Do medical assistants need a license in North Carolina?

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

How to Become a Medical Assistant in North Carolina (2026)

Q: How long does medical assistant training take in North Carolina?

Most people become a Medical Assistant in North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), medical assistants in North Carolina earned a median annual wage of approximately $45,140.

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

North Carolina currently employs approximately 23,650 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

North Carolina employs about 23,650 medical assistants earning a median $45,140 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 North Carolina

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	Cabarrus College of Health Sciences	79.6	$16,550	$62,531	71%	Yes*	48 mi
2	Central Carolina Community College	60.6	$2,711 in-state / $8,855 out-of-state	$42,844	43%	Yes*	34 mi
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3	Sandhills Community College	58.9	$2,040 in-state / $6,648 out-of-state	$43,952	53%	Yes*	25 mi
4	Stanly Community College	53.1	$2,672 in-state / $8,816 out-of-state	$44,892	48%	Yes*	28 mi
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5	Montgomery Community College	52.6	$2,538 in-state / $8,682 out-of-state	$41,824	84%	Yes*	9 mi
6	Randolph Community College	51.7	$2,416 in-state / $8,176 out-of-state	$39,546	58%	Yes*	16 mi
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7	Davidson-Davie Community College	51.6	$1,980 in-state / $6,588 out-of-state	$44,533	46%	Yes*	37 mi
8	Richmond Community College	49.0	$1,956 in-state / $6,564 out-of-state	$42,771	46%	Yes*	38 mi
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9	South Piedmont Community College	45.0	$2,022 in-state / $6,630 out-of-state	$46,657	38%	Yes*	41 mi
10	Guilford Technical Community College	35.2	$2,320 in-state / $7,696 out-of-state	$44,924	31%	Yes*	39 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.

North Carolina employs approximately 23,650 medical assistants according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $45,140 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 North Carolina, 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 (North Carolina): $45,140 per year ¹

Quick Answers About How to Become a Medical Assistant in North Carolina

How to become a Medical Assistant in North Carolina? 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 North Carolina? 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 North Carolina? The median annual wage for medical assistants in North Carolina is $45,140 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $36,010 and experienced professionals can earn $50,850 or more ¹.

How to Become a Medical Assistant in North Carolina

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 North Carolina, 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 North Carolina

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 North Carolina

Medical Assistants Wages by Metro Area in North Carolina

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

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia	6,060	$46,520	$46,120	$36,620	$56,840
Raleigh-Cary	3,810	$46,160	$45,170	$37,720	$56,420
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk	3,040	$43,620	$42,400	$37,280	$47,100
Durham-Chapel Hill	1,800	$46,450	$46,420	$37,780	$58,530
Greensboro-High Point	1,730	$46,090	$45,800	$35,930	$56,690
Asheville	1,470	$44,420	$43,610	$36,850	$49,390
Winston-Salem	1,350	$45,810	$44,550	$35,730	$50,850
Wilmington	1,150	$42,000	$42,240	$34,390	$50,290
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton	820	$43,290	$42,110	$35,080	$47,900
Fayetteville	680	$39,870	$39,840	$32,130	$45,790
Greenville	600	$44,650	$42,230	$34,360	$46,540
Burlington	310	$43,250	$43,200	$35,010	$52,380
Pinehurst-Southern Pines	310	$43,530	$41,940	$35,170	$48,140
Jacksonville	220	$37,420	$38,100	$31,690	$44,760
Rocky Mount	150	$39,950	$39,830	$31,690	$45,290
Goldsboro	140	$38,210	$39,300	$31,410	$47,170

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 North Carolina? North Carolina currently employs approximately 23,650 medical assistants ¹. Nationally, medical assistant employment is projected to grow 12.5% from 2024 to 2034 ².

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

How much do medical assistants earn in North Carolina compared to the national average? The median annual wage for medical assistants in North Carolina is $45,140, which is $940 above the national median of $44,200 according to BLS data ¹.

In North Carolina

Best Trade Schools in North Carolina (2026)

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

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)