Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Medical Assistant Licensing Requirements by State

Medical Assistant licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Medical Assistant across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Medical Assistant: 51 boards · exam on 100% · background check on 100%. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Performs clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices.

Medical Assistant: 51/51 boards require an exam (100%); unusually uniform for healthcare. Athletic Trainer is the usual same-lane contrast.

Board thresholds for Medical Assistant drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Medical Assistant states

51

Below median

Board gates for Medical Assistant: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 51/51 (100%) , most boards skip mandated CE hours . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Medical Assistant: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Medical Assistant boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Alaska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Private Investigator · Real Estate Broker
Arizona 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Arkansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Broker · School Librarian / Media Specialist
California 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Colorado 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Connecticut 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Delaware 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Cosmetologist · Electrologist
District of Columbia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Florida 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
Georgia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Phlebotomist · Professional Geologist
Hawaii 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Idaho 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Athletic Agent · Certified Nurse-Midwife
Illinois 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
Indiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Iowa 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Kansas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Kentucky 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Pest Control Applicator · Plumber
Louisiana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
Maine 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Counselor
Maryland 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Radiologic Technologist · School Bus Driver
Massachusetts 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Professional Engineer (PE) · Registered Nurse
Michigan 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
Minnesota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Secondary School Teacher · Tattoo Artist
Mississippi 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Substitute Teacher · Veterinary Technician
Missouri 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Security Alarm Installer · Tax Preparer
Montana 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
Nebraska 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tax Preparer · Animal Breeder
Nevada 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Certified Nurse-Midwife · Debt Collector
New Hampshire 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Veterinarian · Athletic Agent
New Jersey 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
New Mexico 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Arborist / Tree Surgeon · Body Piercer
New York 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
North Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Surgical Technologist · Water Well Driller
North Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
Ohio 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Oklahoma 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher
Oregon 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Pennsylvania 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Rhode Island 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Plumber · Real Estate Agent / Salesperson
South Carolina 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Respiratory Therapist · Septic System Installer
South Dakota 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Roofer · Sign Language Interpreter
Tennessee 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Texas 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Utah 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also General Contractor · Insurance Agent
Vermont 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Medical Lab Technician · Optometrist
Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Food Handler / Food Safety Certification · Home Inspector
Washington 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Marriage and Family Therapist · Occupational Therapist
West Virginia 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Process Server · Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist
Wisconsin 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Wyoming 1,000 Yes $100 - 2 yrs 0 Also Psychologist · Roofer

What to do with this

Medical Assistant is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Medical Assistant's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #50 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Check whether your license transfers under an interstate compact before assuming you need to start over. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Athletic Trainer →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Medical Assistant requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.