Medical Assistant / Illinois
2026 data Illinois board official source

Illinois Medical Assistant License Requirements

Compiled from official public sources by the publisher.

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

PlainCredential home → About this data

Performs clinical and administrative tasks in medical offices.

What the Illinois data shows for Medical Assistants

Illinois sets the entry bar for medical assistants at 1,000 training hours and a passing score on a state-approved exam. A background check is a standard part of the process. The credential is administered under Illinois's licensing regime, which classifies the training track as "Certificate/Degree".

The initial price tag is $100 every 2 years. Continuing education is not a listed requirement for this profession in Illinois, so the annualized maintenance burden is lower than in states that mandate ongoing hours.

There's no published reciprocity list here - Illinois reviews out-of-state credentials individually.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Medical Assistant · Illinois

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training D
1,000 hours
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee C-
$100
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden N/A
N/A
Renewal fee annualized over the renewal cycle
Continuing Education N/A
N/A
Continuing-education hours annualized over the renewal cycle
Experience Required N/A
N/A
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Illinois

Education / Training Hours
Certificate/Degree
1,000 hours
Exam Requirement
Required
Initial License Fee
$100
Renewal Fee
N/A
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
Not required
Criminal History Check
Required

Compare & Explore

Compare all states for Medical Assistant All Illinois licenses
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Illinois licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Medical Assistant in Illinois? ▼
Illinois's requirements cover 1000 hours of education or training, a state exam, and an initial fee of $100. Applicants also go through a criminal background check.
How do I get certified as a Medical Assistant in Illinois? ▼
Illinois licenses medical assistants who complete its requirements (1000 education hours) and a passing exam. Verify the latest details with the Illinois licensing board.
Can I transfer my Medical Assistant license to Illinois from another state? ▼
Out-of-state medical assistant credentials get a case-by-case review in Illinois rather than automatic recognition. Interstate compacts exist for a number of professions and might still help. Confirm the details with the Illinois licensing board.
Does Illinois require a background check for Medical Assistant licensing? ▼
Illinois does require a background check before issuing a medical assistant license. What counts as disqualifying, and how it's reviewed, is up to the state licensing board.

Related Guides

What to do with this medical assistant license

Medical Assistant in Illinois is one requirement row in a medical assistant-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Illinois licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.