Although you can receive training on the job for this career, becoming a medical assistant usually requires one to complete an accredited training program. Once you have completed the training program you might also want to look at becoming certified. Although certification is not usually required by employers, they do display a preference for hiring medical assistants who are certified or who have had previous experience. Accredited programs for becoming a medical assistant are available in 46 of the 50 states. These 569 programs have been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP), and usually last one to two years depending on whether they result in a certificate or an associate’s degree.
