Do medical assistants need a license in Arkansas?

No statewide license is required for medical assistants in Arkansas. Most employers expect industry certifications such as CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT).

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Arkansas (2026)

Q: How long does medical assistant training take in Arkansas?

Most people become a Medical Assistant in Arkansas through a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Q: How much do medical assistants earn in Arkansas?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical assistants in Arkansas earned a median annual wage of approximately $37,760. Employment concentration in Arkansas is roughly 0.75 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole.

Q: What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Arkansas?

Arkansas currently employs approximately 5,150 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 12.5% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034.

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Arkansas medical assistants earn a median annual wage of $37,760 ($18.15/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 5,150 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately -17.4% below the national median of $45,690 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $37,760 ($18.15/hr)
25th percentile: $35,700 per year
75th percentile: $42,900 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $46,060 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $30,840 per year
Workers employed in Arkansas: 5,150
Versus national median: -17.4% below the U.S. median of $45,690
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.75 - this occupation is less concentrated in Arkansas than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Arkansas employs about 5,150 medical assistants earning a median $37,760 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Training as a Medical Assistant here means completing a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants.

Compare Medical Assistant Schools in Arkansas

BOC Score, tuition, graduation rate, and median graduate earnings from federal IPEDS and U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard data. Tuition is the published annual figure for the latest reported year and excludes room, board, books and fees. Earnings are reported across all programs at the school (all majors), not a single trade. Distance is measured from the page's primary location.
#	School	BOC Score (0–100)	Tuition (published, per year)	Median grad earnings (all majors)	Graduation rate	Online	Distance
1	Baptist Health College Little Rock	58.6	$13,987	$67,066	Not reported	—	18 mi
2	Arkansas Tech University	58.4	$8,674 in-state / $14,668 out-of-state	$49,759	49%	Yes*	48 mi
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3	University of Arkansas Community College-Batesville	54.5	$3,630 in-state / $4,662 out-of-state	$45,597	66%	Yes*	71 mi
4	Arkansas State University-Beebe	49.5	$3,336 in-state / $5,232 out-of-state	$41,404	42%	Yes*	28 mi
Sponsored Ad
5	University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College	41.7	$6,300 in-state / $9,450 out-of-state	$41,807	36%	Yes*	13 mi
6	National Park College	40.4	$5,600 in-state / $7,280 out-of-state	$45,799	35%	Yes*	50 mi
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7	Southeast Arkansas College	35.4	$5,200 in-state / $8,650 out-of-state	$42,328	28%	Yes*	56 mi

Schools closest to the page's primary location are gathered first, then ranked by BOC Score; distance from the page's primary location is shown for reference. The BOC Score is an independent measure of school outcomes (graduation, earnings, net price, retention) expressed as a 0–100 percentile within each school's peer group; higher is better and advertising never affects it. *Online availability refers to coursework; hands-on trade training is completed in person. Read the full methodology.

Arkansas employs approximately 5,150 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $37,760 ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034, with about 112,300 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a Medical Assistant in Arkansas, including licensing requirements, training programs, and salary data.

At a Glance

Training paths: medical assisting certificate or diploma program (find programs)
Typical timeline: a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants
Exam: CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT)
Median wage (Arkansas): $37,760 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in Arkansas

How to become a Medical Assistant in Arkansas? Complete a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm credential rules with the program and employer.

How long does it take? Most people finish a medical assisting program of typically less than a year plus CMA or RMA; most states do not license medical assistants. Confirm current hour totals with the program and employer.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? Most states do not require a statewide occupational license. Employers typically expect CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). See the licensing section below.

What do medical assistants earn in Arkansas? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Arkansas is $37,760 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $30,840 and experienced professionals can earn $46,060 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Arkansas

Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
Complete a medical assisting program. Finish a certificate or diploma program in Arkansas, often under a year. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
Earn CMA or RMA. Pass CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). Employers typically require one of these.
Confirm any state delegation rules. Most states do not license medical assistants. Scope is set by the delegating provider and state medical-board rules.

Steps and hour totals vary by credential level; confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Assistant License Requirements in Arkansas

Most states do not license medical assistants. Employers expect CMA or RMA after a short program.

Typical path

Complete a medical assisting program.
Earn CMA or RMA.

Hour totals, fees, and reciprocity rules change. Confirm current requirements with the program and employer before you enroll.

Medical Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics ( OES data), medical assistants wages in Arkansas vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Memphis	3,350	$39,260	$41,410	$36,330	$47,040
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	1,660	$38,110	$39,530	$31,540	$46,750
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	1,270	$38,400	$40,010	$31,950	$47,680
Fort Smith	430	$37,380	$37,990	$32,610	$43,520
Hot Springs	260	$36,600	$39,550	$30,490	$47,850
Texarkana	230	$36,160	$36,460	$29,030	$44,040
Jonesboro	220	$37,190	$37,700	$30,440	$44,940

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for medical assistants in Arkansas? Arkansas currently employs approximately 5,150 medical assistants ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

What training programs are available in Arkansas? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and state-approved training programs. Use the school finder above to search for programs in Arkansas.

How much do medical assistants earn in Arkansas compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Arkansas is $37,760, which is $6,440 below the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data ¹.

In Arkansas

Best Trade Schools in Arkansas (2026)

Top local programs

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)