Medical assistant apprenticeship
A medical assistant apprenticeship lets you train on the job, but the Department of Labor's listing doesn't currently approve medical assisting as a Registered Apprenticeship occupation. Ask any program exactly what kind of apprenticeship it offers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that people with no education after high school can learn through on-the-job training or an apprenticeship.
Paid training alongside a mentor
Registered Apprenticeship combines paid work with a mentor, wage increases and classroom instruction, leading to a credential that is recognized nationwide, and it travels with you wherever you go.
As a registered apprentice, you earn wages starting on day one. Across every kind of job, more than 800,000 people in the United States take part in apprenticeships each year.
Does medical assisting count as a Registered Apprenticeship?
The federal listing says no, at least for now. When we looked, the Department of Labor's medical assistants page showed that this occupation has not yet been approved for Registered Apprenticeship.
Employers in healthcare are turning to Registered Apprenticeship more often to train workers. Before you sign up, ask two questions: is the program registered with the Department of Labor, and does it meet AAMA's requirements for the CMA exam? The answers decide which certification exams you can take afterward.
Certification after an apprenticeship
Two national certifying groups will let you sit for their exam after an apprenticeship, as long as the program meets their requirements.
The American Association of Medical Assistants administers the CMA exam; passing it earns the Certified Medical Assistant credential. The Alternative Pathway allows graduates from qualifying medical assistant programs or apprenticeship programs to take the exam. The program needs to meet these rules:
| What must be met | At least |
|---|---|
| Program length | 2 semesters |
| Classroom hours, excluding the practicum | 560 hours |
| Hands-on practicum in an outpatient setting | 160 hours, or 1,000 hours of medical assistant work after finishing |
| Completed blood draws | 10 |
A practicum means guided, hands-on practice in an actual clinic. Phlebotomy, the skill used for those blood draws, means taking blood with a needle.
The NCCT, a second certifying group, provides a path for students and graduates toward its medical assistant credential. That path includes Registered Apprenticeship programs on file with the U.S. Department of Labor.
How to find and apply
You apply directly to the employer or organization that sponsors the apprenticeship. Since you apply with the employer or sponsor, a good first step is to call clinics, hospitals and health systems near you and ask whether they train medical assistants on the job.
Apprenticeship or school?
Registered apprentices earn wages from their first day, while a school program charges tuition. Here is what the schools listed on our site tell us:
| Program measure | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Median full-program cost at 392 career schools, covering tuition, fees and books | $17,257 |
| Median in-district tuition and fees per year at 437 public colleges | $4,346 |
| Typical completion time at 378 career schools | 9 months |
| Quickest and slowest programs reported | 2 months and 32 months |
Our site lists 1,094 medical assistant programs across all 50 states and Washington, DC; 484 of them are accredited, meaning an outside group has reviewed them against set standards. Just 30 can be completed entirely online, with 14 of those accredited.
What do medical assistants earn?
Median wages for May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
| Role | Median yearly wage |
|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $45,690 (about $21.97 per hour) |
| Phlebotomists | $45,230 a year |
| Nursing assistants | $42,260 a year |
| Licensed practical/vocational nurses | $64,400 a year |
| Registered nurses | $97,550 a year |
Questions people ask
Can medical assistants earn $30 an hour?
The median hourly wage for medical assistants was $21.97 in May 2025, so some earn more and some less. Our pay data doesn't say how many medical assistants get to $30 an hour.
What's the fastest route to becoming a medical assistant?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics points to training on the job as one option. Of the career-school programs, 19 take 6 months or less, with the shortest at 2 months. The largest group, 257 programs, takes 7 to 9 months.
Is medical assisting a worthwhile career?
That depends on what you want. Median pay for medical assistants runs a bit higher than nursing assistants and about level with phlebotomists. The listed nursing roles have higher median pay: $64,400 for licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, and $97,550 for registered nurses. Between July 2023 and June 2024, 51,990 people finished medical assistant programs.
Is financial aid available for a school program?
Plenty of schools take part in federal student aid, 1,049 of the schools we list do.