How to Become a Medical Assistant in Illinois (2026)

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Illinois employs about 20,260 medical assistants earning a median $46,090 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 Illinois

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
166.2$4,560 in-state / $13,680 out-of-state$49,27345%Yes*64 mi
259.6$3,504 in-state / $10,477 out-of-state$51,67839%Yes*60 mi
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358.3$4,200 in-state / $16,385 out-of-state$48,98942%Yes*22 mi
455.1$4,530 in-state / $13,800 out-of-state$51,12121%Yes*52 mi
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553.4$5,220 in-state / $25,830 out-of-state$50,34332%Yes*57 mi
651.7$5,550 in-state / $13,110 out-of-state$48,94254%Yes*33 mi
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750.0$4,800 in-state / $12,150 out-of-state$55,05849%Yes*36 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.

Illinois employs approximately 20,260 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $46,090 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 Illinois, 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 (Illinois): $46,090 per year 1

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in Illinois

How to become a Medical Assistant in Illinois? 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 Illinois? 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 Illinois? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Illinois is $46,090 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,400 and experienced professionals can earn $56,590 or more 1.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in Illinois

  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 Illinois, 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 Illinois

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 Illinois

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in Illinois

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)		Experienced
(90th pctile)
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin15,640$47,270$47,080$36,600$57,360
St. Louis6,170$44,710$43,730$36,670$48,620
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island840$44,700$43,830$37,140$48,750
Springfield790$45,140$43,790$38,230$47,700
Peoria710$44,680$43,060$36,820$48,340
Rockford690$44,390$44,020$37,610$50,860
Champaign-Urbana460$39,130$42,860$35,620$51,160
Paducah450$39,360$40,630$34,620$46,530
Cape Girardeau350$37,470$38,850$34,370$45,290
Bloomington230$38,070$42,890$35,010$55,500
Kankakee210$38,440$40,820$36,730$45,000
Decatur130$43,060$43,700$38,170$49,030

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 Illinois? Illinois currently employs approximately 20,260 medical assistants 1. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 2.

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

How much do medical assistants earn in Illinois compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in Illinois is $46,090, which is $1,890 above the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data 1.

In Illinois

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)