"How long does it take to become a medical assistant in Arkansas?"

"Most paths into the medical assistant field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"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 (Certified Medical Assistant), and RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)."

"What apprenticeships are available for medical assistants in Arkansas?"

"In Arkansas, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Arkansas Department of Career Education - Registered Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A Medical Assistant in Arkansas

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 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 certification options, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A Medical Assistant in Arkansas

How do I become a medical assistant in Arkansas? Arkansas does not require a state license for medical assistants, but employers typically expect industry certifications such as CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) and RMA (Registered Medical Assistant). Complete a training program to prepare.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Arkansas? No state license is required, but certifications such as CMA (Certified Medical Assistant) and RMA (Registered Medical Assistant) are expected by most employers.

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.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Median wage (Arkansas): $37,760 per year ¹

Medical Assistant Certification Options in Arkansas

Arkansas does not require a state license to work as a medical assistant. However, industry certifications can strengthen your resume and may be required by employers.

Common certifications for medical assistants include:

CMA (Certified Medical Assistant)
RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)

For more information, visit the AAMA - American Association of Medical Assistants ³. Contact training programs in Arkansas for details on certification preparation courses.

Medical Assistant Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Arkansas

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 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 2025.

Top Metros for Medical assistants in Arkansas

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest medical assistant employment within Arkansas according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway	1,660	$38,110
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers	1,270	$38,400
Fort Smith	430	$37,380
Hot Springs	260	$36,600
Jonesboro	220	$37,190

Explore More Trades in Arkansas

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 apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited 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.

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/ ↩︎ ↩︎
AAMA - American Association of Medical Assistants: https://www.aama-ntl.org/ ↩︎

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)