How to Become a Medical Assistant in California (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

California employs about 117,060 medical assistants earning a median $49,660 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 California

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.
#SchoolBOC Score (0–100)Tuition (published, per year)Median grad earnings (all majors)Graduation rateOnlineDistance
168.8$9,895Not reported86%—65 mi
258.3Contact school for pricing$40,67677%—62 mi
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355.3$1,156 in-state / $9,892 out-of-state$55,20226%Yes*61 mi
445.3Contact school for pricing$42,21136%Yes*63 mi
Sponsored Ad
542.1Contact school for pricing$48,06450%—28 mi
641.6$1,334 in-state / $10,154 out-of-state$42,64442%—81 mi
Sponsored Ad
739.0Contact school for pricing$42,21158%—26 mi
838.1Contact school for pricing$42,21163%—62 mi
Sponsored Ad
935.5Contact school for pricing$33,99951%—59 mi
1031.7Contact school for pricing$29,40968%—27 mi
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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.

California employs approximately 117,060 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $49,660 1. The state’s concentration of medical assistant jobs is 1.22x the national average, indicating strong demand. 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 California, 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 (California): $49,660 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in California

How to become a Medical Assistant in California? 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 California? 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 California? The median annual wage for medical assistants in California is $49,660 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $39,290 and experienced professionals can earn $77,300 or more 1.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in California

  1. Meet program entry rules. Programs typically require a high school diploma or GED.
  2. Complete a medical assisting program. Finish a certificate or diploma program in California, often under a year. This is not a registered apprenticeship.
  3. Earn CMA or RMA. Pass CMA (AAMA) or RMA (AMT). Employers typically require one of these.
  4. 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 California

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

Typical path

  1. Complete a medical assisting program.

  2. 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 California

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in California

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim39,770$47,760$52,460$39,160$73,940
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont14,320$59,790$63,330$47,070$79,750
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario11,280$46,700$49,370$38,540$62,360
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad9,370$49,420$53,430$43,340$66,340
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom7,410$61,970$61,940$45,330$78,090
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara6,400$61,940$65,360$49,370$79,620
Fresno3,310$46,500$48,810$37,300$70,660
Bakersfield-Delano2,340$46,560$48,070$36,440$60,370
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura2,020$50,680$54,530$43,210$67,570
Modesto1,870$49,990$55,580$38,830$78,080
Stockton-Lodi1,740$47,840$54,570$36,460$78,150
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara1,660$49,500$52,340$39,820$63,270
Visalia1,580$47,140$46,170$36,720$56,260
Santa Rosa-Petaluma1,550$64,820$64,160$46,770$79,890
Vallejo1,360$77,410$66,730$47,150$77,800
Salinas1,080$48,890$50,170$40,730$59,550
Santa Cruz-Watsonville960$50,090$55,090$40,690$75,140
San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles850$49,520$52,700$38,940$72,730
Chico770$47,150$49,340$39,050$58,450
Merced700$39,800$42,600$35,600$50,510
Redding520$46,210$45,910$37,910$55,990
Hanford-Corcoran480$49,510$49,660$38,950$59,140
Yuba City430$49,410$51,100$37,830$61,870
El Centro390$45,290$45,670$37,320$57,740
Napa320$62,050$62,580$45,890$79,730

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 California? California currently employs approximately 117,060 medical assistants 1. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do medical assistants earn in California compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in California is $49,660, which is $5,460 above the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data 1.

In California

Top local programs

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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

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

  2. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)