How Long Does It Take to Become a Medical Assistant?

Medical assistants help create an efficient healthcare process by recording patients’ medical histories, measuring their vital signs, collecting blood samples for testing, scheduling appointments, and more. If you want to pursue working in this healthcare role (or are considering it as an option), you may be wondering how long it takes to become a medical assistant.

The quick answer is that most medical assistant training programs can be completed in one to two years.¹ However, several factors can affect how long it might take to train for this position. Recognizing what they are begins with understanding the different paths to becoming a medical assistant.

How to Become a Medical Assistant

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that most medical assistants have some type of postsecondary education.¹ That said, some people enter this occupation with a high school diploma and on-the-job training. The route you choose to pursue can affect how long it takes you to become a medical assistant, with many variables to consider.

For instance, if you secure a medical assistant position with on-the-job training, the amount of time you spend in training can vary depending on what (and how much) the employer wants you to know. On-the-job training length can also be impacted by the type of training provided, such as whether it’s an informal in-house program or a comprehensive medical assistant training program provided by an outside entity.

Before you decide whether to pursue a medical assistant position with on-the-job training, it’s important to think about your future career goals. Does the training provided help you reach those goals? Does it offer a credential you can take with you, for example, should you decide to seek employment elsewhere at a later point in time? Completing a recognized medical assistant training program can give you flexibility in your healthcare career path by providing a credential that showcases your education and skills.

How Long Are Medical Assistant Programs?

The length of a medical assistant training program can differ based on the credential it provides:

• Medical assistant certificate. A medical assistant certificate program focuses primarily on teaching you how to perform this role’s job functions and can often be completed in one year (or less).²
• Medical assistant diploma. A medical assistant diploma program can be a bit more comprehensive than a certificate program and can take between one and two years to complete. For example, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) offers a Medical Assistant diploma program that can be completed in 15 months.³
• Medical assistant degreeMedical assistant associate degree programs cover even more educational areas, so they typically take around two years to complete. For comparison, UMA’s Health Sciences – Medical Assistant Associate Degree Program can be completed in 21 months.³

Why Pursue a Diploma or Degree in Medical Assisting vs a Medical Assistant Certificate?

Why take a diploma or degree program if it increases the length of time it takes you to become a medical assistant? A more comprehensive training program can provide you with even more knowledge and skills that you can use when working in this healthcare role.

A diploma program can help you not only build the hard skills needed to work as a medical assistant but also soft skills, for instance, such as communication in medical assisting. Additionally, the general education courses that are included in a degree program can help make you a more well-rounded healthcare professional. Some associate degree programs also offer elective courses that allow you to expand your knowledge in areas that interest you most.

What You Learn in a Medical Assistant Training Program

Skills learned in a medical assistant training program help prepare you to perform this healthcare role. Topics that may be covered, depending on the program’s curriculum, include:

• Medical terminology
• Allied health principles
• Phlebotomy (drawing blood)
• Advanced lab procedures
• Minor office surgeries
• Pharmacology (medicines in healthcare)
• Medical assistant communication skills

An associate degree program also typically includes general education courses, widening your knowledge base in these areas. English, math, biology, and sociology are all options your medical assistant degree program may include, as well as those that teach critical thinking and problem-solving — two skills that are important when working in this role.¹

The Next Step: Medical Assistant Training

If you’d like to pursue working in a medical assistant position, a training program can prepare you for this role, and we’d love to help!

Ultimate Medical Academy’s programs for the Medical Assistant field combine the convenience of online learning with hands-on training to create a blended experience at our Clearwater, Florida campus. This enables you to complete your coursework virtually while also learning the clinical skills needed for this healthcare role. Our diploma and degree programs also prepare you to sit for the RMA exam, if eligible.

Why choose UMA? We’re a healthcare education institution based on care. Our philosophy is that if we care for you, you can better care for others. This creates a ripple effect of care that extends beyond our institution to families, communities, and society as a whole.

We show care in several ways, even beyond your graduation. We offer a variety of Career Services to help you in your job search, from resume and interview prep to connecting you with one of our employer partners for open opportunities, if applicable. When you choose UMA, you are choosing a school that is as invested in your healthcare career as you are.

We want you to succeed and will do what we can to help. So, if you have any questions, contact us today, and let’s talk about them. We’re here for you!