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How to Become a Medical Assisting Professional: Schools, Apprenticeships & Licensing

Two ways in: pay for school (1,403 U.S. schools offer Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services programs at certificate/associate level, median net price $11,842/yr) or get paid to train (262 registered apprenticeship sponsors nationwide). Unlicensed in most states — employers expect CCMA/CMA certification; Pell-eligible programs; largest program footprint of the 20 trades (1,631 schools).

US schools
1,403
Median net price / yr
$11,842
Median earnings (10 yr)
$37,522
Apprenticeship sponsors
262
paid training

Licensing at a glance

No state license: Texas, Florida, California, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, Michigan — employers typically expect industry certification instead.

Requirements differ sharply by state — check your state's page below for the specific rule, hours, and exam, each cited to the official board.

Medical Assisting aid deadlines & apprenticeship alerts

Aid windows and sponsor application openings, for your state.

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Medical Assisting schools & apprenticeships by state

School data: U.S. Dept of Education College Scorecard (most recent release, pulled July 2026). Apprenticeship data: U.S. Dept of Labor. Licensing summaries cited to official state boards per state page. Methodology.