Medical Assistant Schools in California

California is one of the most particularly favorable states for aspiring medical assistants. Candidates can start straightforwardly and enjoy various professional benefits once they secure employment.

This page details all the steps candidates must follow to become successful medical assistants in California.

We dive into the step-by-step analysis of the entire process, addressing basic considerations, training requirements, certification options, and top programs in the state for individuals to consider.

Readers will also find out the average annual earnings for medical assistants in California based on several factors.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in California

Below are the steps needed to start a career as a medical assistant in California.

Step 1: Preparatory Stage

Since medical assistants in California are not expected to have a license, employers usually set educational prerequisites. Some may ask that candidates have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Organized, detail-oriented, and empathetic candidates may also enjoy an edge.

Step 2: Enroll in a Training Program

Training programs for medical assistants are needed to provide the minimum required skills and knowledge to allow candidates to secure entry-level positions. Usually, a certificate program is enough to fulfill these requirements.

Most certificate programs for aspiring medical assistants can be completed in 9 months, while the longest may take around a year.

Many training programs also make provisions for part-time training, which may extend the completion time to around 18 months.

Although rare, candidates may also participate in associate degree programs, which usually take 18 months and 2 years to complete.

Step 3: Internship

Having real-world experience is vital to becoming successful in any allied health profession. Aspiring medical assistants who have completed classroom training may gain such experience by participating in an internship or externship program.

Some training programs already incorporate space for such training in their curriculum. In this case, around 160 to 240 hours of supervised clinical experience would be needed to graduate successfully.

In other cases, however, students must apply for hands-on training independently.

Explore trades with similar paths:

• How to become a home and building inspector in California

Licensure & Certification Requirements

Medical assistants in California are expected to pass several examinations to become certified. The first exam is the certification examination administered by the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants.

Another relevant examination is the national examination, which is used to earn the right to be called a Certified Medical Assistant by the American Medical Certificate Association examination.

Of course, medical assistants must be able to perform CPR and earn a valid CPR certification to this effect.

Other certification options for candidates in California looking to stand out and improve their job prospects include:

• American Medical Technologists: Registered Medical Assistant credential (RMA),
• American Association of Medical Assistants: Certified Medical Assistant (CMA),
• Multi-skilled Medical Certification Institute, Inc.: National Certified Medical Assistant (NCMA).

Top Medical Assistant Schools in California

The following are the most prominent training programs for aspiring medical assistants in California.

Explore medical assistant schools in California by city:

• Medical assistant schools in Los Angeles

Salary & Career Outlook

A survey of professionals revealed that the annual average salary for medical assistants in California is around $52,339. Of course, this figure applies to those in the average category.

Those just beginning their careers may have to start lower, in the bottom 10%, earning an annual average salary of $41,337. Established medical assistants may go as high as an annual average salary of $66,271—relevant to the top 10%.

Some factors determining the annual average salary of medical assistants in California include experience, employer, and location. For the best locations, candidates may consider Long Beach, with an annual average salary of $53,112, and San Diego, with an annual average salary of $52,267.

Sacramento, with an annual average salary of $52,115; Los Angeles, with an annual average salary of $52,071; and San Luis Obispo, with an annual average salary of $51,814, are among the top five.