit for a national certification exam through a certifying body like the National Healthcareer Association (NHA), American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or American Medical Technologists (AMT). 

You can qualify by completing an accredited medical assistant training program or with supervised work experience in the field, depending on which certification you plan to earn.

Some programs, like Bryan University’s Clinical Medical Assistant Undergraduate Certificate, include preparation for the NHA certification exam and cover the exam fee as part of tuition, so you can graduate ready to test without an added cost. 

Recommended: Medical Assisting Certifications 2026: CCMA, CMAA & RMA Guide 

Where Do Medical Assistants Work?

A medical assisting credential opens doors across a wide range of healthcare settings, including: 

  • Physician offices and hospitals — the most common employers, offering roles from clinical medical assistant to medical records specialist and healthcare support worker. 
  • Urgent care clinics — a fast-paced environment where you’ll assist with a high volume of patients daily. 
  • Surgery centers — supporting patients before and after procedures and maintaining up-to-date records. 
  • Rehabilitation facilities — helping patients recover from surgery by administering medications and assisting with treatment. 
  • Mental health facilities — keeping records, scheduling appointments, and preparing patients for their appointments. 
  • Public health agencies — serving your local community through a government or community health department. 
  • Chiropractic offices — checking in patients, assisting with exams, and performing X-rays. 
  • College health departments — supporting students and staff at university health centers. 

Medical assistants can also pursue specialty positions, like pediatrics, cardiology, ophthalmology, and more, and those specialty positions often earn toward the higher end of the salary range.

How Much Do Medical Assistants Make?

The median annual wage for medical assistants was $44,200 in May 2024, according to the BLS. The annual wage for all workers at the same time period was $49,500.²  

Earnings vary based on certification type, years of experience, specialty, geographic location, and the type of facility you work in.  

Metro areas and states with higher costs of living, like California, Connecticut, and Maryland, tend to offer above-average wages. Earning a certification rather than entering the field without credentials also correlates with higher starting pay and faster advancement opportunities.  

Is Medical Assisting a Good Career in 2026?

Yes! The combination of accessible entry requirements, flexible work settings, consistent demand, and meaningful patient interaction makes medical assisting a strong choice, especially if you want to work in healthcare without a multi-year degree. 

With about 811,000 medical assistants employed in 2024 and 112,300 openings projected annually through 2034, the job market remains one of the more stable in healthcare support.²  

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a degree to become a medical assistant?

You don’t need a four-year degree. A certificate program, which can take as little as a few months to complete, qualifies you to sit for national certification exams. Associate degree programs are also available and can expand your career options. 

How long does it take to become a medical assistant?

Program length varies. Certificate programs can be completed in a few months to one year. Associate degree programs typically take two years. Online programs offer flexibility that can shorten the timeline for working adults. 

At BU, our Clinical Medical Assistant Undergraduate certificate program can be completed in 10 months if you enroll full-time. Students can also enroll in our Associate Degree in Administrative Medical Assisting at the same time. That means once you complete your certificate, you can get to work sooner while completing your associates.    

Is medical assisting a stressful job?

It depends on the setting. Urgent care and hospital roles tend to be faster-paced, while physician offices and specialty clinics are often more predictable. Most medical assistants cite variety and patient interaction as positives that offset the demands of the role. 

Can you become a medical assistant online?

Yes. Accredited online programs like Bryan University’s Clinical Medical Assistant Undergraduate Certificate allow you to complete coursework and a virtual externship remotely which makes it a practical option for working adults and parents. 

What is the difference between a medical assistant and a medical administrative assistant?

A medical assistant handles both clinical and administrative duties. A medical administrative assistant focuses exclusively on the administrative side, like scheduling, billing, insurance, and records, without the hands-on patient care component. 

  1. National Healthcareer Association, 2025 Industry Outlook, nhanow.com ↩︎
  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Medical Assistants,
    at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/medical-assistants.htm ↩︎

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